Falcons 2000 SC

Falcons 2000 Soccer Club (formerly Morwell Falcons, Gippsland Falcons and Eastern Pride) is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in the Victorian town of Morwell in the Latrobe Valley area of Gippsland. The club currently participates in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

As the Morwell Falcons, the club achieved national recognition by progressing from the Latrobe Valley Soccer League—now regarded as a tier-10 competition—to the Australian National Soccer League from what is described now as the Tier 10 Latrobe Valley Soccer League, via promotions in the Australian Association Football pyramid between 1973 and 1992, when promotion to the highest tier was available.

The club has won two Victorian State League titles (1984 and 1989), the 1994 Dockerty Cup, seven Latrobe Valley Soccer League titles and seven Battle of Britain Cup titles.

History

Formation

Falcons 2000 Soccer Club traces its origins to 1961, when the club was founded by Italian migrants as the Italian Australian Social Club of Gippsland (IASCOG). The club was established by members of the local Italian-Australian community in the Latrobe Valley, the epicentre of the Gippsland region of Victoria.

In 1962, a sponsorship arrangement with Ford Australia – tied to the launch of the first Ford Falcon XK – saw the club renamed as Morwell Falcons. The club later formalised this arrangement with the Ford Motor Company, who became a long-term sponsor of the club.

The Falcons entered the Latrobe Valley Soccer League for the first time in 1962, competing in the regional competition for over a decade. During this period the club established itself as one of the most prominent footballing organisations in the Gippsland region, building the administrative foundations and junior pathways that would underpin their rapid rise through the Victorian football pyramid in the years that followed.

1962–1973: Early years in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League

The Falcons began life in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League, which at the time was considered one of the strongest leagues in the country. So tough was the competition that the Falcons could not break the stranglehold of the most dominant clubs of the area - both Newborough and Yallourn (who would subsequently merge in 1995) combined to win six league titles during the 1960s, whilst Maryvale Reserve co-tenants Morwell Rangers won all six of their league titles between 1958 and 1970.

However, the arrival of Donato "Don" Di Fabrizio as club president signified a turning point in the club's fortunes. A local Morwell-based businessman who made his wealth in prefabricated steel, Di Fabrizio was coaxed into being president by club members in early 1970.

After finishing fifth in his first season, Di Fabrizio was instrumental in turning the club around and committing to a culture of ambition and excellence, both on and off field.

The club then won their first LVSL championship in 1971 and finished as runners-up in 1972, before bouncing back to win the league championship in 1973.

Between 1971 and 1973, the Falcons won 58 of the 66 matches they played, which ultimately led the club leave to the local league in search of a higher level of competition.

With their stylish playing style and free-scoring approach, the club attracted growing attendances in the early 1970s – though their original home at Maryvale Reserve was not enclosed, meaning the club was unable to charge admission for matches despite the increasing crowds.

1974–1981: Move into the Victorian Metropolitan Leagues and successive promotions

At the end of the 1973 season, the Falcons declared their intention to leave the LVSL and successfully applied for entry into the 1974 Victorian Provisional League.

The change of competitions led the club to move from Maryvale Reserve to Keegan Street Reserve, not only to charge admission prices but ensure they complied with the rules of the Victorian Provisional League, which required perimeter fencing.

The Falcons proved far too good for the competition, which they won in their first two seasons. However, the rules of the Provisional League meant that promotion was not automatic, and needed to be approved by the existing clubs. Yallourn SC, located in a neighbouring town and the only Gippsland team in the Victorian State League system at the time, repeatedly petitioned against automatic promotion, until they were eventually outvoted at the Victorian Soccer Federation's 1976 Annual General Meeting, paving the way for the Falcons' promotion.

At the end of the 1976 season, the decade-long suspension of North Carlton created a vacancy in the Victorian Metropolitan League, and the Falcons were selected from 25 applicants to fill it for 1977. The club was chosen for its "...financial strength, sound administration, strong junior setup and good backing from Morwell Shire Council."

A double-page spread in Soccer Action highlighted the Falcons' ambitions, declaring "State League is their aim" – despite having only just won promotion from Victoria's fourth division.

The Falcons were promoted through the Victorian Metropolitan League system five times in six years between 1976 and 1981, progressing from Division 4 to Division 1. In 1981, their only season in Division 1, the club finished ninth but was nonetheless elevated to the Victorian State League as a result of a restructuring of the league system.

