There has been many ups and downs during the Moranbah Bulldogs' 40-year history. Mark Johnstone has been with the club since 1988 and has seen a lot in the 27 years he has been there.
He said the club would celebrate their 40th anniversary with an event this weekend.
"We're planning on a bit of a dinner and some celebrations out at the clubhouse," Johnstone said.
"We'll have Sam Kekovich coming up as our guest speaker - so that will be fun."
Johnstone said it had been a struggle to keep the club going at times during the four decades.
"There were a few lean years when we didn't have a football side but we managed to get back on our feet and it culminated in the premiership last year," he said.
Johnstone said when the club began they played in the Mackay competition from 1975 to 1982.
"After that the Central Highlands League was formed and that's when I first started playing," he said.
"We had a pretty good side and then.... we had a bit of a lean patch in the early 90s where we had to drop back to a nine-a-side competition because of a lack of numbers with the drop in the coal mining industry at the time.
"Then we had a few years where there was no football out here... then in the 90s we came back into the Mackay competition."
Johnstone said they struggled initially after re-joining the Mackay competition but continued building.
"In 2012 we were competitive and the next year and then it all led to the premiership last year," he said.
Although Johnstone has not been with the club since it was established he said he had seen "hundreds and hundreds of players" come through the doors.
Johnstone is a handy player himself, playing his 200th game last season, though he has hung up the boots now.
"I've basically held down most positions with the club - secretary, president and even coach," he said.
"Even when we had the lean years with no football I was umpiring in Mackay, just to stay involved in footy."
To stick around the club for 27 years, there has to be a good reason, and Johnstone said there was.
"Even when we were struggling we still had a good team spirit," he said.
"Socially we're a good bunch of blokes and it's always good to have a beer with everyone.
"That's probably what has kept me involved in the club - one, we're a good social club and two, I love the game and I want to keep it going out in Moranbah."
Last Modified on 03/08/2015 22:31