Aki Ionnas on Jack Edwards Reserve upgrades: “The project has been a milestone for the club”

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Image credit: City of Monash website

The upgrade of Jack Edwards Reserve is well and truly underway, and the project, which is set to be completed at the end of 2025, is one that will improve multiple aspects of the club from increased attendance to unlocking important facilities for a women’s team in the near future.

The budget for the project is $14.73 million which is broken down through $4 million from State Government, $2 million from the Federal Government, $530,000 from the Oakleigh Cannons Football Club and $8.2 million from Council.

The key features of this mega project include:

– Construction of a safe 500 seat grandstand

– Instalment of 550 lux sports lighting for the main pitch

– Fencing & Pathways

– New pavilion and changing rooms

Soccerscene spoke with General Manager & Director of Football at the Oakleigh Cannons, Aki Ionnas to discuss what it looks like for the future of the club.

The progress at the ground has been steady thus far and it’s a project that has been in the talks for a long while, starting in September of 2021 with the State Government’s financial contribution before it officially began construction back on May 17th of 2024.

“It’s going fantastic, the works have started, and everything is going really well,” Ionnas said.

With a massive Australia Cup fixture on the horizon versus Sydney FC, the team they beat famously in the 2022 Quarter Finals at Jack Edwards Reserve, the move to Bundoora for this huge match is only going to be temporary.

After upgrades, Jack Edwards Reserve is sure to be ready to host these exciting, popular fixtures that will attract thousands into the stands and boost the already intimidating atmosphere.

“It’s at The Home of the Matildas because the club haven’t got lights to host night games at the moment but the first thing that will be installed will be the lights in November,” he said.

The new pavilion and grandstand supports the club’s goals to cater for a female team as well as host men’s and women’s double headers.

With a club of this size lacking an NPL Women’s side and the women’s game booming in popularity, Ionnas spoke on the importance of bringing one in, especially with the targeted upgrades.

“The club have talked about it quite a bit actually, it’s still a work in progress and it’s a goal of ours to have a team absolutely,” he said.

According to Ionnas, the project’s success and generous funding from multiple parties is a result of the hard work of Club President Stan Papayianneris and Chairman Kon Kavalakis, who lead this push for an upgrade that will shape the future of Oakleigh Cannons Football Club.

“This project has been a milestone, and I want to mention our Chairman Kon Kavalakis and our President Stan Papayianneris who have been instrumental in this project, it’s been a huge work in progress.”

“The person that started this was Kon Kavalakis who worked very closely with the local council and the state government to get this funding for the project. Stan Papayianneris has been working closely with Kon as well to get it over the line.”

This is a transformative project for the club, spearheaded by key figures in Kon Kavalakis and Stan Papayianneris. It promises to deliver in many aspects for the Cannons and solidify their future as one of Melbourne’s most successful football clubs.

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South Melbourne’s Australia Cup triumph reignites promotion and relegation debate

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Image Credit: The Greek Herald

South Melbourne FC’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Adelaide United in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 has reignited debate around promotion and relegation in Australian football, with Co-President Bill Papastergiadis stating the result is further proof that ambitious National Premier Leagues clubs deserve a pathway to the top tier.

The Victorian powerhouse produced one of the competition’s biggest upsets at Lakeside Stadium, overturning an early deficit to eliminate the Isuzu UTE A-League side and secure a place in the Round of 16.

While the result was celebrated as another example of the magic of the Australia Cup, Papastergiadis believes the victory carries a much broader message about the strength that exists outside Australia’s professional league.

Speaking following the win, Papastergiadis said South Melbourne’s performance demonstrated why the Australian football landscape should move towards a connected pyramid featuring promotion and relegation.

“The result was South Melbourne FC’s revenge 22 years in the making,” Papastergiadis said.

“It also demonstrates that clubs in the National Premier Leagues have the quality, professionalism and ambition to compete with A-League opposition when given the opportunity.”

For years, South Melbourne has been one of the strongest advocates for structural reform within Australian football, consistently calling for an open pyramid that rewards sporting merit rather than maintaining a closed league system.

