A mini Cup fairytale is brewing in Melbourne with Kings Domain FC on a hot winning streak - not bad for a community club full of students, builders, teachers and electricians under a first-season coach who wants to emulate South Springvale's Cup run in 2014.
The Kings are heading into their second season in the State League 5 East competition – having previously being in the VicSoccer Premier League as the Melbourne City Spartans.
The yellow and black have had to come through a qualifying tie against Balmoral FC – which they won 5-0 – just to get to the preliminary rounds.
Once there, Kings followed it up with wins against West Preston (2-1) and Lyndale United (4-2) over the last fortnight.
Next up is a clash with State League 1 outfit Cairnlea FC, another huge step up for Harry Djumas’ troops who sense it's their time for a serious Cup run.
“We’re excited to be the little kid on the block and trying to take out the big boys," Djumas told www.theffacup.com.au.
“We’d like to be able to do something similar to what teams like South Springvale or even Bentleigh Greens did and I think we are capable of it.
“The boys are great. They work very hard and play for their mates and for the shirt.
"They don’t get paid or anything like that, everything they do is for their team-mates which is a good thing.”
As the Kings showed in their step-up to the State League last season, they relish the chance to take on some of the state’s more highly-credentialed sides.
The part-timers train twice a week and are made up of a mixture of students, builders, teachers and electricians.
Just getting this far has been a huge achievement for the small but emerging club, which has just four senior teams, three men’s and one women’s side.
But Djumas, who is in his first season coaching the club, says the chance to make their mark on the national stage is a great reward for his players and the clubs commitment and perseverance.
“A lot of people downgrade the lower leagues but these boys have a lot of ability,” he said.
“We have the usual issues with ground access and the availability of facilities but the lads work hard and are quality players.
“It’s a good environment around the club, we like to play nice soccer and these boys are here because they want to be and there’s a real community feel to the team and the club."
Kings Domain FC play out of South Yarra, and are one of the closest clubs to Melbourne’s CBD. They are proud of their inclusive community club.
“It will be very interesting [against Cairnlea] and a challenge for the boys but it will be good for them.
“The difference in the lower leagues is you might get away with a mistake here or there, but when you come up against the guys in state league one you can’t afford to do it."Djumas added: "We’ll give them a run for their money.”
Preliminary rounds for the 2015 edition of the Westfield FFA Cup are in full swing right around the country.
A host lower tier clubs are looking to cause a few shocks and qualify for the Round of 32 to kick off in late July when Hyundai A-League clubs join the draw.
For more information on the Westfield FFA Cup draw click here
*Image courtesy of FFV and Cindy Nitsos