1982–1992: Victorian State League era

"The VSF has used the [State League] reshuffle to advance teams like Morwell Falcons. This is a plus for Victorian soccer, because we need more clubs with the Falcons 'go-ahead' outlook. The facilities at Morwell are second to none and their club rooms are tremendous."

The vision of club president Don Di Fabrizio – later described by football historian Roy Hay as the "key figure in the club's success" – proved well-founded, as the Falcons reached the Victorian State League in 1982, simultaneously moving into their new premises on Crinigan Road on Morwell's northern fringe.

Promotion to the Victorian State League at that time was not automatic – clubs were assessed against a range of criteria to ensure competitive strength at the higher level. The relegation of Altona City, who finished last in 1981 and ten points adrift of the second-last team, opened a place which the Victorian Soccer Federation's screening committee awarded to the Falcons.

Having finished fourth in their first State League season and as runners-up in the State League Cup, the Falcons made a signing that would prove pivotal to the club's trajectory – recruiting 23-year-old Jim MacLean for $2,500 from Queensland Lions FC. The former Sunderland, Dundee and Randers midfielder quickly established himself as one of the competition's standout players.

By the end of 1983, average attendances at Morwell had grown to around 1,000 per match – among the highest in the Victorian State League. The club had begun exploring the possibility of applying to join the National Soccer League, and even requested the Latrobe Valley Soccer League schedule matches on different days to avoid conflicts with potential NSL fixtures.

In 1984, just two seasons after arriving at State League level, the Falcons won their first Victorian State League title under Irish coach and former Fulham player Jimmy Dunne. The championship entitled the club to apply for the NSL's Southern Conference, but the offer was declined. Jim MacLean was named Victorian Premier League Player of the Year – the Rothmans Medal – that same year.

Despite the triumph in 1984, the Falcons narrowly missed back-to-back honours in 1985, finishing the season strongly to win seven of their last eight matches – including a 1–0 victory over eventual champions Croydon City – but falling short as Croydon claimed the title on the final day with a 5–1 win over Maribyrnong Polonia.

Morwell qualified for the 1985 State League Cup final against Box Hill United, but the match became one of the most controversial in Victorian football history. With the score at 0–0, a penalty to Morwell was denied by referee Andy Frangou in the final minute of regulation time. In extra time, a penalty was awarded to Box Hill in the 103rd minute; Andy Hughes converted to hand them the title.

A 2–1 victory over reigning NSL champions South Melbourne in the 1985 Dockerty Cup Round of 16 underlined the Falcons' standing in Victorian football at the time, and continued to fuel speculation about when the club would enter the national competition.

Jimmy Dunne departed in 1986 and was succeeded by Scottish coach Bobby McLachlan, who would remain at the club for eight years.

In 1989, Morwell claimed their second Victorian championship, finishing a point ahead of Brunswick Juventus. The Falcons then entered a two-legged playoff for a place in the National Soccer League, but were eliminated by South Australian champions West Adelaide, losing 5–2 on aggregate.

1992–2001: National Soccer League era

The club entered the NSL in 1992–93. Morwell won the statewide Dockerty Cup in 1994 after entering as an NSL team at the quarter-final stage, and qualified for the NSL finals series in 1994–95 after finishing fourth on the ladder. The club remained in the bottom half of the NSL table in all subsequent seasons, though it never finished with the wooden spoon.

During their time at Latrobe City Stadium on Crinigan Road, the club attracted consistent home support, aided by national television coverage on the SBS and regular coverage in local newspapers including the Latrobe Valley Express.

"I want to make everyone a better player so that come mid-October, God help any team that comes to play in Morwell."

The professional era ended when financial difficulties forced the club to forfeit its final four matches of the 2000–01 National Soccer League season. A proposed sale to Melbourne-based entrepreneur Tony Schiavello also fell through.

2000–present: Return to the Latrobe Valley Soccer League

With the then-named Gippsland Falcons (and then Eastern Pride for one season in 2000–01) in persistent financial trouble in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and concerns over what would happen to the club's identity and famous junior programme, a decision was made in the year 2000 by the club's members to form Falcons 2000 Soccer Club, who would be entered into the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

The club's initial focus was to create a pathway for talented junior players, with its inaugural men's team largely made up of teenage players. Upon the collapse of the National Soccer League team with the winding up of Eastern Pride in April 2001, Falcons 2000 assumed the official lineage of the professional club, absorbing the full history spanning back to 1961, albeit deciding to remain in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League rather than seek re-entry into the Victorian Premier League, where the club had competed until 1992.

