FC Melbourne Srbija (Serbian Cyrillic: äàÃÂõûñÃÂÃÂý áÃÂñøÃÂð), commonly known as Melbourne Serbia (formerly known as Fitzroy City Srbija Soccer Club from 1991 to 2022), is a semi professional football club in Australia based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club was founded by Serbian Australians in 1963 and currently competes in the Victoria Premier League 1.
The club was founded in 1963. In 1966 the club became a member of the Victorian Provisional League and in the same year renamed to Carlton Serbia. The club was founded primarily by members of the St. Sava Orthodox Church in Carlton, Victoria. Carlton Serbia played most of their home games in the inner suburbs of Melbourne and featured mainly players from the local Serbian Australian Community. Subsequently, the club merged with Ringwood United and became known as Ringwood Serbia. In 1991 the club became Fitzroy City or Fitzroy Serbia and played its games at the old ground of the ex VFL/AFL club Fitzroy Lions at Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy, noticeable players of the club including Nik Kovacevic, Zlatko Mihajlovic, Miki Sedlarevic, Sasha Milenkovic and Nick Gameras. Enjoying their best results ever:
Supporters and Legacy Fitzroy City "Srbija" is the oldest Serbian backed soccer club in Victoria. The supporters of Fitzroy City "Srbija" are known as the "Melbourne Srbija Firma" (MSF).
Fitzroy City Serbia rose to the Victorian Premier League (VPL) in 2002, the highest level in Victorian football at which the club has competed. The season concluded with the club being relegated, finishing on 22 points. Among several notable moments, the clubâÂÂs standout performance came in a 4âÂÂ1 victory over the then-mighty Port Melbourne Sharks.
On 2 February 2000, Fitzroy City had the honour of hosting an iconic exhibition match against former European and World Champions Red Star Belgrade in Melbourne at Heidelberg United's Olympic Park in Heidelberg West, Victoria. Despite taking an early lead, Fitzroy were defeated 3âÂÂ1. Bojo Jevdeviàearned man of the match honours, holding Red Star at bay throughout the first half.
During the 2006 season, the club competed in State League 3 SE, finishing 6th. Nikola Veljoviàended the season as the leagueâÂÂs top scorer with 23 goals.
In 2009, Fitzroy City reclaimed pride by winning the Victorian Provisional League Division 1 South East, capped by a 6âÂÂ0 final-day victory over rivals Mooroolbark. Nathan Jones finished as the club's top scorer with 10 goals.
In 2010, Fitzroy City returned to State League 3 finishing 5th. Henry Wootton earned the club's Best and Fairest and Top Goal Scorer awards. Other winners included Shannon Griffin (Best Young Player), Valina Clearwater (Women's Best and Fairest), and Prudence Robertson (Women's Top Goal Scorer).
The 2012 season concluded on a high note, with Fitzroy City finishing second behind Doveton and ahead of Springvale Bosna, securing promotion to State League 2 NW.
In 2024, FC Melbourne Srbija secured promotion to Victoria Premier League 1, where the club currently competes, and reached the Round of 16 in the Australia Cup, marking their most successful national campaign to date. The club capped off the year by being crowned champions of the 2024 Karadjordje Cup.
2025 saw FC Melbourne Srbija establish itself in Victoria Premier League 1 by reaching the Promotion Playoff Semi-Final, where the club was narrowly defeated 4âÂÂ3 by Melbourne City FC. The team also finished as back-to-back Champions of the Karadjordje Cup, adding to its growing list of honours.