FV Sunraysia History
Soccer in Victoria before the First World War was not confined to Melbourne, it also thrived in country towns like Mildura. Despite the decline of the game in Melbourne during the 1890s, Mildura sustained local matches and even played against Renmark in South Australia, with clubs such as Mildura, Irymple, and occasionally Merbein competing between 1911 and 1915. The tragic story of The Irymple Nine is a stark reminder of the impact the war had on the initial soccer boom at the turn of the century.
While a couple of attempts at forming a League in the 1920's and 1930's struggled to capture the hearts and minds of the local community, it would not be until 1973 that the Sunraysia Soccer Association would form, bedding down a home in Mildura and sporting a range of clubs with European influence such as Milan, Zagreb and Cosmos. Led by then President Tony Dunkerley, Football Federation Victoria gained partial influence over the association in 2009, as a push to grow the game intensified.
A new era beckons in 2026 as FV Sunraysia transforms a region now sporting five clubs and teams ranging from Senior Mens and Womens down to MiniRoos.
Life Members
Leo Cicalese, George Raftis, Georgina Vardouniotis, John Holder, Tony Fedelja, John Burrows, Joe Dimasi, Joe Simonetta, Gezza Finna, Ruth Burrows, Suat Karayilan, James Stanborough.
Note: Football Victoria officially recognised Sunraysia Life Members as Football Victoria Life Members in 2016.
Competition Honour Roll
At present, Football Victoria is researching the history of football in regional Victoria, with particular emphasis on identifying the origins of each competition, with a view to composing an exhaustive list of League and Cup winners, to be shared early in 2026.