The club struggled to compete with the more established LVSL teams in the early years, many of whom fielded experienced sides as the level of competition proved demanding for the largely youthful Falcons – whose only result of note in that decade was finishing as runners-up in the 2002 Battle of Britain Cup.

However, victory in the 2009 Battle of Britain Cup – a 4–2 win over Monash – heralded a breakthrough moment in the club's rebirth. The Falcons won the same title 3–2 against Monash a year later, and despite suffering losses in the next two Cup finals, went on to claim the Battle of Britain Cup again in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The club's hunt for a long-awaited LVSL title would last until 2015, when they finally broke through for their first championship since 1973 – secured dramatically on the final day of the season when Sale United unexpectedly lost 3–2 at home to Newborough-Yallourn United after conceding a last-minute goal.

The 2015 season was also notable for the form of striker Jesse Kennedy, whose 46 goals across the campaign were the highest tally recorded by any player in a senior men's Victorian league that year. Kennedy scored in 21 of his 24 league appearances.

That season would spark what the club later described as a "decade of success", with the Falcons going on to win the LVSL again in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024, firmly re-establishing themselves as the dominant club in the Latrobe Valley.

Current senior squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

From the Bottom Tier of the Victorian State League to the National Soccer League

Morwell entered the Victorian State League System in Tier 7 in 1974, after winning the Latrobe Valley Soccer League Championship for the second time in 3 years.

Victorian Provisional League

The Falcons were an instant success in the 7th Tier Victorian Provisional League, winning two consecutive Championships in 1974 and 1975, making it 4 championships in 5 seasons. The team was finally promoted to the Tier 6 Victorian Metropolitan Soccer League Division 4 after a runner-up finish in its third season in the Victorian Provisional League in 1976.

Victorian Metropolitan Leagues

Morwell Falcons were promoted in the Victorian State League part of the "Pyramid" 5 times in 6 years between 1976 and 1981. The Falcons first 4 seasons (of 5) in the Victorian Metropolitan Football League system produced a worst season finish of 3rd. The Falcons progressed from the Tier 6 Victorian Metropolitan Football League Division 4, to the Tier 3 Victorian Metropolitan Football League Division 1, via 3 Runners-Up promotions in 4 seasons.

1981 was the Falcons only season competing in the Victorian Metropolitan Football League Division 1. The team finished 9th, but was promoted to the Tier 2 Victorian State League regardless, due to a restructuring of the league system.

Between 1971 and 1980 the Morwell Falcons finished no lower than 3rd in 10 consecutive seasons in 5 divisions. Results included 9 seasons in the top 2, 4 Championships, and 5 Runners-Up finishes (4 resulting in promotion). It included 3 Championships in a row in 1973-74-75. The team achieved promotion to the next Tier 5 times in 8 season during this period.

Victorian State League 1982 to 1992

The team fared well in its first season at Tier 2 State League level, finishing a very creditable 4th in the League Championship in 1982. The Falcons went on to finish Runner-Up in the State League Finals Cup in its first season in Tier 2, losing to Green Gully in the Final.

In its 3rd season in 1984 the Falcons won the League Championship and League (Finals) Cup Double, the teams first State League Championship. It was the first time a Latrobe Valley-Gippsland based team had won the State League Championship since Yallourn in 1951. . .

The Falcons were offered the opportunity to apply to join the Tier 1 National Soccer League, but declined the offer. If Morwell Falcons had entered the NSL for the 1984–85 season, it would have been from "Non-League" (now Tier 9) Latrobe Valley Soccer League to Tier 1 National Soccer League via 7 promotions in 12 seasons.

In 1985 the Falcons achieved a Runners-Up finish in both the League Championship and State League (Finals) Cup, following on from the double the previous season. The Falcons qualified for a 3rd State League (Finals) Cup Final in 4 years in 1985. Morwell repeated the successes of 1984 in 1989, again winning the Championship and League (Finals) Cup double.

In 1991 the Falcons finished the newly renamed Victorian Premier League Season in 3rd. When APIA Leichhardt were relegated back to New South Wales State League at the end of the 1991-92 NSL Season due to financial difficulties, the Falcons were offered promotion to the Tier 1 National Soccer League, and accepted. Morwell Falcons finished 8th in the club's last season in the Tier 2 Victorian State League Winter season in 1992, and moved directly into the 1992-93 NSL Summer Season.

