The History as Recorded by Gary “Chum” Reed in 2007
The Willunga Football Club was established on the 29th of May 1874 and is recognised as the second oldest continuous football club in South Australia, the oldest being Port Adelaide.
In 1877, WFC was part of the first official football competition in South Australia. Distance from Adelaide forced Willunga to withdraw from that competition and so in 1886 it became a foundation member in the formation of the Southern Football Association along with Sellicks Hill, Aldinga and McLaren Vale.
The clubs Golden Era was between 1931 and 1956 when we played in 18 grand finals, winning ten premierships.
Two Willunga players have represented South Australia in State football - Taffy Waye and Ben Thompson. Ben was also drafted into the AFL along with Randall Bone.
Right from the earliest days of the Club under the guidance of Captain Malpas, the Sibley brothers Sam and Mal and William Waye, Willunga FC has been fortunate in having families that have lived in the district since the formation of the club, have represented it on the playing field and then taken jobs in administration and every other job that needs to be done to make a club strong and viable. Most importantly their offspring have also become very important members of the club down through the years.
Frank L Aldam
Undoubtedly one of the great names of the club is Frank L Aldam who played from the 1880s to 1911, captained the team and played in the 1911 Premiership. After retiring from playing he became totally involved with the administration of the club being president from 1921 to 1935 - a total of 15 years.
Other Aldams to play post war for Willunga;
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Ted Aldam
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62 games
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Lon Aldam
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81 games
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Wilfred (Bon) Aldam
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127 games
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David Aldam
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123 games
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Hendrick Stanbury (Taffy) Waye
Taffy worked in the family blacksmith shop in Willunga and first played for the club in the 1890s, however showing outstanding ability he was recruited by Sturt in the SANFL playing with them from 1902 to 1910, winning the Magarey Medal in Season 1903. Taffy would drive his horse and cart to and from Willunga each week to play with Sturt.
He served for 4 years with the 5th Pioneer Battalion with the 1st AIF during World War 1 1914 to 1918. On his return from the war he played his last season of football for Willunga. In the 1919 Grand Final against Noarlunga at age 42, both teams formed a Guard of Honour to clap him from the ground to complete a magnificent career.
Other Wayes to play for Willunga;
W Waye
M G Waye
R D Waye
O Waye
Roy Waye
Roley Waye
Maurice (Spog) Corbett
Winner of the President’s Medal/Mail Medal 1925, 26, 31, 32, 33, 35 and 36.
Brilliant player who made every facet of the game look easy, he played 229 games.
Other Corbetts to represent the club;
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Tom Corbett
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72 games
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Leo Corbett
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136 games
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John Corbett
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106 games
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Brian Corbett
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162 games |
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Wayne Corbett
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117 games
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Malcolm Hailstone
159 games from 1930 to 1953. Brilliant player who went on to play football in the SANFL with Glenelg. Captain of Willunga 1936 to 1939 and 1946 and 47. Association selection.
Roger Martin
Administrator, Secretary/Treasurer, League Delegate and Club committeeman for 20 years. Life Member.
George Edwards
Played 64 games between 1930 and 1934. Played pre World War 2 and from 1946 worked on committee and a delegate for the Club. Served two years as President. Had three sons who all served the club with distinction;
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David Edwards
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107 games
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Graham Edwards
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130 games
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Robert Edwards
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50 games
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Ross T Martin
Played 77 games pre and post war. Committeeman for many years and President of the Club in the 1970s. Had three sons who were club stalwarts;
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Tom Martin
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118 games
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Gerald Martin
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154 games
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Paul Martin
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188 games
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Rex Giles
Played 77 games before and after World War 2. Served in the Middle East during the war. His brother Ron played 14 games and was killed in action over Germany while serving with the RAAF. Rex was President of the club in the 1960s and had two sons Paul and Graham.
Paul Giles
Played 185 games and missed two years while on active service in Vietnam. On return he coached Willunga junior grades. Club President for two years and active committeeman for 10 years. Life member.
Graham Giles
317 games. One of the most consistent players in the club during his playing days - always at the drop of the ball. Coached junior teams for several years and a champion judo exponent. Life Member.Reg Verrall
134 games. Magnificent high mark and great kick for goal. Served in the Middle East and New Guinea during WW2. Played for the Southern Football Association with distinction. Son Gary.
