Throughout a decade of what could be seen as overachieving out at John Cain Memorial Reserve, there’s been one lynch-pin that’s remained central to Northcote City’s success – goalkeeper Chris Theodoridis.
But after a nine-year association with the club, which he captained throughout the 2015 NPL Victoria season, he has taken up the opportunity to turn a new leaf, signing with Heidelberg United for 2016.
“Loyalty is a big trait of mine. From my first day at Northcote City Hercules, I wanted to be a one-club man,” Theodoridis said.
“The decision to leave Northcote had been one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in my life. I was leaving a family that I had been a part of for nine years.
“All good things come to an end as they say, and I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my football career.”
The chapter presented to the 27-year-old is an opportunity to turn out for his boyhood club, who enjoyed success in both the league and in the FFA Cup throughout 2015.
While only five minutes down the road from his old stomping ground, the backdrop of Olympic Village will provide Theodoridis the opportunity to launch a new phase of his career and provide a challenge that he hasn’t experienced in quite some time.
“I needed a new challenge, environment and fresh faces. [That’s why] I’ve signed with Heidelberg, my boyhood club when they were in the National Soccer League,” he said.
“The whole family supported them back in the day and hopefully now they will reconnect with this great club.”
Joining from Oakleigh Cannons as a sprightly 19-year-old, the shot-stopper was thrust into the starting line-up under coach Peter Tsolakis as the club enjoyed back-to-back promotions from State League 2 in 2007 into the VPL by the 2009 season.
“I had returned from Greece in 2006, where I spent a year playing. When I got back, [then Oakleigh Cannons coach] Stuart Munro said I should start to play senior football and that is where Sam Poutakidis – former South Melbourne and Northcote City player – suggested I go [to Northcote] as it is a great club.
“My early years at Northcote were second to none; I can say that they were some of the best days of my life. We had players there that had been together for ten years or so at that time, and the never die attitude and love for each other was the culture.
“Nowadays, there aren’t many players that stick around for five plus years. Northcote has produced some fantastic players over its time, and it is no longer a community club.
Northcote’s meteoric rise from the State Leagues under the tutelage of Tsolakis saw the club slowly build its status as a VPL stalwart, as they battled against the odds to built a squad capable of competing at the top level.
“To some degree, you could say we overachieved, however, it was the least this group deserved. We were heading in the right direction and only strengthened our squad by thre players the year we went back-to-back.
“With everyone in the football community saying Northcote will go back down, and myself being just 20-years-old, I went into State League 1 not having any expectations of promotion and the rest is history.
“It was a great period for the club, having two successful years in a row. Not only the coaching we had from Gussa [Peter Tsolakis] but the camaraderie we had was the envy of every other club.”
While Tsolakis later departed for South Melbourne, it gave former assistant coach Goran Lozanovski the chance to leave his mark on the club, and they took a massive step forward in the 2012 VPL season.
A semi-final appearance that year was topped by a landmark VPL Grand Final triumph at their first attempt the season after; a tense affair ending in a 3-2 win over the Bentleigh Greens.
Theodoridis denied midfielder Wayne Wallace a 120th minute equaliser in that contest; his smothering save at the death a personal highlight in the crowning moment of Northcote City’s history.
“90% of that squad we had that Championship year were playing together the previous year. We probably overachieved the year before given that Gussa left for South Melbourne, we had no players and appointed a new coach [Goran Lozanovski].
“I think Loza brought in some really good players and that year [2012] we lost to Green Gully in the Semi-Final. The Championship year we strengthened where we needed to and to win the VPL was the pinnacle moment for Northcote and I’m sure all the players [agree].
“We had competition for every position which was the means to our success. To be the underdog and win, was a very sweet moment. Winning the title showed that this group was special.”
In recent years, the club has fought stoically to stem the effects of a heavy turn-over of senior players, with Theodoridis one of the rare exceptions to this case.
Alas 2016 was to be his turn to depart, as he leaves with a heavy heart after making one of the toughest decisions of his footballing career.
He becomes the second captain to depart the club in as many years after defender Kristian Konstantinidis secured a move to South Melbourne on the eve of the 2015 NPL Victoria season.
“I would firstly like to thank Northcote for giving me the opportunity to play at senior level. To all the current and past players, staff, volunteers, and supporters, a big thank you.
“I have made life-long relationships which I will treasure and Northcote City Hercules will forever be close to my heart.”