South Melbourne have bolstered their defensive stocks with the signing of English centre-half Carl Piergianni from Conference North outfit Boston United.
Piergianni has experience across several tiers of English football, making his debut as an 18-year-old with boyhood club Peterborough in a League One fixture in 2010 – his only appearance for the club despite winning the Under-18’s Player of the Season award.
The now 24-year-old has also had experience with Altrincham, Stockport County and Corby Town in the English lower leagues before completing the switch to Conference North side Boston United.
There, he impressed with his bravery, leadership and aerial ability, helping Boston to consecutive play-off berths in 2014-15/2015-16, although the club fell at the first hurdle on both attempts.
The popular centre-half edged out his compatriots to claim the Conference North Player of the Season in 2014-15, as well as an accompanying spot in the Team of the Season.
He departed the club at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, citing his desire to travel abroad, with South Melbourne the perfect destination for the young Englishman.
“I moved away from the UK, wanting a new adventure and to live for a little while in Australia,” Piergianni told smfc.com.au
“To have an opportunity to play here and to help the club in 2017 is very exciting for me.”
Football Director Nicholas Maikousis is hoping his popularity with the fans at his former club can be replicated at his new home at Lakeside Stadium.
“We are excited to have someone of Carl’s ability and experience join us from aboard,” he told.
“His reputation with his previous club and their fan base speaks volumes of the type of player that he can be, so we are hoping we can see the tough and uncompromising nature of his football also while he wears a South shirt.”
Piergianni is South’s seventh signing of the season to date, joining Liam McCormick, Jesse Daley, Luke Pavlou, Francesco Stella, Stefan Zinni and Ajdin Fetahagic at the club.
Meanwhile, South Melbourne WFC have signed Tasmanian Aimee Medwin for their upcoming NPLW campaign.
The 17-year-old winger is no stranger to Victorian audiences, having appeared for Shaun Ontong’s Boroondara Eagles side throughout the back end of their high-succesful 2014 season, which saw them top the table before losing in the Grand Final to South Melbourne.
The Australian Youth international pointed at the stature of South Melbourne and re-iterated her excitement at joining the club for their inaugural NPLW campaign.
“South Melbourne are a big club in Australian football and I am excited to be joining them for 2017,” Medwin told smfc.com.au.
“We have a strong squad, with some exciting players joining, so I look forward to the year ahead with a great group of girls”.
She joins Tiffany Eliadis, Alex Gummer, Britt Thomas, Antonia Niteros and Jamie Pollock as new signings in a strong-looking outfit for next season.