Est. 1977 · Glen Iris

Five decades of the Burners

From a student side in green and gold to four teams in red and white. Every title, season and honour since 1977.

Legends HDR Cup Classic matches Kit history Committee Titles Famous moments Club life Our story Season by season Honour board Club records

Titles and trophies

9 honours since 1978

2025

Men's Metropolitan League 6 South-East

Premiers

2023

Men's Metropolitan League 4

South-East Premiers and Metro 4 Champions, 2-1 Grand Final win over RMIT FC under coach Harry Arhondis

2023

Men's Metropolitan League 7 South-East

Premiers

2022

Men's Metropolitan League 5

South-East Premiers and Metro 5 Champions, 2-0 Grand Final win over Fawkner SC under coach Jonathan Mandaradoni

2015

Men's Metropolitan League 8 South-East

Champions

2012

Women's Metropolitan League North-East

Champions, the first title of the modern era

1993

League title

Competition details being researched

1979

Industrial Amateur Soccer League Victoria Division 4 Central

Champions, the club's first league title

1978

Kingford Sportsmanship Trophy

Winners in the club's first season

Famous moments

Australia Cup 2023

The cupset

In Preliminary Round 1, Swinburne went away to State League 4 side Lyndale United, five tiers higher, without a senior head coach and with just 14 players. A 1-0 half-time lead became a 2-1 deficit, until stand-in coach and centre back Jonathan Mandaradoni headed the equaliser with seconds left.

After a scoreless extra time, debutant Mackenzie Hyder buried the winning penalty for a 5-3 shootout win, the club's first ever progression from the opening round.

5-3on penalties

5tiers higher

14players

Read the full story →

2026 · National news

Forfeiting for the Socceroos

The Reserves' Metro League 5 South-East game against Old Scotch was set for 1pm on the Sunday the Socceroos opened their World Cup against Turkey at 2pm. When Football Victoria wouldn't move it, the club forfeited rather than make players choose between an amateur fixture and backing Australia.

The decision went national. President Thomas Burchsmith told ABC Melbourne that amateur clubs nationwide were weighing up the same call, the story ran on 3AW and on 6PR in Perth, and the club joined Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo live on The Today Show.

ABC MelbourneThe Today Show3AW6PR Perth

Read the full story →

Club life

Home ground

Howard Dawson Reserve

Home since 2006, and known to everyone as HDR. The pitch is notorious for the raised synthetic cricket wicket in the middle and a bounce that can't be trusted, especially after a lot of rain.

We share HDR with St Kevin's Old Boys SC, and whenever the two clubs meet in league competition there, the HDR Cup is on the line.

Team song

Swinburne's on Fire

Born on the night of the 2023 cupset against Lyndale United. After every win since, the players gather in a circle and belt it out, to the tune of Gala's "Freed from Desire".

The story →

Our local

The Elgin Inn

A long and proud partnership with the Elgin Inn in Hawthorn. It's where players head for dinner and a drink after games, and home to club events like trivia nights and the season launch.

Visit the Elgin Inn →

Our story

1970sFounding

Swinburne Soccer Club is born

The original Swinburne Soccer Club was formed in 1977 and played its first season the following year. Within two seasons it had its first league title.

1977Swinburne Soccer Club is formed
1978First season, and the Kingford Sportsmanship Trophy
1979First league title: Industrial Amateur Soccer League Victoria Division 4 Central Champions

Swinburne Soccer Club players, late 1970s

1990sSuccess, then a pause

A title, then the club folds

The club enjoyed many successful years, including a league title in 1993, before folding late in the decade.

1993League title won
Late 90sThe club folds

[1993 team photo]

2000sRebirth

Re-formed by past players and students

Past players and Swinburne students re-formed the committee in 2003, entered two men’s teams in VicSoccer and played at Markham Reserve in Ashburton.

2003Club re-formed, two men’s teams in VicSoccer, home at Markham Reserve
2004Move to Fritsch Holzer Park, Camberwell, and a first women’s team
2006New home at Howard Dawson Reserve, Glen Iris

[2004 women’s team photo]

2010sFirst modern title

Silverware, State League and a new crest

The women won the first title of the modern era in 2012. The men stepped up to the State Leagues in 2013, then moved to the Metropolitan Leagues and Sunday football in 2019.

