Most fans know that South Melbourne FC was established in 1959, but fewer have details about the mergers that formed the club.

Clubs

1959 actually marks the year that two clubs merged to form ‘Hellas’. These two clubs were ‘Hellenic’ and ‘Yarra Park’. Both of these clubs were backed by the Greek community and their merger resulted in a single large supporter base.

The following year ‘Hellas’ merged with ‘South Melbourne United’ to form South Melbourne Hellas. This provided South Melbourne Hellas with access to Middle Park where the club is still based today.

So, although 1959 marks the establishment of ‘Hellas’, some could argue that South Melbourne FC only really started in 1960!

Colours

Another strange dynamic of the mergers is the colour of the clubs involved. Yarra Park supposedly played In Yellow and Black. Hellenic supposedly played in Blue and White. South Melbourne United used to play in White and Red – in the same combination as the Australian Rules Football team.

Although there is no trace left of Yarra Park’s Yellow and Black, South have on occasion worn the Red and White combination, most recently during the club’s 2015 FFA Cup campaign.

More Mergers?

There is one more club that can trace its lineage through South Melbourne. Melbourne Hakoah once share Middle Park with South Melbourne FC, but in the early 80s the club dissolved and its team was absorbed into South Melbourne’s reserves. Going further back one can find teams playing under the South Melbourne name as far back as the 1800s – however none of them have any connection to today’s South.