Photo: Mark Avellino
The last ten years have not been kind to Preston Lions Football Club and its loyal supporter base.
Having reached the pinnacle of Victorian football in 2007, the former NSL power plummeted to the third tier by 2012 and were on the brink of extinction as their debts threatened to put the once proud club out of business with liquidation a strong possibility at one stage.
Yet the last few years has seen a reversal of fortunes with the Reservoir-based outfit clearing their $200,000 debts while also experiencing a rejuvenation of sorts on the field.
Last week the club committee elected former Lions goalkeeper Lou Acevski to replace outgoing coach Zeljko Popovic in the managerial hotseat with the four-time VPL Champions determined to keep their NPL2 promotion hopes alive.
While last week’s heartbreaking FFA Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to arch rivals North Sunshine Eagles was a bitter pill to swallow, the future appears to be bright for all those who call BT Connor Reserve home.
The former Hume City manager was proud of his side’s performance in defeat and lauded them for their work rate throughout a roller-coaster 120 minutes plus penalties at George Andrews Reserve.
“I was very proud as the boys were fantastic. What a great effort from the lads playing a man down for so many minutes and to comeback on three occasions was something special” Acevski said.
“Before the game I asked for 100% from each individual but they all gave me 120% so it was a fantastic effort.”
High praise was reserved for Welsh forward Chris Davies who single-handedly kept the ten-man Lions in the tie with his four-goal haul sure to live long in Preston folklore.
The 39-year-old noted that he is looking forward to working with the striker who was a summer signing for the club from fellow third tier side Clifton Hill.
“Like the rest of the boys, Chris was fantastic. To score four goals of his own back was excellent. I’ve seen him play just once and that was today in addition to last night’s training session so it will only get better once he gets better service and will score even more goals but I must congratulate the boy as he was unbelievable.”
Having only overseen a single training session before the eight-goal thriller, Acevski spoke about his unfamiliarity with many of the Preston players and the task ahead while also praising his predecessor Zeljko Popovic.
“The club weren’t happy with the first three games, particularly losing that last one at home. But look Zeljko has done a fantastic job at the club and has been a phenomenal coach and is a great individual and person so all credit to him.
“I got the phone call on Tuesday morning and decided to take it and oversaw the first training session last night. 90% of the players are very foreign to me unfortunately but we trained for about 40 minutes and after tonight’s game I know many of these boys much better now.
“They showed a lot of character and much respect for each other and we can only build on that as it’s only the start. I said to the boys as far as I’m concerned, yesterday was a new beginning where we forget about the first three rounds and just move forward.”
While promotion to NPL2 was a goal prior to the beginning of the season, the Lions poor start to the campaign might invoke a re-assessment of such ambitions although Acevski is taking a game-by-game approach as the Lions prepare to face rivals and league leaders Altona Magic this weekend.
“It’s an old cliché but one which I keep talking about as it will be a week-by-week proposition. For me I’m just worried about Altona Magic next round and will try and go there and get three points.”
The Magic are managed by his former Preston mentor Goran Lozanovski with the goalkeeper-turned-coach heaping praise on Lozanovski and his team which includes Acevski’s ex-Hume midfield enforcer Joseph Franjic.
“They are a very good team and are deservingly favourites to get promoted who have a lot of very good players and are well coached. In saying that, we won’t shy away from a challenge and will go over there and put forth our best eleven and try and give our best effort.
“Wherever that takes us we’ll see but when I met with the committee it was all about stabilising and getting the foundation right. That may take us mid-table or top of the table but wherever it is, we’ll work with it.”
While the VPL Championship success of 2007 peppered over the financial cracks that were set to plague the club in the forthcoming years, Acevski believes the club is on the right path forward under President Zac Gruevski who has been at the heart of the club’s revival.
With a rise into the NPL top of their agenda, the Lions will be hoping to celebrate their 60th anniversary in 2019 in a much more illustrious fashion than their 50th jubilee in 2009 when the club was relegation from the VPL having incurred a mere seven points from 22 games.
“Zac the president has said he wants to leave a legacy when he decides to move on from the club and that legacy is to put it back where it belongs and that is the NPL and the top of Victorian football.
I want to be a part of it and that is why I have come here and joined the rest of the committee and the players. That legacy is without a doubt my goal.
“I love the club and have it in my blood through my numerous stints here where I’ve enjoyed a many good times and made many friends so I’m very excited by this challenge and hopefully we succeed sooner rather than later.”
Having been a part of Hume’s rise to prominence and increased professional in recent years, Acevski is determined to be at the heart of a similar movement at BT Connor Reserve.
After been through hell and back in the last decade or so, the Lions faithful are optimistic about better days ahead and with one of the state’s most aspiring young coaches at the helm, there is a shared sentiment around the club that the Preston name will be back in the limelight in the years to come