Wandin Football Club Brief History.
1900’s
Wandin Football Club was formed in 1909 with matches played in Victoria Road (what is now Anker’s Horse property). Other clubs included Lilydale, Warburton, Yarra Glen, Millgrove, Healesville and Woori Yallock.
However, according to the “Lilydale Express” the club went into recess in 1910.
1910s
The recreation Reserve in Clegg Road is selected and cleared in 1913.
Wandin join the Yarra Valley Football Association in 1915 wearing the colours Maroon with a light blue V.
Other clubs competing included Lilydale, Healesville, Yarra Glen, Coldstream, Millgrove and Seville.
Games were suspended during the First World War 1915-17.
Some of the families involved included the Burgi, Hand, Henderson, Payne, Hunter, Sebire, Gaudion, Rouget, Bailey, Johnston, Aitken, Holden, Madden, Mitchell, Lord, Thompson and Overton families.
1920s
The Recreation ground hoped to have a shelter shed completed for the first game of 1921.
In 1924 at the last match of the year against Healesville, the players arrived late with only 13 men and the match commenced at 3.45pm and finished in darkness. They were beaten by 172 points however the Healesville players commented on their good sportsmanship.
Wandin and Seville amalgamated in 1925 with other clubs competing being Montrose, Yarra Glen, Lilydale, Healesville, Croydon, Woori Yallock and Silvan.
Wandin struggled on-field through the 20s with its best result finishing 4th in 1922.
1930s
Wandin and Seville decided to separate in 1934, competing with other clubs including Yarra Junction, Healesville, Yarra Rovers, Yarra Glen, Warburton, Powelltown, Lilydale, Millgrove, Woori Yallock and Silvan.
Again Wandin struggled on-field often finishing mid ladder.
Ray Rouget won 6 Best & Fairest awards during the 30s being 1934, 35,36,37,38 and 39.
Other players of note during the 30s were: Holden, Cowley, Boyes, Riseborough, Blanksby, Gaudion Brothers and Mitchell.
1940s
In 1940 a decision was made to purchase 5 one pound war certificates to help with the war effort which could be redeemed after seven years.
Football was abandoned from 1941 until 1944 due to the Second World War.
The Yarra Valley Football League recommenced in 1945 with Healesville, Warburton, Powelltown, Lilydale, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction, Millgrove and Wandin.
In 1946 the club accepted Bert Holden’s offer to transport players to away games in the back of his Market Truck for a small fee and Alan McColl won the League’s Best & Fairest award.
Wandin appeared in the finals in 1947, for the first time. Alan McColl was again the standout performer during the year kicking 17goals in one match followed by 12 goals the next week.
1948 saw Wandin complete one of the recruiting coup’s of the year in securing Bill Twomey Senior (of Collingwood fame) to coach the Club. It had the affect hoped for with the club bowing out in the preliminary final to the powerful Warburton side.
Unfortunately Twomey could not continue in 1949 and the club appointed Keith Cook but he was involved in an accident on the way to the dances in Seville, spent time in hospital and was unable to play again.
Players of note during the 40s included: Alan McColl, Perc and Laurie Gaudion, Ron Henderson, Ray Rouget, Arthur Cowley, Duck Riseborough, Harold Blanksby, Bill Rouget, Dave Johnston, George Jacobs and Doug Hunter.
1950s
The Wandin Hall was built in 1952 next door to the football ground; this allowed Saturday night dances to be held in Wandin rather than travelling to Seville.
Don Strachan was selected in the YarraValley interleague team in 1953 and was awarded the best player trophy against Croydon/ Ferntree Gully league.
Max Read won the league’s reserves best and fairest in 1954 which also saw Wandin lose to Warburton in the preliminary final.
In 1955 due to a lack of players, Wandin went into recess with some players moving to play with Woori Yallock. Don Strachan won their Best & fairest.
From 1956 to 1958 Wandin, Seville and Woori Yallock joined together to form Valley United wearing the red, white and blue colours.
In 1959, Wandin decided to reform wearing the Red, White and Blue colours with Ron Flectcher, who had been coaching Valley United, appointed senior coach. The club joined the Croydon/Ferntree Gully competition.
Players of note in the 50s were: Alan McColl, Don Strachan, Ron Henderson, Jack Bailey, John Davie, Max Reid, Ron Fletcher, Laurie Gaudion, Ray Rouget and Bill Rouget.
1960s
1961 saw Jack Bailey kick 11 goals against Mt Evelyn with Wandin finishing middle ladder in Division 2 of the newly formed Eastern Districts Football League.
Wandin reached the Grand Final for the first time in 1962 against the Basin only to suffer the heartbreak of being defeated by one point. Other teams competing were Silvan, Mt Evelyn Rovers, Ringwood Catholic Rovers, Yarra Glen, Bayswater and Norwood High School Old boys.
In 1963 Wandin held Silvan to No score in round 14, but finished 6th on the ladder.
Wandin fielded a Reserves team in 1964 for the first time, with the senior team finishing 8th on the ladder.
1965 saw Wandin beaten in the Preliminary final of Division 3 by Coldstream.
1966 Wandin again suffer the heartbreak of being beaten in the Grand Final by one point, this time by Olinda, who kicked 6.19 to our 8.6.
Again Wandin made the finals in 1968 but lost in the First Semi to Mt Evelyn.
