Club History
Way back in 1984 a group of soccer mad workmates with the financial backing of the company they worked for, Laminex Industries, formed the Laminex Soccer Club. The club was set up primarily to serve as a social outlet for these workmates and fixtured itself into the then appropriately named Industrial League.
Based at St Kevins College in Bentleigh the club struggled through its infancy and there were tough times experienced both on and off the park by this small club. However these strugglers were determined and diligent in their perusal of keeping the club alive and were unaware that their hard work would pay off in the future.
Then in 1990 & 1991 respectively the club was to achieve its first taste of success taking out back to back Division 3 Championships.
Over the next few years there would be a number of near misses on the park but the best achievement would come off the park where an excellent new facility was gained as a home venue in 1993. Shipston Reserve in Cheltenham would become the new home ground where opposition teams would fear to visit in the years to come.
In 1995 a name change to Bayside Argonauts and some fortunate recruiting saw the club begin an unprecedented run of Championship titles. The club was to win Championships in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 along with Top 4 Cups in 1995 and 1997.
In 1999 the most significant development in the club’s history would take place with the establishment of a reserves team. This would not only expand the club but it would ensure it would have a sustainable future. The club had entered into the Premier League of the Amateur Soccer Federation of Victoria, where both the senior and reserve team would compete. The change of standard had no impact on a well-drilled Argonauts outfit that swept all opposition before it and took out the prestigious Amateur Premier League Championship. That meant 5 titles on the trot.
Despite finishing fourth on the table the next year, season 2000 would be the year the Argonauts would experience the club’s finest hour .A thumping 5-1 win in the final of the League Cup would finally bring home a title that had eluded the club for so many years even though it had come so close in the year’s gone by. So significant was this title to the club and its members that the celebrations continued well into the early hours of the morning.
Season 2001 was a struggle as the seniors finished mid table whilst the reserves earned a fourth placing on the ladder for the third year running. The highlight of the year came when the senior team finished runner up to Cafe Timor in a nail biting League Cup final that finished 4-3 in favor of Cafe Timor. In 2002 there were improvements with both teams finishing in fourth spot. The reserves again failed to do better than a fourth place on the ladder.
2003 was a season where the club enjoyed success on and off the park. The reserve team finally managed to do better than 4th spot finishing in 3rd position. The seniors just missed out on a glorious championship title on the last day of the season where they could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Albert Park when they needed to win against the eventual title winner. The title would go to Albert Park courtesy of just a 7 goal superior goal difference.
In 2004 the club’s two teams had reasonably average seasons with the seniors finishing fourth and reaching the semi finals of the League Cup.Off the park over 200 people attended the club’s annual dance to help celebrate the club’s 20th birthday in an emotion charged evening that lasted well into the early hours of the next morning Various people who had been involved with the club in one form or another re united to celebrate the club’s history..
Following the 2006 Season, a new energetic committee was elected to lead the club. The club immediately made an application to join the Football Federation of Victoria and were accepted into the newly formed Metropolitan league for season 2007. That year the club also launched the junior Goalkick program and introduced a new generation of Bayside Argonauts to the club. A thirds team was also introduced led by club legends Arthur Giannakis and Tony Roussos. On and off the field the club continued to grow and when an application was made to join the Provisional 3 League, the FFV responded positively. In 2008, the thirds ‘Galacticos’ joined the Argonauts and bought some silverware to the club winning the Thirds League convincingly. In 2008 the Senior Team now led by experienced coach Arthur Kourtis, was unlucky to achieve promotion, finishing 3rd. In 2009, the seniors went one better finishing runners up to Melbourne University and earning promotion to the Provisional 2 League. The club’s junior program also continued to grow with junior numbers now over 100.
In 2009 the club also celebrated it’s 25 year anniversary with a glamorous celebration dinner dance that attracted over 250 guests. The team of the first 1/4 century was announced with awards presented by former socceroo Alan Davidson.
Today the club finds itself well established and on good footing to continue development and growth. The hard work and endeavor that started off the club in 1984 has not been forgotten and the club strives to maintain the integrity that has seen it progress to this point. The club intends to continue to be the envy of its peers.
Much of the club’s success must be attributed to the men who formed the club and battled to ensure its survival. We now look forward to further realizing the club’s potential.
