Altona Magic Soccer Club located in the west of Melbourne has won five (5) Victorian Premier League championships and produced many Australian internationals. The club colours of red and black signify the famous Macedonian Football Club, FK Vardar Skopje. Since the formation of the football club the Macedonian Community and Ethnic Macedonian media continue to call the club “the Vardar Football Club”.
In 1967 a group of Macedonian immigrants passionate about football initiated a meeting in Yarraville with the idea of forming a football team and by 1968 the team was registered as the Kingsville Soccer Club. The team played at Wembley Park (McIvor Reserve), Yarraville (1968 to 1974) in the Victorian lower amateur leagues.
In 1975 the Kingsville Soccer Club committee successfully acquired debt riddled German backed club Central Altona, with the successful acquisition the club shifted to Gray Reserve, Williamstown and played in the Victorian Provisional League Division 1 (1975 to 1979).
In 1979 the clubs desire to compete in the higher divisions of Victoria arrived with the amalgamation of first division strugglers Keilor City (German backed). The amalgamation brought the club to Division One and with a large membership base the club successfully negotiating with the Altona City Council to tenant the Paisley Park Soccer Complex, a master facility of its time and the current home of the club.
The club renamed itself to Altona Gate Soccer Club in 1980 and for next 8 years competed in the Victorian Division 1 League. In 1988 the first success was achieved, the club won promotion to the State League (VPL) by finishing League Runners-Up.
By 1996 the club incorporated the name Altona Magic Soccer Club, this was at time when Soccer Australia (now Football Federation Australia) encouraged all clubs to remove all ethnic affiliated names and logo’s from all clubs across Australia.
The most successful period in the club’s history was in the 1990’s, Altona won 3 consecutive VPL championships in 1995, 96 and 97. The club added two more championship trophies in 2008 and 2009, this confirmed the clubs position as one of the most successful clubs in Victorian Football.
In 2010, after a horrific season in the Victorian Premier League, Altona Magic were relegated to the Victorian State League Division 1. The 2011 season became the first time since 1988 that Altona was to compete below the top tier of football in Victoria.
Magic spent seasons 2011–2013 in the Victorian State League Division 1 finishing mid-table each time, which was the second tier at the time. In 2014, following the introduction of the National Premier Leagues Victoria, which Vardar was not accepted into, the club then competed in the regionalised Victorian State League Division 1 North-West, the new third tier of football in Victoria. In 2014 and 2015, the club again finished mid-table on both occasions.
Altona Magic took out the State League 1 North-West title in 2016, topping the table all year long. The club then took out the overall State League 1 championship, defeating State League 1 South-East title holders Mornington SC.
After the 2016 title-winning season, Altona Magic confirmed its ambition to join the National Premier Leagues Victoria.
In 2017, the club finished in 1st back to back, as well as the overall State League 1 Championship, defeating SL1 S/E champions , Langwarrin 3-1. The club was granted promotion into the second tier – National Premier League 2. It was the first time the league was open for promotion/relegation since the NPL was introduced.
Altona Magic Soccer Club mission is to work in conjunction with the local council, government bodies, the wider community as well as corporate businesses in order to continue the development of Australian sports and the promotion of a healthy and more active youth. The club will continue to promote football in the local area, starting with grassroots junior development through to the youth and senior level’s with the goal of continuing to create future Australian football stars.
Club Timeline
1968 – 1974 – Kingsville Soccer Club
1975 – 1979 – Central Altona Soccer Club
1980 – 1995 – Altona Gate Vardar Soccer Club
1996 – Current – Altona Magic Soccer Club
Club Honours
2009, 2008, 1997, 1996, 1995 – Champions of Victoria
2004, 2006 – Victorian Premier League Runners Up (GF)
1996, 1997 – Minor Premiers
2017, 2016 – State League 1 Champions
2017, 2016 – State League 1 N/W Champions
1988 – State League Div. 1 Runners Up (Promoted to highest State division in 1989)
1996, 1989 – Dockerty Cup Runners Up
2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2010, 1986 – Vic. Macedonian Cup Champions
2008, 2014 – National ‘MASO’ Cup Champions
1992, 93, 94 – VPL Champions (Reserves)
2017 – State League 1 NW Champions (Reserves)
2016 – State League 1 NW Runners Up (Reserves)
1992, 1990 – Harry Armstrong Cup Winners (Reserves)
1990 – National Youth League Runners Up
1971 – Victorian District League Runners Up
1970 – Victorian District League Champions
Other individual honours
Gold Medal Winners
2006 Sash Becvinovski
2004 Doug Mladenovic
2001 Zoran Todorovski
1997 George Jolevski
Bill Fleming Medal (Media Award)
1997 George Jolevski
Coach of the Year
1996 Gary Cole
1995 Ian Dobson
Leading Goal scorer
2006 Sash Becvinovski
1998 Sash Becvinovski
Goalkeeper of the Year
1997 Darren McGrath
Jimmy Rooney Medal (Best player in Grand Final)
2009 Kliment Taseski
2004 Levent Osman
1997 Savva Rusmir
1996 Darren McGrath
1995 Chris Emsovski
Altona Magic representatives for Australia at Senior, Olympic, Youth and U17 Level.
Mendo Ristovski – 6 caps
Mick Micevski – 2 caps
Robert Trajkovski – 3 caps *
Robert Stojcevski – Youth/U17 *
Goran Lozanovski – 9 caps *
Vasko Trpcevski – U17/Youth
John Markovski – 20 caps
George Jolevski – U17
Charlie Egan – 19 caps
Nick Radecki – Youth
Daniel Vasilevski – Youth *
Kliment Tasevski – Youth
Sasa Becvinovski – Youth
Robert Runje – U17/Youth
Danny Tiatto – 26 caps**
Michael Curcija – 2 caps