The promotion to the Tier 1 National Soccer League completed a 20-year rise from the Latrobe Valley Soccer League through Tiers 7 to 2 of the Victorian State League, and final promotion to Tier 1, the NSL. Morwell Falcons were in the Tier 2 Victorian State League top division for 11 seasons.

In 2011, to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary, the club announced the "Team of the State League Era" - a selection of 18 players determined to be the finest to have worn the Falcons' shirt during their 11 seasons in the Victorian state league, with 1984 league winning coach Jimmy Dunne and 1989 league winning coach Bobby McLaughlin named as joint head coaches.

National Soccer League

Morwell Falcons were admitted to the then National Soccer League for the 1992–93 season, the 4th NSL season with a Summer schedule. It meant that the Falcons had to complete the 26-game 1992 Victorian State League season, then move into the 26-game Summer NSL Season in the same year, after a break of just over six weeks. Morwell Falcons last game in the Victorian Premier League was in Round 26 on Sunday August 23, 1992. The Falcons drew 1–1 with Brunswick Juventus in Morwell.

The Falcons had previously been offered entry into the National Soccer League during the 1980s, but initially declined. They also had the opportunity to win promotion to the NSL via the 1989 playoffs, however, they lost 5–2 over two legs to West Adelaide.

However, their opportunity in Australia's top flight would come in 1992, when Preston Makedonia pulled out of the competition, at which league officials again offered Morwell the chance to join - an offer that was accepted, despite the short time to prepare for the season.

National Soccer League Inaugural Game: Round 1 1992-93 Season

NSL Round 1

The tired looking Falcons finishing 12th in the inaugural season in Tier 1.

What followed was a disappointing listed finish of 7th in 1993–94. Morwell missed out on Final 6 qualification via a series of bizarre refereeing decisions, which resulted in the Falcons finishing 7th and missing the playoffs. The new Di Fabrizio stand on the outer side of Falcons Park was opened before the Round 18 home game against South Melbourne. The game drew a record crowd of well over 4 times the number of seats available at the venue of 8,256. Morwell's season finished with 3 wins in a row, including a 3–2 away win against Marconi Fairfield in Sydney who qualified for the playoffs in 4th, and a 4–3 away win over 1st placed Melbourne Knights at Somers St Stadium, Melbourne. Morwell had the 7th highest average home attendance (of 14 teams) in the league.

Morwell went on to win the statewide Dockerty Cup in 1994 with a win over Melbourne Zebras in the final 2–1. Morwell Falcons became the first Gippsland based team to win the Dockerty Cup since Wonthaggi Magpies in 1931. The Dockerty Cup was open to all teams based in the state of Victoria. As an NSL team the Falcons entered the competition in the Quarter Final stage and had wins over Frankston Pines, South Melbourne, and Melbourne Zebras to win the tournament.

1994 Dockerty Cup

Quarter Final

Semi Final

Final

Morwell Falcons side in the 1994 Dockerty Cup Final: Jason Dastey, Garry Upton, Claudio Canosa, Steve Douglas, Shaun Parton, Marcus Stergiopoulos, Sonny Sevin, John Waddell, Brian Bothwell, Carlo Villani, Lachlan Armstrong. Coach: Bobby McLachlan

Finals 1994-95

Morwell Falcons played in its only National Soccer League Finals Series in 1995. The team had arguably its best season ever, qualifying 4th in the top 6. The league system involved a penalty shootout at the end of every draw. The Falcons lost just 5 games outright (of 24) for the season, finishing with 8 wins and 11 draws (4 penalty shootout wins and 7 penalty shootout losses). Morwell Falcons hosted leg 1 of the NSL Finals Series Elimination Final versus South Melbourne.

A large finals crowd at the Crinigan Road Latrobe City Stadium of 6,565 saw the Falcons play well, but ultimately lose the game 0–1. In the return leg the Falcons lost 5–1 in front of 5,807 in Melbourne at Olympic Park. John Markovski scored the Falcons only goal in an NSL Final in the 66th minute of leg 2. Morwell later won through to the final four of the Dockerty Cup for the second consecutive year, losing to South Melbourne in the Semi Finals.

The National Soccer League Top 6 1994-95

1994-95 National Soccer League Elimination Final

Leg 1

Leg 2

South Melbourne Won 6–1 on aggregate.

National Soccer League era comes to an end

Morwell Falcons finished no higher than 10th in all of the seasons between 1995–96 to 2000–01, not qualifying for the NSL finals series again after 1994–95. The team name changed to Gippsland, then again to "Eastern Pride" for the 2000–01 season.