Gary Verrall
301 games. Best and Fairest 1969,74 and 75. “A” grade captain in 1975 and Life Member.
Chris Hams
257 games. “A” grade coach 1976 and “B” grade coach 1976 and 1981. Best and Fairest 1980. Record SFA goal kicking in 1984 with 132 goals. “A” grade premiership player 1984 and 86. 100 goals in 1986. Served on many committees over the years. Life member.
Malcolm Tiggeman
183 games. Served as team manager for both “A” and “B” grades. Club delegate and committee man. Life Member and Club Person of the Year.
Lloyd Binney
245 games. Followed in his father’s footsteps who played and was President in the 1930s. Played from 1936 to 1961. “A” grade captain coach 1949, 50 and 1954. Best and Fairest 1948 and 1949. “B” grade coach 1960, 61. Colts coach 62, 63 and 65. Played in 13 grand finals, 9 premierships. Represented SFA from 1938 to 1956 as a player. Played League football for West Adelaide in the SANFL. Life Member.
Wayne Potter
109 games. Coach 1973, 74, 78, 81 and 82. Best and Fairest 1973. SFA Mail Medal 1973 with 39 votes. President WFC 1986.
Neil Lang
187 games. President from 2005. After injury curtailed his playing career he became a trainer rising to head trained until 2007. Club Person of the Year and working on numerous committees.
Robin Bartel
328 games. Coach of many junior teams. Served on numerous committees. “A” grade goal umpire for over 10 years. Club Person of the Year 1981 and 1999. Life Member.Fred Croser
Played one season at Willunga after a distinguished career with Aldinga and then became President of Willunga for 4 years. His sons Richard, David and Owen played for the club.
Richard Croser
176 games. Captain coach in 1966, 67 and 1970. Captain coach of the SFA 1966, 67, 68. Winner of Mail Medal for Willunga in 1966, 67 and 68. Played League football for Glenelg in the SANFL.
David Croser
97 games. Understudy for Richard but still a great team player.
Owen Croser
152 games. Great team player.
Jim Little
66 games. Brilliant player who won the 1940 Mail Medal with a record 46 votes.
Jim was a seargent in the 2/3rd Machine Battalion and served in the Middle East. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese on Java and worked on the Japanese rail line inThailand
He died there on 18 July 1943 aged 31 years.
LEST WE FORGET
Dennis Rattigan
Coached Willunga “A” grade in 1959 and 60 and won the Mail medal in 1959.
Peter (Jumbo) Jeffries
Known near and far in the Southern Football Association as an aggressive, powerful and very good player. Won the Mail Medal in 1979.
Chris Roberts
378 senior games. 180 junior games. 71 games playing for Sturt in Under 19s and league in the SANFL. Kicked 112 goals for Sturt Under 19s in 1977. Junior coach in 1980 and 85. “B” grade coach for 5 seasons. Won B grade Mail Medal in 1990 and kicked 102 goals for WFC in 1993. 1984, 86, 88, 87, 90, and 95 Premiership player. Served on committee for five years and Life Member.
Steve Roberts
226 senior games. 145 junior games. 35 years of being involved with the WFC. Premiership player 1987. Seven years on committee. “A” and “B” grade runner for many years. Team manager. Oval manager for 25 years. Club Person of the Year and Life Member.Scott McDonald
Many seasons as a trainer post World War 2 becoming President for 2 years in the 1950s. Sons Barry, Greg, Phillip, Chris, and Richard all played.
Barry McDonald
202 games and was a great player in all facets of the game. Captain of the WFC in 1963 and represented the SFA for 8 seasons. Barry’s son, Brenton, also excelled on the football field playing in the South Australian Teal Cup team (under 17) in 1980 and a member of Willunga’s Premiership side at Port Noarlunga in 1984 playing at Centre Half Forward.
Greg McDonald
176 games. Outstanding player mainly across half back. Hated forward opponents to gain possession.
Phillip McDonald
112 games. Reliable player who could play in most positions.
