Over 300 guests attended the Billy Vojtek testimonial dinner dance last Saturday evening at the Melbourne Croatia Social Club in honour of one of the club’s most lovable superstars.
The small yet explosive striker played for various incarnations of the club we now know as the Melbourne Knights, but once upon a time, way back in 1960, Billy Vojtek watched his first ever game when the Red, White and Blue of Croatia SC took on Sunshine City at Gardens Reserve in the Metropolitan Division 1 North. Croatia ran out 1-0 winners over Sunshine, but more importantly the love affair between Vojtek and his beloved Croatia was born. He confessed during the night that when he watched the game he said to himself, ‘I want to play for this team, that was my dream.’
Dreams weren’t to come true right away. The following season Vojtek’s father took his sons Jimmy and Billy to Corio Park to play. Croatia was based in Geelong and it wasn’t until 62’ when long time Croatia secretary Frank Burin brought Croatia to Tracey’s Speedway (Maribyrnong Park) in Western Melbourne to play.
The night began with current Knights president Ange Cimera welcoming all guests before the three course dinner was served.
It was then time for the formalities to begin. Knights secretary Melinda Cimera expertly read out Billy Vojtek’s testimonial written by Roy Hay which was also published in GoalWeekly.

THE Youtube clip is only a few years old but already looks like a relic from a hard-to-remember past. The tone is optimistic, the future seemingly bright as Les Murray introduces the news story about the Melbourne Knights' partnership with Melbourne United - a candidate for the brave new A-League being put together by billionaire Frank Lowy.
''Melbourne Knights are set to play a big role in a proposed new national league team,'' Murray begins.
The plans sound exciting. A listing on the stock exchange, average crowds of 10,000-20,000 for the new club within three years. The Knights to play a key role, acting as a feeder club for the new entity, described as ''Australia's own version of Manchester United''.
Those plans may have been pie in the sky. They certainly seem a long way from reality now.When the Knights were claiming back-to-back National Soccer League titles in 1995 and 1996, crowds of up to 12,000 packed Somers Street to watch Europe-bound young stars such as Mark Viduka, Danny Tiatto, Steve Horvath and Josip Simunic.
In recent weeks, crowds have fallen below 800 as the club sits stone cold last on the Victorian Premier League table, seemingly destined for relegation to the suburban tundra of State League One.

WITH overseas clubs circling, it did not take long for the Melbourne Knights teams of the title-winning 1994-95 and 1995-96 National Soccer League seasons to break up.
But for a few brief hours during the club’s reunion weekend, the Knights were able to re-assemble the majority of both squads.
It was the first time either squad had largely been in the same room together since those championship wins.
Many of the club’s biggest names were involved.
Mark Viduka, whose name adorns the stand at Knights Stadium, was in attendance at Saturday night’s gala ball, which featured a video presentation of each grand final and clips of media coverage of both seasons.

The Melbourne Knights are still winless after a disappointing performance against the undefeated and in-form side of the competition Hume City, going down 2-0 away at SS Anderson Reserve.
Despite the score-line, it was a tight contest between the two sides. Hume was lucky to take the lead through a goal keeping blunder late in the first half which effectively won the game for the home-side.
The early stages of the match saw the Knights have the better of play. With the Knights being rather unlucky not to go ahead with one opportunity which saw some desperate Hume defending clear away a shot on an open goal, as well as an incident where calls for a penalty for an apparent handball waived away by the referee.

The Melbourne Knights have learnt two very important lessons in their last two games. The season opener against Dandenong showed why 100% intensity is required right at the start of the match to overcome an opponent mentally. This week’s game against Heidelberg United showed that although playing excellent football at a great pace, a two goal buffer can count for nothing in the dying minutes and lose you two points.
The Knights opened the game up against Heidelberg in front of 2,000 fans on Monday night and were immediately on top of play with piercing runs on the right wing coming from Adrian Zahra and Josip Magdić, causing havoc for the slow Heidelberg defence which featured ex-Knights captain Craig Elvin. Fan favourite and returning star Danny Tiatto slotted nicely in the central midfielder role with Ben Surey, controlling the tempo of the game superbly and not giving the ageing Heidelberg side a chance.

Prodigal son Danny Tiatto has returned to his old stomping ground, the Melbourne Knights.

The 23-cap Socceroo appears set to end his career with a guest stint at the club at which he made his name, after agreeing to his return with Knights president Ange Cimera earlier today.

He is likely to play the club’s opening two home games – the first against Heidelberg United on Monday March 8 – before deciding on his future.

“We’re absolutely rapt,” Cimera said, adding Tiatto had signed as an amateur and would play for free.

“What he is saying is that he got his name here through the Melbourne Knights.  He originally said he’ll play our first two home games … then he’ll see how he feels and how his body takes it and he’ll then decide what to do.”

Tiatto, 36, left A-League club Brisbane this season after falling out with coach Ange Postecoglou.

The Melbourne Knights 2010 jersey presentation and player auction took off last Saturday night. Distinguished guests, players and sponsors were all in attendance for an intimate evening with Gola Gitara and outgoing Master of Ceremonies Frankie Franjić.
The Melbourne Croatia Social Club hosted over 150 people which saw the Knights raise over 35,000 in pledges which will dramatically help the club in the first few months of the season.
Newly arrived imports Tomislav Škara and Tomislav Pleš modelled the new 2010 season jersey which was produced by Mitre. The kits are a return to the past – a plain red shirt, white shorts and blue socks as the home strip and plain all white for the away. Both feature the much loved old Knights logo which the club campaigned hard to get back.
At the end of last season, the club was in tatters. The chairman had left, the players followed suit and it looked as though there would be no new committee to keep the club going. Ange Cimera took the job up vowing not to let the ‘club go down the drain’. He assembled a small committe which has worked tirelessly to get to where they are now. The club has returned to its old logo...