However, the club developed an outstanding reputation for developing talent, with future stars such as Archie Thompson, Scott McDonald, John Hutchinson, Naum Sekulovski and Eugene Galekovic all making their professional debuts between 1996 and 2001.

Morwell Falcons' final win in the NSL was under the name Eastern Pride in Round 25, 2000–01. A 2–1 win over Parramatta Power on 31/03/2001. The club forfeited its last four matches of the season, all marked as a 0–3 loss. The team was stripped of its 20 competitions points for regulations breaches by league administration. The club was relegated from the NSL after finishing 15th (of 16) in 2000-01 and subsequently folded. The club was re-established in 2001 as Falcons 2000 and rejoined the rated Tier 9 Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

The National Soccer League was replaced with the A-League Men in 2005–06, making the new Tier 1 exclusively for licensed teams only with no promotion and relegation from the State League "pyramids". The new Tier 1 was established before restructuring that included Australia (including the Socceroos) transferring from Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation before qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup began.

Some would argue that the Morwell Falcons - 1971 through to the 1994-5 Dockerty Cup win and Tier 1 National Soccer League Finals Series participation - is Australia's only "football purists" historical example of promotion from "non-league" to Tier 1 in Australia's Association Football history.

Yearly Results

Morwell Falcons - Gippsland Falcons - Eastern Pride - Falcons 2000 (1961-2025)

NB: Progressive changes to the Victorian Soccer Pyramid account for the change in tier of the Latrobe Valley Soccer League between 2000 and 2025. ``Approximate equivalent tier relevant to the formation of the NSL in 1977 and the current structure. ↑ Promoted: To a Higher Tier or NSL Finals ↓ Relegated from the NSL, Re-Formed as Falcons 2000 in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League (Tier IX)

Home Venue

Maryvale Reserve (1961-1973)

When Morwell Falcons were first admitted into the Latrobe Valley Soccer League, the club were designated the purpose-built football facilities at Maryvale Reserve.

The Falcons stayed at the facility for 12 seasons, which saw the club claim league championships in 1971 and 1973.

Whilst the facility was the first one built specifically for football in Morwell, it was not enclosed - meaning the Falcons could not charge admission for games, which began to draw large crowds in the early 1970s.

With both Keegan Street Reserve and Gippsland Sports Entertainment Park unavailable for pre-season training in early 2026, the Falcons hosted several training sessions at the venue for the first time in more than 50 years.

Keegan Street Reserve (1974-1980, 2025-2026)

After initially being offered use of Ronald Reserve for their entry into the Metropolitan Leagues, the Falcons' baulked at the idea of displacing local rivals Morwell Pegasus and instead requested to be moved to Keegan Street Reserve, neighbouring the Morwell Recreation Reserve.

At the time, the ground was encircled by a grass athletics track, with a football pitch in the middle.

The Falcons saw tremendous success at Keegan Street, winning the Victorian Provisional League in 1974 and 1975, before finishing runner-up in 1976 - where promotion was finally awarded. They and promoted again in 1977 when they finished runner-up in Victorian Metropolitan League Division Four.

In the Falcons' final season at Keegan Street Reserve, they finished second in the 1980 Victorian Metropolitan League Division Two, earning promotion to the 1981 Victorian Metropolitan League Division One in time for their move to what was then known as North Criningan Reserve.

In a twist of fate, Falcons 2000 returned to Keegan Street Reserve in mid-2025, when the club was forced to vacate the Gippsland Sport and Entertainment Centre due to the ongoing redevelopment.

They will play matches at Keegan Street or on the synthetic field at the adjoining Morwell Recreation Reserve until the works at GSEP are complete.

Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park ( aka 'Falcons Park' or 'Mobil Park' ) (1981-2025, 2027-)

Originally known as North Criningan Reserve (and informally as Crinigan Road), the Falcons' new home on the northern edge of Morwell was chosen because of its opportunity for expansion and proximity to Traralgon, which was less than 10 minutes from the site.

The Falcons moved to the vast precinct at the end of the 1980 season, in time for the 1981 Victorian Metropolitan League Division One season. The Falcons finished ninth in their first season, but were promoted to the Victorian State League as result of their strong financial position and commitment to building up North Crinigan Reserve from virtual farmland into outstanding soccer facility, which had already begun to take shape with the construction of the clubrooms and function rooms, both completed in 1982.

