Late Con Economos honoured with life membership by Football South Australia

South Australia’s first Greek football journalist and West Adelaide Hellas founding member was celebrated posthumously for 47 years of dedication to local football and Greek Australian sport

Life membership recipients of Football South Australia—and, for those posthumously honoured, such as Con Economos, their proud children and grandchildren—were on hand to celebrate the moment. Photo: Supplied

Staff writers
20 October 2025 3:01pm

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The late Con Economos (Κώστας Οικονόμου) was posthumously awarded life membership to Football South Australia in September 2025, in recognition of 47 years of service to South Australian football from 1963 to 2010.

Con Economos was South Australia’s first Greek football journalist, reporting extensively on the local football scene—and particularly West Adelaide Hellas, between 1964 and 1978, for Neos Kosmos and other Greek media. Beyond sports journalism, he was a founding member and inaugural treasurer of West Adelaide Hellas in 1963, later serving as secretary and on various committees, leaving an indelible mark on the club and the wider football community.

Con Economos, South Australia’s first Greek football journalist, reported on local football and West Adelaide Hellas from 1964 for Neos Kosmos and other Greek media. Photo: Supplied

Dimitri Economos told Neos Kosmos that his father “was not the type to seek recognition for his efforts.”

The life membership award was proudly received by his grandson, Kosta Economos, on behalf of his grandfather, with Kosta and his father Dimitri donning Hellas scarves to mark the occasion. It was a moment of pride for the Economos family, West Adelaide Hellas, Neos Kosmos, and the football community of South Australia.

The late Con Economos was posthumously awarded life membership to Football South Australia in September 2025 for 47 years of dedicated service. Photo: Supplied

“I feel honoured and proud of his achievements and the fact that he has been recognised by the sporting club and football family he loved,” Dimitri said. “I am equally proud that my son received the award on behalf of his grandfather.”

The award follows years of dedicated effort by Dimitri Economos, who in late 2021 began the meticulous task of compiling a nomination to honour his father’s contributions. Dimitri spent countless hours reviewing almost 1,000 articles Con Economos wrote on South Australian football between 1964 and 1978, stored at the State Library of South Australia, ensuring his father’s legacy would be formally recognised.

“My father was affectionately known as ‘Mr Hellas’ to those who read his work and knew him,” Dimitri said.

Con Economos’ dedication to football and Greek Australian journalism inspired many other Greek Australian sports journalists and highlights the vital role the Greek community and media have played in shaping South Australian sport.