The Melbourne Knights have taken out the 2010 Victorian Croatian Cup, defeating Dandenong City Hajduk in the final 2 goals to 1.
New signing from the USA Tomislav Skara played well during the four game tournament, as did outstanding reserves players Josip Franjic and Michael Grgic.
Wins against North Geelong and St. Albans (both 1-0) ensured the Knights would make the final against a near full strength Dandenong side boasting ex-Knights players Ivan Gelemanovic and Dario Matkovic.
President of Dandenong City Tony Dorotic was happy with the turnout and labelled the tournament as a resounding success. "It's important that we keep this tournament going. It's important that our Croatian clubs get together and keep our ties and bonds strong."
Knights coach Ivan Duzel was pleased with the result. "I told the boys that we were aiming to make the final...

The Melbourne Knights are a new-look outfit in 2010, coach included, with an eclectic group of players coming together in the hope of improving on the Knights’ ninth placing in 2009.

New coach and former Knights player Ivan Duzel has been in charge since October, and said it had taken some hard yards to piece together the playing list.

“The club was without players, only 22 players left (after 2009) with two or three young ones staying, so we worked very hard to get this competitive side together.

“We’re carrying players from everywhere - Canada, Perth, Croatia, England - so all these 15-16 players, I believe we’re going to be competitive this year.”

Speaking after the Knights’ 1-1 draw in a pre-season friendly with Green Gully, Duzel said the Knights had compiled a strong list with international experience, which was bound to improve on 2009’s results.

MELBOURNE Knights' star Canadian import Tommy Ples says he is ready to spearhead the side's strike force for the 2010 Victorian Premier League season and hopes to score as many goals as former Knights' player Mark Viduka did in his time with the club during the mid-1990s.

The 23 year old was recruited by the Knights from Canadian club Toronto Croatia, where he scored an impressive 13 goals last year. He is impressed with his new club's players and fans despite being in the country for only two weeks.

"Everything has been really good so far and the players and coaches are treating me very well," Ples said.

"We have a new team here and hopefully everyone will connect well before the season starts and I am looking forward to playing with these guys and proving that I am a good player.

A hat-trick from Sydney United's Luka Glavas has secured the 2010 Friendship Cup with the Knights putting in a very firm display against the more fancied 2009 NSW Champion.
The game opened with a flurry of possession for the home side but it was the Knights who looked the more dangerous on the counter-attack.
Liam Cannell surprised the experienced United defence in the fourth minute when he cut in behind stalwart Joe Vrkic only to see his shot from just outside the box rattle Vedran Janjetovic's upright.
Sydney's new signing Shane Lyons fought for control of the midfield with new Knights signings Ivica Praiz and Ben Surey, while up front the potent duo of former Sydney Olympic striker Michael Cindric and the pacey Glavas caused many headaches for the Knights defence marshalled by Daniel Rocco, Bryan Bran and Ryan Filipovic.

The Melbourne Knights will continue their preparations for the upcoming Victorian Premier League season in the coming months, with an arranged friendly against Sydney United on the cards.

Confirmed to take place just after the Australia Day holiday on Saturday, 30 January, the match in Sydney will provide a solid hit-out for both the Knights and United, as their respective State competitions approach.

A jovial atmosphere appears certain, with members from both sets of fans delighted with the friendly’s arrangement, as a large contingent of Knights supporters started making their travel arrangements in recent weeks.

The Melbourne Knights have always been a club that has been proud of turning it's young starlets into world-class players.
The golden generation of the Knights and Australian football for that matter, the mid 1990's, has passed. Players such as Mark Viduka, Joe Simunic and Danny Tiatto have all but retired.
Here, we have compiled a list of all the players the Knights have produced which are currently playing in the A-league, as well as an ex-Knights A-league First XI line-up.

Ex-Melbourne Knights target-man Andrew Barisic scored a goal and set up another off the bench to help Gold Coast United to a 2-1 victory over Central Coast at Skilled Park on Saturday evening.
It was the first time in the home side's short history that it had come from behind to steal the win, and the three points let Gold Coast leapfrog the Mariners on the A-League ladder.
Miron Bleiberg's men went into half-time looking decidedly average and lacking in offensive drive, with Tahj Minniecon mostly ineffective at assisting Shane Smeltz up front.

The Melbourne Knights last week appointed club legend Ivan Đuzel as its new coach, continuing with their efforts to bring the club back to its roots. Đuzel’s appointment, coupled with a request to return to the club logo that was used during the Premiership years in the NSL, has been met with positive feedback by fans ...and people around the club when the news was broken on Wednesday afternoon.

In what has been very much a poisoned chalice since the Knights’ return to the Victorian Premier League, Đuzel is intent on staying and bringing about a positive on-field effect in the short and long term after the departure of Chris Taylor, whose turbulent final season at Somers Street showed effects of strain in the second half of the campaign. The former midfield maestro, despite the enormity of the task in front of him, is delighted with the move.