Players of Note in the 60s were: Joe Poulter, Don Strachan, Jack Bailey, Sulev Matt, Max Rouget, Clive McPherson, Cliff Riseborough, Russell Kock, Ken Strachan, Rex Lister, Rod Clements, Rex Blanksby, Kevin Hasan, and Sam Dicello
1970s
The 70s saw Wandin finally win a premiership, several in fact. In 1972, after many years in the Eastern Districts Football League, Wandin decide to transfer to the newly formed second division of the Yarra Valley Mountain Districts Football League, competing against Seville, Marysville, Silvan south Belgrave and Powelltown.
1973 saw Wandin win its first ever premiership with the under 17 team. The team featured many young stars with Wayne Johnston as captain, Paul Hunter vice-captain, along with Neil Mitchell, Peter Mikk, Phil Russell, Geoff Spicer and Jim Hunt. The senior team With Don Kitto as senior coach, finished second on the ladder, only to be defeated by Marysville in the Grand Final. 1974 Wandin was beaten in the preliminary final by Yarra Junction. 1978 was a “watershed” year for the club winning its first senior premiership, as well as winning the reserves premiership, by defeating Emerald in both games.
1979 was an even better year for the club with the senior remaining undefeated and premiers, and the reserves also premiers.
Players of note in the 70s: Sam Dicello, Max & Brian Rouget, Kevin & Alan Hasan, Barry, Steven & Paul Hunter, Don Kitto Snr, Ray Lyons, Paul French, Wayne Johnston, Neil Mitchell, Luke Mathyssen, Ross Heinrich, Rob Clark, Geoff & Ian (Buddy) Watts, John Strachan and Bruce Bailey.
1980’s
1980 saw Wandin enter YVMDFL - 1st division after 2 successive premierships and had instant success finishing 5th, missing the four on percentage. In 1981 looking to improve on-field, Wandin utilised the “Croydon Connection” which saw Nick Blackmore, Rob Smith and Rod Lees arrive. Wandin finished 4th and appeared in the 1st Division finals for the first time. Paul French resigned as coach half way through 1982 and Rob Smith took over as Coach.
In 1985 Steve Williams was appointed coach with instant success, winning the premiership along with the reserves. Andy Goodwin won his first of many Best and Fairest award. 1986 saw Andy with the club and League B & F; however Wandin had slipped to last on the ladder and were relegated to 2nd Division. New coach Mark Hazeldene led from the front winning the League Best & Fairest in 1988 with the reserves winning the flag. 1989 saw Wandin play in 3 grand finals with the Reserves and Under 17s winning premierships.
Players on Note in the 80’s: Paul Hunter, Rob Smith, John Strachan, Bruce Bailey, Nick Blackmore, Geoff & Ian (Buddy) Watts, Neil Mitchell, Peter Neville, Ross Heinrich, Luke Mathyssen, Andy Goodwin, Mark Hazeldene.
1990’s
1990 saw Wandin back in 1st Division, with the long awaited 1st Division premiership arriving in 1992 under Steve Lennie, by defeating Healesville. Darren Bail won the 1st Division Senior Best & Fairest. 1993 saw another face-lift for the Wandin oval and a defeat in the Grand Final against Upwey-Tecoma.
1994 saw Chris Baxter take over the senior coaching job, however in a shock move Chris resigned and former premiership player Billy King stepping in for the last 6 games. Colin Brown won the 1st Division Senior Best & Fairest. Luke Morse was appointed coach in 1995, with the team again making the Grand Final but again loosing for the third time in a row.
The coaching movements continued with Mick Connell taking over in 1996 and the team finishing 4th. Paul Wolff was appointed coach in 1997 with Matt Peterson winning the League Best & Fairest, the first of many. In 1998, Donald Kitto Jnr kicked an astonishing 21 goals against South Belgrave in round 6, however were again defeated in the Grand Final. Donald also kicked 25 goals against Emerald in 1999, but to no avail as they lost another Grand Final. Marcus Smith won the 1st Division Reserves Best & Fairest.
Players of Note in the 90’s: Barry Pendleton, Donald Kitto Jnr, Darren Bail, Bill King, Andrew Coppens, Ian Idema, Matt Peterson, Peter & Leigh Brown, Tim Atkin, John Strachan, James Burton, Marcus Smith, Andy Goodwin and Paul Rouget.
2000’s
Andy Goodwin returned as senior coach in 2000, with the senior team again Runners-up, but the Reserves team led by Jarrod Morgan won the premiership. 2001 saw Craig Gislingham arrive as coach from Vermont with instant success with the seniors winning the Premiership after previously being runners-up 7 times.
We also saw the announcement of the “Team of the Century” and a fantastic celebration. Back to Back 1st Division Premierships arrived in 2002 with Daniel King winning the League’s Senior Best & Fairest and James Maddern winning the Reserves.
Matt Peterson takes over as coach in 2004 with the team finishing near the bottom of the ladder. Peter Mitchell was appointed coach in 2005 but missed out of the finals on percentage.
2006 saw Wandin introduce Netball after many, many years, with 2 teams. In 2007 Wandin changed its name to the Wandin Football/ Netball Club with the B grade Netball reaching the finals in only their second year. 2008 saw Paul Grayling as coach however they only won 4 games for the year. In 2009 a number of local families were affected by the devastating bush-fires, but the A & B grade Netball teams made the Grand Finals to provide some celebration.
The Centenary Ball was held on the 4th of July with over 200 people in attendance to celebrate 100 years of great memories.
(“Its a Grand Old Flag” by Don & John Strachan)
Last Modified on 10/02/2015 12:47