Papastergiadis argued that Australia Cup fixtures continue to showcase the depth of talent throughout the domestic game, with NPL clubs regularly proving they can challenge and defeat professional opponents despite operating with significantly fewer resources.

He believes these performances should not simply be viewed as isolated “cupsets”, but as evidence that Australia’s football ecosystem is ready to embrace a promotion and relegation model that provides ambitious clubs with a genuine pathway to the top flight.

The result against Adelaide United adds another significant chapter to South Melbourne’s storied history. One of Australia’s most successful clubs, South Melbourne has long maintained aspirations of returning to the national stage, backed by a passionate supporter base, strong infrastructure and a proud footballing tradition.

For Papastergiadis, victories such as Thursday night’s reinforce the argument that clubs should earn opportunities through performances on the pitch.

“The Australia Cup continues to show what’s possible when clubs from different levels of the football pyramid compete against one another,” he said.

“Our football should be built on opportunity and merit. Clubs that perform consistently and invest in their communities should have the chance to progress to the highest level.”

South Melbourne will now turn its attention to the Round of 16, where it will look to continue its impressive cup run.

Beyond the result itself, however, the victory has once again fuelled discussion around the future of Australia’s football structure and whether the growing strength of clubs outside the A-League should accelerate the push towards a fully connected national competition.

Barnsley FC’s under-17s pathway delivers six Zone League debuts in 2026

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Barnsley FC has integrated six of its under-17s players into first and reserve grade football during the 2026 Zone League season, the Hunter Valley club has confirmed.

The elevations include a debut in goal at first grade level and a goal scored by another player promoted to third grade, as the club continues to formalise the pathway connecting its junior and senior programs across the 2026 season.

Team Operations Coordinator Josh Boote said the movement of players between grades had been a deliberate focus through the season.

“We have had six boys from the under-17s come up and play Zone League, with one making his debut in goals in first grade,” Boote said.

Barnsley FC head coach Jacob Avellis said the under-17s squad had trained and competed alongside senior sides throughout 2026.

“The under-17s have been a part of our season all season. We support them, they support us,” Avellis said.

Zone League is the third tier of competition within Northern NSW Football, administered jointly by Newcastle Football, Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football, the three sub-federations covering the region. The competition spans three divisions and around 35 clubs across more than 10 local government areas.

Clubs can be promoted from Zone League into Northern League One, the tier above, while individual players who progress through zone competition remain eligible for representative selection at state level.

Midfielder Oliver Cousin was handed the reserve grade captain’s armband late in a recent match, a decision the club attributed to his consistency and development through the season. Barnsley FC described the appointment as an example of the club’s junior-to-senior structure in practice.

Avellis said the club’s junior programs continued to depend on volunteer coaches and administrators to function alongside its representative pathway.

“They are all keen to get up in Zone League and be a part of the squad. The potential within those teams is unreal,” Avellis said.

Barnsley FC positioned the approach as part of a broader aim to retain local talent as players progress through age groups, a persistent challenge for clubs operating across the Hunter region’s geographic spread.

The club said its focus for the remainder of the season and into 2027 would be on formalising the pathway further, including clearer criteria for movement between grades and continued integration of junior training with senior programs.

Part of a wider strategic push

Northern NSW Football oversees development across the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and New England regions, with Zone League forming part of a broader structure that includes representative and state pathways feeding into national systems.

The club-level movement aligns with a priority set out in NNSWF’s 2024 to 2026 Strategic Plan, which includes Talent Development for All as one of four core pillars alongside participation, facilities and governance.

NNSWF has previously stated the plan has driven measurable growth in registrations and competition strength across the region, including in women’s and girls’ football, since it was introduced.

A new strategic plan covering 2027 to 2029 is in development, with NNSWF engaging Sports Advisory Partners Australia to lead consultation with clubs, zones, volunteers and staff across the coming months.

Barnsley FC positioned its own pathway work at under-17s level as consistent with that broader direction, with junior and senior programs run under a single club structure rather than managed as separate entities.

The club’s first and reserve grade Zone League sides are scheduled to continue through the competition’s regular season before finals, with the under-17s squad remaining integrated into senior training in the interim.

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