Heidelberg back on a national stage for first time in 20 years in FFA Cup

WHILE the lion’s share of attention is on the return of South Melbourne to the national stage in the FFA Cup, Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis has a simple message — don’t forget about us.

The Warriors will play their first game in a nationwide competition since 1995 when they take on Broadmeadow Magic in Wednesday night’s round of 32 clash in Newcastle.

Heidelberg competed in the National Soccer League from 1977 to 1995 and won the 1980 grand final, defeating Sydney City 4-0.

Former Melbourne Victory football manager Gary Cole, a 40-times capped Socceroo, scored a hat-trick, but the Heidelberg side that day contained seven other Australian internationals — Jimmy Rooney (99 caps), Jeff Olver (51), Jim Tansey (42), John Yzendoorn (18), Theo Selemidis (17), Jim Campbell (7) and Jamie Paton (4).

Katsakis, one of the first juniors to sign for Heidelberg back in 1971, remembers fondly the fanfare that followed.

“I remember being in Canberra, where the final was played, travelling back with the team and I remember getting out at Tullamarine Airport and there were hundreds of supporters waiting,” Katsakis said.

“I remember the chanting and walking through with people looking at the way everyone was carrying on.

“It was a great time. I will never forget it.”

Heidelberg is a club steeped in history.

Its home ground, Olympic Village, was the site of the athletes’ village for the 1956 Olympic Games.

Before it moved there, it shared facilities with the Fitzroy VFL club at Edinburgh Gardens.

Katsakis said Heidelberg’s history made its FFA Cup qualification even more significant.

“Because of the FFA Cup, we’re going to get the chance to promote our club and let people know about our history, how this club has come to be, and that’s very important,” he said.

“Knowing that when Heidelberg came out of the NSL and South Melbourne continued on, they won a lot of the Greek community, and I think it’s been forgotten that Heidelberg was once an absolute force of this league.

“Prior to the FFA Cup we were just another little club running around in the NPL (National Premier League) — so was South and so was everyone else.

“However, with this competition, it does bring you back to those glory days.

“It’s going to be very hard for any team at this level to challenge the A-League clubs, but it certainly puts you back in the picture and for us to be able to do what Bentleigh did (last season), for example, and make the semi-finals, it would be massive.”