It hasn’t taken long for Hoppers Crossing Soccer Club to establish itself as a major contender in the FFV’s state league 4 competition this year.
The Reds have blitzed the early stages and sit undefeated on top of the ladder.
Highlighting the club’s dominance, Hoppers enjoys a goal difference of 12 – six goals better than its closest rival.
After a tough 2013 season, in which the club finished ninth, Reds’ president Steve Lambrakakis is rapt with the team’s present form.
“Last year was a horrible year,” he said. “As soon as we put a line through that and said, ‘that’s it, we’re all moving this way’, what we have found is that everyone’s getting on board.
“We knew we had a stronger squad than last year, and the league probably isn’t as strong as last year.
“If you add those things up, you can sit back and say we should do well this year, and that’s starting to happen.”
Along with its remarkable improvements on the field, Lambrakakis believes his club is making significant strides off it.
After having a number of the club’s best talent poached by rival clubs in recent years, some of those exciting players are starting to return to Grange Reserve.
“When better players leave the club, they’re going to greener pastures,” Lambrakakis said.
“When these players come back, they are looked up to within the squad. They are leaders. Brett Gilmour, for example, went to West Gate last year. He sees what is happening at the club and came back this year.
“The younger guys really look up to him and it’s as if they grow another foot.”
With things looking promising for 2014, there are no plans to slow down at Hoppers Crossing.
Lambrakakis says a further rise up the ranks is a target for the Reds.
“Looking on the park, we want to be in the next league up,” he said.
“We think we would be competitive even in the division higher, in the state league 2.
“We might not be right up there, but we would be very competitive. That is something we think is realistic and that’s where we want to be.”
