The club changed name again in 1982 to Melbourne Croatia and during the period lobbied for entry to the relatively new National Soccer League (NSL, established 1976), along with their sister-club Sydney Croatia. That same year saw a return to the state’s top-flight and another league win, repeating the feat in 1979. To get around this, the club bought-out struggling Victorian Division One Ukrainian-backed club Essendon Lions, changing the name to Essendon Croatia by 1978. Supporters claimed that political motives also played a part in the decision, particularly from some in power with links to the Serbian community. In 1968 Croatia won their first Victorian championship, but were then expelled from the league in 1972 after fans invaded the pitch and attacked the ref after a sending off during a game against Jewish-backed club Melbourne Hakoah. Half the team broke away to merge with league winners Preston creating Preston Croat, but the two factions quickly reunited under the SC Croatia name in 1963 when both had ended up in the Premier state league, now playing out of Melbourne. Another merger was needed a couple of years later with a local Zagreb-specific side to keep the club going, after controversies surrounding the conclusion of the Victorian State League First Division (second tier in the state) had caused a split. The club’s base moved to Geelong in 1957, which was a Croatian community hub at the time, and a merger with the area’s own Croat team took place. Kit colours were chosen to reflect the Croatian flag, with red shirts, white shorts and blue socks. Ahead of their on-the-field debut in 1953, a need for players sent organisers looking around the city for talent and even to the port to recruit those freshly off migrant boats. Throughout the rest of the century, the club would be seen as a beacon of Croatian nationalism while the country was part of socialist Yugoslavia. Originating in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray in 1952, it will come as no surprise that SC Croatia – the future Melbourne Croatia and current Melbourne Knights – was founded by members of Australia’s Croatian immigrant population. Like with People On The Pitch #15, we’re unexpectedly heading deep into the southern hemisphere for this one and to a land not usually known for football culture (unless we’re talking Aussie Rules), but with a distinctly Balkan-European flavour. It’s time for another episode of our eponymous flagship series here on ( click for all installments).
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