Club History
There are newspaper references to a Woodville Football Club dating back to the 19th century but the modern club was formed in 1938 to play in local amateur competitions. In 1959 the SANFL was looking to expand the competition from eight to ten teams and selected Woodville and Central District Football Club to enter the SANFL reserves competition on a five-year apprenticeship before gaining admission to the league competition in 1964.
Its inaugural season was an indicator of its success (or lack thereof) for the remainder of its existence. It won just three matches, all against Central Districts. In its 27 seasons in the SANFL, Woodville reached the finals only three times: in 1979, 1986 and 1987; its best result was 3rd position in 1986.
Woodville’s most successful player was Malcolm Blight, who won a Magarey Medal and gained selection in the All Australian team in 1972. He would later play for North Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), winning a Brownlow Medal in 1978. He returned to Woodville in 1983 as Captain/Coach, leading the club through its most successful period.
As a struggling club with limited fans and finances, there were regular calls throughout the 1980s to merge Woodville with another club. In 1990, with the imminent entry of the South Australian based Adelaide Crows into the national Australian Football League, it was decided to amalgamate Woodville with neighbouring West Torrens Football Club. In an apt moment, Woodville and West Torrens were drawn to play each other in their respective final games. The two sides merged after the completion of the 1990 season and have since participated in the SANFL as the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
Read more about this topic: Woodville Football Club
Famous quotes containing the words club and/or history:
“We have ourselves to answer for.”
—“Jennie June” Croly 1829–1901, U.S. founder of the woman’s club movement, journalist, author, editor. Demorest’s Illustrated Monthly and Mirror of Fashions, pp. 24-5 (January 1870)
“I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth; at least of possibility—I wish the history to be natural though the sentiments are refined; and the characters to be probable, though their behaviour is excelling.”
—Frances Burney (1752–1840)