History - History 1
The club was founded by Albanian migrants in 1970 and originally played under the name 'South Dandenong'. Today, the remnants of the clubs original founders is still seen, with the club still backed by a large majority of Albanian-Australians living in Melbourne and an ever growing football-fan base derived from the local and surrounding suburbs. 'South Dandenong' started competing in the Victorian District League (East Division), which was the eighth tier of football in the Victorian Football Pyramid. For decades 'South Dandenong' played in the lower divisions until the mid 90's when the clubs competitiveness finally took off. In 1994 'South Dandenong' then playing in State League Division 3, managed to move up a tier every year following until they reached the Victorian Premier League in 1998.
1990s
After a successful 1997 season, 'South Dandenong' were crowned champions of Victorian State League (Division 1). 'South Dandenong' played their first ever Victorian Premier League season in 1998. Being led by their player-coach Fadil Muriqi, the team managed to stay in the Victorian Premier League after finishing the season in 12th place. In the following year (1999) The team was not so lucky, and failed to avoid relegation resulting in them being demoted back down to (State Division 1).
2000-present
'South Dandenong' won promotion again to the exclusive Victorian Premier League in 2001 but were relegated again as the season ended.
At the end of the season 'South Dandenong' was to be no more, and underwent a name change to the "Dandenong Thunder" we see alive and kicking today. Since 2001 "Dandenong Thunder" seemed happy to spend seven competitive years in (Division 1) before the club decided to make a push for a higher level of competition. In 2007 with hopes of reaching the pinnacle of state football again the club signed boom recruits Veton Korcari from Richmond SC as well as Louis Brain, a former player with Adelaide United in the A-League. Joe Di Iorio, Marcus Stergiopoulos, Alfonso Opazo and Levent Osman were other big names who put on the Thunder jersey for a successful 2009 season.
1990s
After a successful 1997 season, 'South Dandenong' were crowned champions of Victorian State League (Division 1). 'South Dandenong' played their first ever Victorian Premier League season in 1998. Being led by their player-coach Fadil Muriqi, the team managed to stay in the Victorian Premier League after finishing the season in 12th place. In the following year (1999) The team was not so lucky, and failed to avoid relegation resulting in them being demoted back down to (State Division 1).
2000-present
'South Dandenong' won promotion again to the exclusive Victorian Premier League in 2001 but were relegated again as the season ended.
At the end of the season 'South Dandenong' was to be no more, and underwent a name change to the "Dandenong Thunder" we see alive and kicking today. Since 2001 "Dandenong Thunder" seemed happy to spend seven competitive years in (Division 1) before the club decided to make a push for a higher level of competition. In 2007 with hopes of reaching the pinnacle of state football again the club signed boom recruits Veton Korcari from Richmond SC as well as Louis Brain, a former player with Adelaide United in the A-League. Joe Di Iorio, Marcus Stergiopoulos, Alfonso Opazo and Levent Osman were other big names who put on the Thunder jersey for a successful 2009 season.
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