Chris McDonald
200 games. Centre man/wingman. Brilliant player who could do the spectacular as well as tag an opponent. He won the “A” grade Best and Fairest.
Richard McDonald
194 games. Very consistent player who could play in most positions on the field.
McDonald Brothers
It was great to see the five McDonald brothers playing “A” grade on the same day, which made it a nightmare for the opposing team.Terry Fitzpatrick
182 games. “A” grade coach 1958, 63 and 70 and “B” grade coach 1962 and 66. “A” grade Best and Fairest in 1953, 54, 55, 56 and 58. Played in 8 premierships and represented SFA on numerous occasions. Involved with Committee and a Life Member. Sons Shaun and Rory.
Shaun Fitzpatrick
129 spectacular games as a key position player until shifted in his employment.
Rory Fitzpatrick
158 games by this athletic and high marking defender.
Jim Fitzpatrick
201 games and gave the club great service in most positions on the fileld from full back to full forward. In later years became an accredited central umpire for the SANFL.
Jim served in the Royal australian Airforce as an 18 year old in 1943-44 and was recalled from a froward area to start Aircrew training but as the end of the war came, air crew training was abandoned
Michael Fitzpatrick
138 games. Dynamic player across half forward with his left foot. Accurate kick for goal and a great team player.
Cliff Reed
100 games in the 1920s and 30s. Son William Reed.
William Lenard (Chum) Reed
WFC Trainer 1917 to 1977. SFA trainer. Vice President 2 years. Patron 20 years. On committee numerous years and anything that needed maintenance. Sons Garry, Ken, Darrell and Ron.
Garry (Chum) Reed
311 games from 1947 to 1969. Club Stalwart who represented the WFC on the field for over 20 years. Best and Fairest 1961. “B” grade captain coach 1950 and 68 premiers. Coach of colts teams 1961 and 1964 and 81 Premiers. Represented the SFA on numerous occasions and was the captain of the first SFA team to win the Lovelock Shield. Served on committee for many years. Life Member WFC and SFA and Club Person of the Year. Sons Bronte and Wayne.
Ken Reed
230 games. Very reliable player mainly in the “B” grade. 1968 Premiership player. Club timekeeper for many years. Life Member.
Darrell Reed
97 “B” grade games.
Ron Reed
110 “B” grade games.
Bronte Reed
217 games. Great player who played mainly on the wing. Best and Fairest in 1982. Played in the 1984 Premiership side at Port Noarlunga.
Wayne Reed
277 games. 1981 SFA Colts Association Medal winner. “A” grade Best and Fairest 1988 and 89. “A” Grade premiership player 1986 and 88. Coached Junior Colts teams to Premiership with Leith Renney. Coach “B” grade Premiership 2001. Represented the GSFL.Horace Haskett
116 games. Great ruckman with a huge jump, popularly known as the “Horse”. Played in seven winning WFC Premierships. Captain of “A” grade in 1953. Grandson Bradley played in ”A” grade in 2006.
Brian Oster
228 games. A great acquisition to the WFC. Could play in any position and was coach of both “A” and “B” grades 1984, 86 and 88. Premiership player. Worked on committee. Built present Willunga Sports and Social Club rooms. Life Member.
Leith Renney
202 games. Dynamic winger. Winner of two “A” grade Best and Fairest awards. Premiership player 1984 and 88. Coach of two Junior Premier teams.
Rod Parsons
187 games. Brilliant player in any position. Member of 1984, 86 and 88 Premiership sides. Won “B” grade Association Best and Fairest in GSFL. Life Member.
Andrew Woolford
231 games. Only small in stature but was one of the gutsiest players in the team. Always on the bottom of the packs and a great kick for goal. Coached the “B” grade 1995 Premiership side and Senior Colts in 1986. 1984, 86 and 88 Premiership player. Secretary for 5 years. Life Member.
Des Lovelock
207 games. Brilliant player across the half forward line and great kick for goal.
Russell Lovelock
148 games. Versatile player who played mostly in the “B” grade. Great Clubman.
Ron Waye
190 games. Brilliant “A” grade player who starved his opponents of possessions. Represented SFA regularly.
Kevin Poulter
104 games. Dynamic player and coach of the 1984 and 1986 Premiership sides. Always led by example.
