History

In 1886 it was reported in the North East Ensign that "the juveniles of Goorambat have sent in a challenge to the Benalla boys to play a game of football in Benalla on Saturday next. The challenge has been accepted and an exciting game will be the result." This certainly indicates that Australian Rules Football was up and about in the rural areas of the North East.

Goorambat Football Club commenced around 1893 and competed against local towns in and around Goorambat intermittently in unofficial matches in their very early years.

In 1899 there was a Nooramunga Football Club who wore a blue jumper with a yellow sash, that played their home games in Goorambat and played against - Benalla, Devenish, Samaria, Tatong, Thoona.

In 1900 Goorambat played in the Thoona District Football Association against the Benalla Half Day Holiday Club, Devenish and Thoona and matches were played on a Wednesday afternoon.

In 1901 Goorambat were invited to join an association with clubs - Benalla Half Holiday, Thoona & Winton, but we are not sure if this association got up and running.

There was a Moira Football Association between 1902 and 1905, comprised of the following teams - Benalla, Devenish, Lake Rowan, St. James & Thoona, but no Goorambat FC team was involved.

In 1906 the Moira and Tungamah Associations merged into the Benalla - Yarrawonga Football Association, made up of the following teams - Benalla, Burramine, Devenish St. James, Tungamah and Yarrawonga, but no Goorambat side.

In 1907 there was a Dookie Football Association comprising of Devenish, Devenish Ramblers, Dookie, St. James & Wattville, but still no mention of a Goorambat FC.

In 1906, 1907 & 1909 the Benalla Standard newspaper reported that Goorambat played games against the Goorambat East Kangaroos FC, with all these games played in Goorambat.

In 1909 club matches were played on the paddock of Mr. White's property, when the Goorambat - Stewarton - Upotipotpon Football Association was formed from the following teams - Devenish Goorambat, Lake Rowan, St. James & Thoona.

In 1910 Goorambat FC competed in the Goorambat - Thoona Football Association (GTFA) against Devenish, Emu Plains, Lake Rowan and Thoona, with Goorambat hosting the grand final in which Thoona beat Devenish.

In 1911 Goorambat re-joined the GTFA and played against Devenish, Lake Rowan, Thoona and Wattville.

In 1912 several local associations failed to reform and it appears that Goorambat were left without an association to play in.

In 1913 Goorambat played in the Devenish & District Football Association against Devenish, Dookie and Wattville.

In 1914 the Devenish - Dookie Football Association consisted of - Devenish, Dookie, Nalinga & Wattville, but no Goorambat.

It appears that the Goorambat FC was in recess between 1914 and 1921, apart from a few friendly matches.

In 1918 Goorambat played a "friendly" match against Dookie in Goorambat.

In 1921 Goorambat played Goomalibee in a "friendly" match in Goorambat.

In 1922 the Goorambat Football Association was formed from the following sides, Devenish Rovers, Goomalibee, Goorambat and Stewarton. Goorambat was part of this association in 1923 too.

It appears that Goorambat did not play in any local football associations in 1924, 1925.

In 1926 the only evidence of local football was one "friendly" match between Dookie and Goorambat.

In 1927 the Goorambat Football Club re-formed with the hope of playing in the Benalla - Yarrawonga Football Line Association, but their application was refused.

1928 - No evidence of the Goorambat Football Club in the local papers.

On the 23rd February, 1929 a meeting was held to reform the Goorambat FC at the local hotel, with the hope of playing in the newly formed Benalla Football Association, unfortunatley Goorambat did not end up playing in this competition.

No evidence of any Goorambat football matches in 1930, 1931, 1932 & 1933.

Goorambat Football Club entered the Tatong and Thoona Football Association (TTFA) in 1934 and played in this competition until 1938. Initially known as the Grasshoppers, or Hoppers and briefly The Plough Boys, they played off against Tatong in the 1935 grand final winning the by 26 points, 9.6 (60) to 4.10 (24).

The TTFA went into recess in 1940 due to the large number of player enlistments into the army during World War Two.

In 1947 Goorambat commenced in the Benalla and District Football League and enjoyed immediate success, overcoming Swanpool by a goal in that year’s grand final. Further grand final appearances followed in 1948 (lost to Dookie Collegians), 1949 (downed Benalla Thirds) and 1950 (went under to Winton).

The next few years were unproductive in flag terms, but the Bats, as they had by this time become known, rounded off the decade well by contesting the 1958 and 1959 grand finals, claiming their fourth senior grade premiership in the latter match thanks to a 16.10 (106) to 8.9 (57) defeat of Tatong.

The early to mid-1960s saw the Bats fielding probably their strongest ever teams, as evidenced by their feat in winning three successive premierships between 1963 and 1965. The 1970s produced another trio of flags, but after the last of these in 1979 the club endured the longest premiership drought in its history. After reaching rock bottom with a winless wooden spoon in 1995, however, there was steady improvement culminating in a long overdue grand final appearance four years later. Opponents Bonnie Doon emerged victorious on that occasion, but two years later Goorambat achieved revenge.

In recent years the Bats have performed consistently well, finishing fourth in 2004, runners-up in 2005, and adding another premiership to their already impressive haul in 2006. It was a thoroughly conclusive triumph, too, as they tasted defeat just once all year. Twelve months later they were almost as impressive in winning 15 out of 18 matches for the season, culminating in a 19.10 (124) to 13.11 (89) grand final defeat of Bonnie Doon. The 2008 season brought another grand final appearance, but Bonnie Doon proved to have the Bats’ measure on this occasion and won a tense, low scoring tussle by 5 points.

In 2010 Goorambat Joined the Ovens and King Football Netball League after the BDFNL disbanded. This saw the club changed from it's traditional jumper which was green with a gold sash (Like Richmond's but green instead of black) to a silver jumper with a bat logo on the front and green and gold stripes on the shoulders and flanks.

Formed