By 1987, the Falcons' committee, led by President Don Di Fabrizio, had rapidly expanded the footballing and social facilities the site, which by then had become among the biggest in Victorian football - with stadium lighting considered "second only to Olympic Park".

On March 14, 1992, with the Falcons having invested several million dollars of their own money into the development of GSEP after arriving at the venue in 1978 - taking it from bare farmland into the one of the finest sporting facilities in regional Australia - Latrobe City Council approved the sale of the precinct to the Falcons for $30,200.

"Morwell is a club that climbed up through the eight divisions of the Victorian Soccer Federation, won a Victorian Premier League title and then set itself the incredible task of successfully transforming its humble home ground into a superb stadium with a new multi million-dollar grandstand and social club that any sporting organisation would be proud of."

Upon entry into the National Soccer League in 1992, the facility was known as Falcons Park before becoming known as Mobil Park after a naming rights deal was struck with petroleum giant Mobil Australia, who maintained a presence in the nearby Gippsland Basin.

The ground achieved national acclamation upon completion of the Don Di Fabrizio grandstand, considered to be one of the finest pieces of architecture in Australian football.

After the club exited the National Soccer League in 2001 and returned to the Latrobe Valley Soccer League, the facility moved into private ownership before being acquired by Latrobe City Council in 2017, who embarked on a major redevelopment in conjunction with the Victorian State Government, due for completion in October 2026.

Colours and Crest

• Gippsland Falcons Logo (1995–2000)

Sponsors

Owing to the Italian influence in the club's creation, the Morwell Falcons have - for the vast majority of their history - played in a blue shirt in the similar hue as the Italian national football team. In the first few decades of existence, the club would mimic the Azzurri by playing in navy blue shirts and white shorts.

With the club entering Victoria's top league in 1982, the Victorian State League, the club added the Italian tricolour to a new v-neck jersey collar, coinciding with the arrival of the shirt manufacturer Inter. The club's junior teams had been playing in the v-neck tricolor since the 1970s. When playing away, the Falcons typically played in a white jersey.

The 1993–94 home jersey added a red colouring to the shoulder of the jersey. The home shorts were changed from white to blue, with a red, white and green tricolour was added to the shorts, denoting the club's connection to Italy.

In 1993–94, the away kit of that season was predominantly red for the first time, with hues of red and green before switching to a mostly white kit in 1994–95, with red and green stripes.

The change to jersey manufacturer Covo in late 1995 saw the adopt an entirely new home design for the 1995–96 season. For the first time, the Falcons would play in a sky blue jersey, adorned with multiple 'Falcons' logos across the front and back of the jersey. A red away reverse kit was also adopted in the same style.

The club returned to navy blue jersey between 1996 and 2000, adopting a near-identical style to Juventus' 1995–96 away kit, which was notable for a large yellow star on either sleeve - although Morwell's yellow star overlaid a yellow strip down the length of the sleeve. Again, the Falcons played in a red away kit.

A short-lived name change to Eastern Pride in 2000 brought another colour change, this time reverting to a mostly sky blue jersey with white panels, navy shorts and sky blue shorts.

When the club was re-launched as Falcons 2000, they initially played in the Gippsland Falcons' 1996-1999 kits, before moving to sky blue kits in the mid-2000s.

By 2010, the club had shifted to a style inspired by Inter Milan, with black-and-navy blue stripes becoming the preferred style as the Falcons won multiple league titles between 2015 and 2022.

The club would again adopt a majority sky-blue home kit in 2021, with Legea stepping in as kit sponsor for the first time.

The club announced it would partner with New Balance prior to the 2026 LVSL season.

1984 Victorian State Championship winning season

Despite finishing fourth in their first year in the Victorian State Men's League in 1982, the Falcons surprised all when they slipped to the 10th in 1983 despite significantly boosting their squad with key players like Jim MacLean, Alun Evans and Bobby McGuinness.

However, expectations for the 1984 season were raised for Latrobe Valley-based club when they recruited some key players - including Northern Irish youth international Gerry Clarke, Irish midfielder Stephen Moore and dynamic Englishman Russell Athersych - and ex-Fulham star Jimmy Dunne as head coach.

While Clarke went on to become something of an icon in Gippsland football in later life, coaching numerous local clubs, Moore's prowess in front of goal in 1984 - scoring 17 goals in 26 games - proved an incredible return from the midfied.

