Canterbury Bankstown legends celebrated as Berries mark 140-year milestone

More than 30 erstwhile Canterbury Bankstown FC players returned to Jensen Park connected the weekend arsenic the nine launched its Legends Day celebrations to commemorate its 140-year anniversary.

While the Berries fell 3-1 to the Macarthur FC Bulls Academy successful the NSW League One clash, the juncture was centred connected celebrating the affluent past and practice of 1 of Australia’s oldest shot clubs, founded successful 1886.

The time brought together generations of players, supporters and nine figures, with a strong Greek-Australian beingness among the legends honoured during the celebrations.

Former Socceroo Peter Katholos was among the erstwhile players successful attendance, alongside John Karaspyros, Aheleas Kotsopoulos, Spiro Hantzis, John and Branko Radman, John Christou, Taz Hatzopoulos, Zoran Ilic, Alex Vandarakis, Maurice Bartolin, Freddy Umlil, Makis Nezeratis, Peter Balafas, George Kaolgeras, Anthony Daniels, Steve Tolios, John Kyriazopoulos, Athanasios Kokontis, Tas Fiakos, Ivan Necevski, Manny Spanoudakis, Perry Fotakopoulos, Dimitri Zakilas, Tony Antonopoulos, Bill Fotopoulos and Cosmo and Spyros Repousus.

The gathering paid tribute to the generations of footballers who helped signifier the individuality and bequest of the Berries crossed much than a period of competition.

The first-grade broadside wore specially designed retro commemorative jerseys for the match, featuring traditional horizontal-striped socks that reflected the club’s English roots dating backmost to the precocious 19th century.

Club president Stan Seraskeris welcomed supporters and erstwhile players earlier kick-off and reflected connected the value of the occasion.

He said helium was thrilled to spot so galore erstwhile players instrumentality to the club, peculiarly those from the Greek-Australian assemblage who had helped sphere the club’s Hellenic shot practice implicit galore decades.

Seraskeris besides recalled attending matches astatine Arlington Oval arsenic a kid when the nine was known arsenic Canterbury Marrickville Olympic, remembering the ambiance and “the smell of the Greek BBQ” arsenic supporters gathered to watch their heroes play.

Berries caput manager Wally Savor besides reflected connected the club’s history, saying helium remembered however hard Canterbury Bankstown sides were to look astatine Arlington Oval during his ain playing days with Sydney Croatia.

On the field, Canterbury Bankstown started strongly against the Bulls Academy and took the pb successful the 30th infinitesimal when skipper Paddy Savor delivered a set-piece transverse that deflected into the nett disconnected a header from close backmost Finley Hayhurst.

Macarthur responded earlier half-time done Justin Cardozo, whose strike bushed goalkeeper Stefan Savicic to level the scores astatine 1-1.

The contention shifted successful the 2nd fractional when Berries defender Taketo Ochial was sent disconnected successful the 58th infinitesimal aft bringing down Bulls winger Zane Helweh.

Despite Canterbury Bankstown introducing Jake Riddington, John Fotopoulos and Nicholas Azzi from the bench, the visitors capitalised connected their numerical advantage.

Ali El Sabeh restored the Bulls’ pb with a close-range header successful the 67th infinitesimal earlier Helweh sealed the effect with a extremity successful the 83rd infinitesimal to unafraid a 3-1 victory for the visitors.

The decision leaves the Berries successful 11th presumption connected the NSW League One ladder with 4 wins, 4 draws and six losses from 14 matches.

More photos below:

Photo: Supplied