SOCCER
LVSL
STAFF WRITERS
FORTUNA ’60 Soccer Club held its presentation night for season 2023 recently.
The season just gone was a record-setting year for the club in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.
At the commencement of the evening, the club unveiled its 10th senior men’s league winning strip to the 130 people in attendance. In doing so, Fortuna became the first club in the history of soccer in Gippsland to achieve this feat.
The attainment of the 10th senior league title may be matched moving forward, but no other club will be able to say they got there first.
During the course of the evening, the club said farewell to the 2023 senior coaching team of Hayden Tanti and Joel Pirotta, and ensured they were aware that they become part of club folklore by coaching the senior men’s team to the elusive and now obtained 10th senior men’s title.
The outgoing senior coaching duo welcomed incoming senior men’s coaches, Michael McAuley and Jordan Campbell for 2024, and there was a definite buzz in the room with close to 90 per cent of the senior playing group recommitting to the club for next season.
It was also acknowledged that the senior men’s team won several inter-club cups this year – the Italian Australian Cup against Falcons 2000 and also the 2024 Anzac Day Cup against Churchill United.
There is now 10 senior league titles, four senior cups and several senior final series trophies displayed in the club’s ever-growing trophy cabinet.
Presentation was also a night for celebration the Fortuna reserves team, who again won the league title and picked up the Yallourn Shopwell Trophy for 2024.
With current reserves coach Luke Cheney re-signing for 2024, the future looks bright for the Orangemen.
The 2024 reserves league title is number 18 for the club, and this goes along with 16 cup victories over the club’s history, again feats that show the depth of the club’s playing ranks over an extended period of time.
Fortuna’s senior women did not miss out either on exciting news on the night, as Fortuna stalwart Dion Tanti was announced as the 2024 senior women’s coach.
In a year of near misses, the senior women finished third in the league and runner-up in the Browne-Huizer Cup Final.
The senior women’s league is the one piece of silverware eluding the orange end of Crinigan Road, Morwell, and the club is determined to pull out all stops to bring this title to Fortuna in 2024.
The conclusion of the evening saw the induction of two new life members into Fortuna ’60 SC – Michael McAuely and Barry Marino. Both have provided exceptional service and loyalty to the club over many years.
With a year of success at Fortuna SC like no other, it sees Morwell and the LVSL still painted in a shade of orange until at least the start of the 2024 season. No doubt the Lions will be keen to ensure they keep the league competitions orange for the 2024 season also.
Top marks: Fortuna 60 senior men’s best player and golden boot, Jordan Campbell.
Congratulations: Jacki Hanlon Award winner Natalie Gordon.
Service: Michael McAuley and wife Tracey upon Michael’s induction as a Fortuna life member.
Honour: Newly-inducted Fortuna ’60 Soccer Club life member Barry Marino with wife Vicki.