The Falcons won just one of their first five games but a 5-0 thumping of Knox City in round six ignited their season and they then claimed victory in six of their next seven matches to climb to the top of the league.

"I took a look at the Fawkner players before the game. They were all dressed in smart tracksuits and they were kicking a bloody Aussie Rules ball about. I couldn't believe it. I got into our dressing room and I told the lads we were against a bunch of posers, so let's get out and sort them right out - and we did."

A series of powerful victories - including a 6–0 thrashing of Knox City and a 4-0 hammering of St Albans - meant the Falcons were in the box seat to claim the highest honour in Victorian football, with the signing of Doveton striker Iain Stirton after round 14 proving to be an inspired choice after he was relegated to the Doveton bench by coach Hammy McMeechan. Stirton had an extraordinary impact, netting 10 goals in his first seven games for Morwell and adding another to finish with 11 for the season. Stirton would go on to score more goals than any other player for the Falcons at State League level - 46 goals in 101 games - before leaving the club at the end of the 1988 season.

Leading the league by two points, the Falcons needed only a draw in their final match against Albion Rovers to claim the title. A 0–0 draw at Selwyn Reserve in Albion ensured the Falcons would win their first ever state championship. A sterling performance by young Morwell local Effie Cassar stood out on the day, with Soccer Action journalist Peter Desira acclaiming the defender's "...safe, early passing game, (then) tackling tenaciously and moving forward with the aplomb of a veteran."

The Falcons then went on to win the post-season State League Cup, defeating Fawkner 9–8 on penalties in the semi-final before claiming a 1–0 victory over Maribyrnong Polonia in the final.

1989 Victorian State Championship winning season

The Falcons entered the 1989 Victorian State League having finished the 1988 season in 10th position, 11 points behind league champions Heidelberg United - who were subsequently promoted to the National Soccer League. Seeking to make their move up the table, Falcons' president Don Di Fabrizio spearheaded an ambitious off-season recruiting drive of overseas talent.

The second and third placed teams of 1988 - St Albans and Croydon City - were widely expected to contend for the 1989 title but the Falcons shocked the football world to soar back into contention for the league title, largely thanks to the goals of Darko Basara (11 goals) and New Zealand international New Zealand international Billy Wright (eight goals) - with Northern Irish import Ron Manley proving an astute mid-season pick-up, grabbing six goals in 13 games. Popular captain Jim McBride also hit six goals in 28 games and club veteran Sean Byrne - who did not miss a game all season - added five of his own.

After a critical slip up by equal-first placed Brunswick Juventus on the penultimate day of the season, losing 2–1 to Northcote City, the Falcons moved a point clear heading into the final round thanks to a crucial 0–0 draw at home to Frankston Pines.

Holding to their league lead by a point, the Falcons needed only a win against Ringwood City in the final game of the season to ensure they would be crowned champions for the second time.

In one of the Falcons' finest ever displays, Manley began the rout in the 13th minute before Roy Walsh doubled the Falcons' advantage just before half-time. Wright all but sealed the championship with his effort two minutes after the break before captain Jim McBride sent the capacity crowd at North Crinigan Reserve into a frenzy by making it 4–0 in the final minute.

In October, Morwell had a barnstorming Dockerty Cup run, highlighted by a 2–0 victory over NSL club Footscray JUST - who fielded a star-studded team including Socceroos' trio Mehmet Durakovic, Oscar Crino and Joe Palatsides - in the quarter-finals at Heidelberg. However, the Falcons ran out of steam in the semi-finals, losing 5–0 to eventual runner-up Altona Gate.

Honours

Club

Records

Highest Home Crowds

`` Crowds for this match were reported as "almost 9000" by ABSW and "more than 9000" by AAP/Sunday Herald Sun (see references)

Highest Away Crowds

Most NSL Games (1992-2001)

Most NSL Goals (1992-2001)

Most Victorian State League Games (1982-1992)

Most Victorian State League Goals (1982-1992)

