KANGARILLA FOOTBALL CLUB - A BRIEF HISTORY
The first 2 paragraphs are from Kangarilla Historical Records (First published Nov 1955).
“The Kangarilla Football Club was formed in 1901 but during the first few years did not play Association football. In 1915 the K.F.C joined the Southern Association, just failing to win the premiership. They were beaten by Clarendon in the Grand final. During the first years of the Football Club, Umpire’s fees were 2/6 ($0.25) per match, but were later increased to 5/- ($0.50). The majority of umpires came from Meadows.
Kangarilla with Scott’s Creek, Meadows, Echunga and Mt Barker ‘B’ Team formed the Hills Central Football Association in 1923.For many years the Club tried in vain to win a Premiership, but it was not until Mt Bold Reservoir was being built that Kangarilla was able to build up a team strong enough to win its first Premier ship in 1935. With the completion of the reservoir many of the players moved away, but winning the first premiership laid the foundation of a very imposing record that the Club has built up, for it has won the premiership in 1936-7-8, 1940 and 1946, and the B grade in 1953. They were runners up in 1939, 1948, & 1949. In fact 1947 and 1950 were the only years they were out of the finals since 1935.”
Through the early Sixties, a senior B grade continued and a junior side was formed. Later when Mt Bold was being enlarged a composite side from Kangarilla and Clarendon (called Mt Bold- colours Red & Green) played with some success in the Southern Football League. In the late sixties Kangarilla senior sides were formed and joined the juniors in the Hills League. The club participated in finals from 1970-78, playing in 7 A grade Grand Finals for 4 Premierships. On this strong showing the Club was promoted to Division 1 in 1979-80, but met with limited success, and decided to join the Southern F L in Division 2. Success followed immediately playing in the Grand Final in 1981-3 winning the flag by 102 points over Happy Valley in 1982. A restructure of the League in 1984 saw Kangarilla, Happy Valley Hackham and Mc Laren Flat included in Division 1 for the next 3 years. Victories were regularly achieved over the other promoted clubs, but the traditional SFL Division 1 clubs were too strong (Except Morphett Vale in the last minor round of 1984). The club returned to Div 2 in 1987 and won the flag but many retirements and departures made it a big struggle just to get teams on the field in 1988. The reforming of junior teams rapidly helped build the club to strength with the A grade participating in all the finals from 1989 to 2000, playing in 7 Grand finals for 2 premierships in the last 2 years. During this time the Club also won 4 Reserves, 2 Senior and 1 Junior colts Premierships.
1901-2001 - 100 YEARS STRONG
In 2001 the club celebrated its centenary. Several functions were held, including a Centenary Ball at Old Clarendon Winery and a Reunion at the Club. The reunion was attended by over 500 people. Past players, officials and supporters from all over S A and interstate journeyed “home” to catch up with old friends. On the field the club won the reserves premiership but lost the A grade to Lonsdale in a very low scoring Final played in poor conditions.
During the off season the Southern League decided (against recommendations) to combine both divisions into one 16 team group. This resulted in a very uneven competition in which only the A grade achieved any success, making the finals in 2002. Over the next 3 seasons the limited on field success made attracting both players and supporters very difficult and the club struggled. At the end of 2005 after much investigation and discussion Kangarilla FC voted to return to the Hills F L in the Country Division. The rebuilding of the club commenced with the appointment of former league and State footballer Wayne Stringer as Senior Coach. Wayne’s professional and disciplined approach combined with astute recruiting saw on field success return in all grades. The A grade were premiers in a very one sided grand final winning by over 100 points, but the reserves lost their grand final narrowly. In 2007 the club fielded 2 senior and 2 junior teams and while the U 17 team struggled for numbers and victories all others teams made the finals with both A & Reserves making the Grand Final. The Reserves won comfortably but the A grade lost narrowly. 2008 sees all 4 teams performing well at the half way mark coaches Wayne Stringer(A), Michael Raidis(Res), Ray Higgins(U17) and Matt Quist & Matt Guitink (U 14) are looking forward to finals participation