2012Women’s Metropolitan League North-East Champions
2013Men join FFV and enter State League 5
2015Men’s Metropolitan League 8 South-East Champions
2016New crest, designed by Gregory Costaras
2019Move to the Metropolitan Leagues and Sunday games

[2012 women’s title photo]

2020sSunday League era

The trophy years

Back-to-back championships, a first league double for the Seniors and Reserves, and a climb to Metro League 2.

2021Seniors top of Metro 6 South-East, 7 from 7, when the season was cancelled
2022Metro 5 South-East Premiers and Champions under coach Jonathan Mandaradoni: 83 goals and a 2-0 Grand Final win over Fawkner SC
2023Australia Cup (Dockerty Cup) cupset: State League 4 side Lyndale United beaten on penalties, the club’s first win in the competition
2023Metro 4 Premiers and Champions under coach Harry Arhondis, beating RMIT FC 2-1 in the Grand Final, plus Metro 7 South-East Premiers for the first Seniors and Reserves double
2023Final season for the women’s team, for now
2024First Legends Cup for past players
2025Metro 6 South-East Premiers
2026Reserves forfeit to watch the Socceroos’ World Cup opener, making national news
2026Seniors finish 3rd in Metro League 2 South-East

Players, past players and families at the Legends Cup

Season by season

Senior Men, since joining the Football Federation of Victoria in 2013.

Every seasonCurrent ladders and results →

Honour board

Club awards year by year.

Season	Men's Player of the Season	Golden Boot	Women's Player of the Season	Club Person of the Year
2026	Christopher Kennedy	Martiniano Miranda (18)	No women's team	James Barr
2025	Ansel Furtado and Tom Pollock	Ansel Furtado (6)	No women's team	Nathan Gorga
2024	John Mckenna	Jamie Coulthard (10)	No women's team	Jamie Coulthard
2023	Mackenzie Hyder	Mackenzie Hyder (16)	Marley Boza-Sanchez (final women's season)	Vivaan Mennon
2022	Jack O'Shea	Jack O'Shea (22)	·	Anna Harper
2021	Matt Gleeson	·	·	·
2020	No season	No season	No season	No season
2019	Michael Mavrogenis	Jamie Coulthard	Rebecca Le	Nathan Gorga
2018	Dale Nettelton	·	Amanda Laracy	Nick Johansen
2017	Azzan Alsheidi	·	Rebecca Le	·
2016	Joel Kleber	·	Steph Creedy	·
2015	Will Fitzgerald	·	·	·
2012	Eric Lede	·	Steph Creedy	·
2009	Mitch	·	Tess	·
2008	Danny I	·	Claire	·
2007	Keita and Alexis	·	·	·
2006	Keita	·	·	·
2005	Krit	·	·	·

Leadership

Presidents

2026-Nathan Gorga

2022-26Thomas Burchsmith

2021-22Michael Mandaradoni

2020Ben Fox

2019Riley Edmonstone

2015-18Nathan Bickerdike

2012-14Simon Ward

2010-11Steven Archer

2009Claire Connell

2004-07Andrew Gosney

Senior Men's coaches

2026Ethan Perotto

2024-25Joel Kleber

2023Harry Arhondis

2021-22Jono Mandaradoni

2019Jack O'Shea

2017-18Manuel Rojas

2016Gregory Costaras

2015Paul Williams

2013-14Tony Trufinov

Women's coaches

2022-23Sam

2021Liam Drury

2012-16David Shapero

Captains

2026Logan Van de Geest

2025Shogo Trevena

2021-24Jono Mandaradoni

Club records

Senior Men, recorded from 2013.

Most points in a season2022 and 2023

Most wins in a season2022 and 2023

Most goals in a season2022

+69

Best goal difference2022

Fewest defeats in a season2022 and 2023

16-0

Biggest home winv Endeavour United, 2022

11-1

Biggest away winv Old Melburnians, 2023

PR2

Best Australia Cup (Dockerty Cup) run2023, after the Lyndale United cupset · most Cup goals: Will Fitzgerald, 3

Cups, rivalries and classics

Legends CupOur annual past players match HDR Cupvs St Kevin's Old Boys, our HDR neighbours Australia CupAlso known as the Dockerty Cup. Best run: Preliminary Round 2, 2023 Classic matchesThe games we still talk about

Help fill the gaps

Old photos, team sheets, medals or trophies from your playing days, especially from the 1980s and 90s? Send them in and we'll add them to the archive.

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