Altona East Phoenix

Football club infobox
clubname = Altona East Phoenix
fullname = Altona East Phoenix Soccer Club
nickname = Phoenix, PAOK
founded = 1979
ground = Paisley Park Reserve,
Altona North, Victoria
capacity =
chairman = Jim Dimitriou | mgrtitle = Head Coach
manager = Dominic Barba
league = Victorian State League Division 2 N/W
pattern_la1=_white_stripes2|pattern_b1=_whitestripes|pattern_ra1=_white_stripes2|pattern_sh1=_white_stripes
leftarm1=000000|body1=000000|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=808080|body2=808080|rightarm2=808080|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000

Altona East Phoenix are an Australian football (soccer) club based in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, currently in the Victorian State League Division 2 N/W. They play at the Paisley Park Soccer Complex in Altona North.

History

They were founded in 1979 by Greek immigrants under the name East Altona PAOK, taking their nickname and black and white stripes from the famous Greek Macedonian club of the same name. The PAOK name was swapped to Phoenix in the 1990's in accordance with Australian soccer authorities attempts at mainstreaming soccer in Australia. They spent most of their history up until 1992 in the amateur and provisional leagues, before steadily progressing up the league system and eventually reaching the Victorian Premier League in 1999. Their stay lasted until 2003, with their best finish being 3rd in 2000.

Current squad

Honours

*Victorian Premier League Finalists 2001, 2002
*Victorian State League Division 1 Champions 1998
*Victorian State League Division 2 Champions 1997
*Victorian State League Division 3 Champions 1994
*Victorian State League Division 4 Champions 1993
*Victorian Provisional League Division 1 Champions 1992
*Victorian Provisional League Division 2 Champions 1989
*Hellenic Cup Champions 1992, 2004

Individual Honours

Victorian Premier League Coach of the Year
*2000 - Peter Ollerton

Notable Former Players

*Steve Pantelidis (2001-02)
*Terry Antoniadis (2000-03)
*Ross Antoniadis (2000-03)
*Damir Gnjidic (2004-05)
*Steven Iosifidis (1993, 2004)
*Taxiarhis Apostolikas (2004-2006)
*Jurica Siljanoski (2007)
*Vladimir Zoric (2007-Current)

Former Coaches

*1999-00: Peter Ollerton
*2001-03: Chris Taylor
*2003 (Rnd 9): Peter Ollerton
*2003 (Rnd 18): John De Amicis
*2004: Charlie Egan
*2005-06: Takis Svigos
*2006 (Rnd 10): John De Amicis

Top Club Goal Scorers

*2008 - Bozidar Lojanica 13
*2007 - Marco Tolli 11
*2006 - Taxiarhis Apostolikas 5
*2005 - Taxiarhis Apostolikas 13
*2004 - Damir Gnjidic 13
*2003 - Nick Papadopoulos and Steve Bartol 4
*2002 - Daniel Genovesi 7
*2001 - Nick Papadopoulos 7
*2000 - Daniel Genovesi 8
*1999 - George Angelos 11
*1998 - Peter Kakos 26
*1997 - George Angelos 14
*1996 - Arthur Davis 12
*1995 - Harry Timotheou 12
*1994 - George Angelos 19
*1993 - Nick Tsaltas 24

Rivalries

Altona East's rivals include old local rivalries and ethnic derbies. Its local rivalries include Altona Magic, Altona City SC and Yarraville Glory. Other rivalries include Heidelberg United and Preston Lions.

Head-to-Head: Altona Magic
* Games: 10
* Phoenix wins: 5
* Magic wins: 4
* Draws: 1
* Phoenix goals: 11
* Magic goals: 8

Head-to-Head: Heidelberg United
* Games: 6
* Phoenix wins: 4
* Heidelberg wins: 2
* Draws: 0
* Phoenix goals: 11
* Heidelberg goals: 3

Head-to-Head: Preston Lions
* Games: 11
* Phoenix wins: 4
* Preston wins: 7
* Draws: 0
* Phoenix goals: 12
* Preston goals: 16

Head-to-Head: Altona City
* Games: 9
* Phoenix wins: 8
* City wins: 1
* Draws: 0
* Phoenix goals: 27
* Magic goals: 11

Head-to-Head: Yarraville Glory
* Games: 6
* Phoenix wins: 3
* Glory wins: 2
* Draws: 1
* Phoenix goals: 5
* Glory goals: 3

External links

* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Clubs/A/AltonaEastPhoenix.html OzFootball Altona East Phoenix Page]
* [http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/ Football Federation Victoria Official website]