Notable former players

• Australia Michael Anderson
• Australia Lachlan Armstrong
• New Zealand Mark Atkinson
• Australia Sash Becvinovski
• Australia Clayton Bell
• Scotland Brian Bothwell
• New ZealandRepublic of Ireland Sean Byrne
• England Steve Cain
• Argentina Claudio Canosa
• England Mike Conroy
• Australia Bobby Despotovski
• Scotland Ally Dick
• Serbia Aleksandar Đorđević
• New Zealand Sean Douglas
• Australia Steve Douglas
• AustraliaMontenegro Mehmet Duraković
• SingaporeSerbia Aleksandar Đurić
• England Alun Evans
• Australia Dean Fak
• New Zealand Mark Foy
• Australia Eugene Galekovic
• Australia Manny Gelagotis
• Australia Adam Griffiths
• Wales Jeff Hopkins
• MaltaAustralia John Hutchinson
• Australia Bojo Jevdjevic
• South Korea Dong-ki Kim[ko]
• Australia Jim Kourtis
• Australia Eddie Krncevic
• AustraliaScotland Jimmy Mackay
• Australia Brian MacNicol
• Australia Doug Marcina
• Australia John Markovski
• Fiji Esala Masi
• Fiji Manoa Masi
• Australia Steve Mautone
• Australia Scott McDonald
• Australia Scott Miller
• Republic of Ireland Noel Mitten
• England Andy O'Dell
• Australia Levent Osman
• Australia Shaun Parton
• Australia Robert Puca
• LebanonAustralia Michael Reda
• Scotland Sandy Robertson
• Australia Adrian Savage
• Australia Tony Sekulic
• Australia Sonny Sevin
• Australia Naum Sekulovski
• Australia Warren Spink
• Australia Marcus Stergiopoulos
• England Phil Stubbins
• Australia Ernie Tapai
• AustraliaNew Zealand Archie Thompson
• England Andy Thorpe
• Australia Garry Upton
• Australia Andy Vargas
• Australia Carlo Villani
• England John Waddell
• New ZealandEngland Billy Wright

Managers

Women's

Falcons 2000 has long prided itself on having girls and women's teams, with the club fielding teams in the metropolitan competition in the 1990s and early 2000s - known as the "Morwell Falcons Flyers" before later dropping the Flyers' moniker.

As soon as they were formed, the Falcons' women's team enjoyed immediate success in 1995, when they won that year's VWSA Lightning Premiership in Seaford. After winning their way through the group stage with victories over Yarraville and Clayton, the Falcons defeated Carringbush in the final on penalties 4–3 after the match finished 0-0.

The team featured Victorian representatives such as Kim Weeks and Amy Porter, with Porter named as the Hoar-Melvin Award winner in 1996 for being Victoria's most valuable junior state team player.

With the collapse of the Gippsland Falcons' professional men's team in 2001, then women's team was also disbanded and a team representing the "Gippsland Soccer League" took their place. However, the team continued playing in Eastern Pride's light blue kits.

A Falcons' women's team did not resume until 2008, when the Latrobe Valley Soccer League introduced a women's division for the first time. They played a solitary season in the LVSL finishing fourth - before resuming permanently from 2012.

In 2022, Falcons 2000's women's team won their first and so far only LVSL league title. In a remarkable season, Falcons went unbeaten throughout the year to claim their maiden women's trophy with Savannah Lapenta scoring 14 goals in 12 games to top the league's scoring charts.

Five-time club player of the year winner Sheedy Whadcoat was the first player to reach 200 women's games for the club, hitting the milestone in 2024, with Danica Di Ciero reaching the milestone in the same year.

Futsal

With the Morwell Falcons national ambitions a near-constant topic of media conversation during the 1980s as they emerged as one of the dominant clubs of the Victorian State League, the club made the decision to add a Futsal club, which competed in the National Indoor Soccer League (known as the James Hardie National Indoor Soccer League for sponsorship purposes), a tournament which ran from 1987 to 1989.

Futsal was extremely popular in Gippsland during the 1970s and 1980s, leading to the decision to bring the AMF's Victorian State Championships to the Morwell Indoor Sports Centre (now known as Latrobe Leisure Morwell) in November 1985.

The popularity of the indoor game in the Latrobe Valley and desire to compete on the national stage gave birth to the Latrobe Valley Falcons - or the Valley Ford Falcons as they known as part of a sponsorship deal with Ford Australia - who joined the league for a solitary season in 1989–90. It would be the last season of the competition before it was wound up, owing to the withdrawal of major sponsor James Hardie.

Playing out of the Moe Indoor Sports Stadium (today known as Stadium 34) the Falcons were the league's only ever regional representative.

In their only season, the Falcons finished in sixth position in the 10 team competition. The club's top scorer was Anthony Cassar, himself a key player with the Morwell Falcons in both the State League and in their first National Soccer League campaign in 1991-92. Other notable players included former Falcons' players, such as Sasha Pavlovic, Rodney White, Nigel Browne and Eric Sostak.

External links