- Southern Football League (South Australia)
The Southern Football League (SFL) is an amateur
Australian rules football league inSouth Australia . The League was formed, as the Southern Football Association, in 1886.The league is a suburban competition which also acts as a feeder competition for the
South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and in turn theAustralian Football League (AFL). Some AFL players from the SFL areAdam Cooney ,Nathan Eagleton ,Ben Rutten andAndrew Mackie .SANFL clubs that have recruitment zones linked to the Southern Football League areWest Adelaide Football Club ,Glenelg Football Club andSouth Adelaide Football Club . The league is an important community social and sporting hub.Grades
The SFL consists of:
*Junior Grades
**Year 2/3
**Year 4/5
**Year 6/7
**Under 14's
**Under 14's/Sunday
**Under 16's
**Under 16's/Sunday
**Under 18's
*Senior Grades (A grade and reserves)
** including a "C" grade which plays on Sundays and was previously termed Division IIILeague history
The Southern Football League has also been known as the Southern Football Association and the Alexandria Football Association during its history. Originally a country league, with urban expansion it has more recently become a suburban league in Adelaide's far southern suburbs.
The League was formed (as Southern Football Association) in 1886 with competing clubs being Aldinga, McLaren Vale, Sellicks Hill and Willunga. In the early 1900s the Association changed its name to Alexandria Football Association and participating clubs were Aldinga, Hillside (called McLaren Flat from 1946), McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Noarlunga and Willunga.
In 1919 the Association changed its name back to Southern Football Association and participating clubs were Aldinga, Hillside, McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Noarlunga, Reynella and Willunga.
In 1964 the Association changed its name to Southern Football League and participating clubs were Aldinga, McLaren Flat, McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Mount Bold, Myponga, Noarlunga, Port Noarlunga, Reynella, Willunga and Yankalilla.
Competing Clubs
List of clubs
* Aldinga Football Club (Sharks)
* Brighton Districts & O.S Football Club (Bombers)
* Christies Beach Football Club (Saints)
* Cove Football Club (Cobras)
* Flagstaff Hill Football Club (Falcons)
* Hackham Football Club (guns)
* Happy Valley Football Club (Vikings)
* Marion Football Club (Rams)
* Morphett Vale Football Club (Emus)
* Morphettville Park Football Club (Roos)
* Old Noarlunga Football Club ()
* O'Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale Football Club (Lions)
* Port Noarlunga Football Club ()
* Reynella Football Club (Wineflies)Previous clubs
Clubs that have previously competed in the league include http://www.footypedia.com/00002060.htm Footypedia ] :
* Clarendon (1934 - 1935)
* Kangarilla (1915 -1922, 1981 - 2005)
* Hillside/McLaren Flat (1903 - 1997 then merged with McLaren Vale to form McLaren Districts)
* McLaren Vale (1886 - 1997 then merged with McLaren Flat to form McLaren Districts)
* McLaren Districts (1998 - 2000)
* Macclesfield (1984 - 1988)
* Meadows (1983 - 1998)
* Mitchell Park (1994 - 2000)
* Mount Compass (1946 - 1952)
* Myponga (1946 - 1966)
* Mount Bold (combined Clarendon, Kangarilla 1964 -1965)
* Northern United (combined side from Morphett Vale and Noarlunga 1936 - 1937)
* Plympton (1987 - 1989)
* Willunga (1886 - 1985)
* Yankalilla (1957 - 1967)Profiles of clubs
Following is a brief overview of the current competing clubs.
Aldinga Football Club
Aldinga FC was a founding club at formation of the League in 1886 (only now are they showing any signs of improvement). Originally playing in black and white colours, their current colours are black and gold.
Brighton FC
Brighton FC, the winners of the 2008 southern football league, are situated in Brighton. Their colours are black, white, and yellow. Their nickname is The Bombers.
Cove FC
Cove FC was founded in 1984 and is located at Hallett Cove. Their colours are red, white and blue. Their nickname is The Cobras.Have become a powerhouse team in recent years.they are currently on top of the SFL ladder. Cove F.C are Premiers for 2008 defeating morphett Vale.HISTORY>>>
In 1983 a meeting was held in the Trott Park Community Centre to discuss the formation of a football club that would best serve the needs of all football players, junior and senior, in the Sheidow Park, Trott Park and Hallett Cove area.
What followed next was a series of meetings with the S.A.N.F.L., Glenelg Football Club, the Southern Football League (S.F.L.) and Marion Council as to how and where the Cove Football Club would begin.
In 1984 the Cove Football Club was affiliated with the S.F.L. and the foundations for the Cove Football Club were laid.
In that first year the C.F.C. had no home ground so training was split between beach sessions, road running and thanks to an offer from Merv Mules, one night a week under lights at Morphett Vale F.C. where we also played our “home games” because the Cove Oval was not quite ready.
The senior coach in the first year was Derek Reavill and our other team, U16’s, was coached by Russell Coppock.
From the “A” graders that first year, Kent Birmingham, Chris Galley, Lynton Jones, Steve King, Paul Kinnear, Barry Ramsey and Derek Reavill have all had sons go on and play for the Cove Cobras and so the family club tradition, formed back in the 80’s has already shown promise
History is made in many ways and Premierships and Mail Medals must be included. By the end of the 2001 season the Cove F.C. had won eight Premierships and six Mail Medalists have been produced with 1998 being the “major” with the Club’s first “A” grade flag.
As the 2002 season approached, the Cove Football Club was elevated into the Division one competition of the S.F.L.. New challenges arrived and, after 18 years and the 1378 matches that had been contested, the Cove Cobras progressed as a professional unit.
With 5 out of the 6 senior teams making the finals and the A Grade missing out on percentage only after coming in at equal 6th position, it was certainly a grand debut into 1st Division.
Morphett Vale FC
Morphett Vale FC was originally established in 1898. There were some interruptions during its history due to temporary mergers with other clubs and stoppages for world wars but the club has run continuously since 1883.During the 90's and 2000's there star player, who mimics a "Prancing Horse" while running, went from having 100 goals kicked on him to becoming a "Superstar" in the London metro competition, during this period also it was not uncommon to see Michael Johnson running the boundary in preparation for the olympic games. During this same period a large T-rex has also been seen in the centre square putting his small arms up and yelling at players. They are currently captained by former AFL player John Ironmonger.
Morphettville Park FC
Morphettville Park FC is situated in Morphettville Park and was founded in 1958. Their Colours are Red & Yellow and are nicknamed the Roos. http://www.theroos.net/ TheRoos.net ]
Marion FC
The Marion Football Club was formed in 1891 and was originally known as Sturt Football Club .Shortly before the formation of the Sturt Football Club in the SANFL the club changed its name to Sturt Marion and then in the early 1900s to the Marion Football Club as it is known now. The Marion Football Club is now associated with The Southern Football League after being a foundation member of the Mid Southern and then Glenelg South West Associations. http://www.marionfc.com.au Marion FC ]
Flagstaff Hill FC
Flagstaff Hill FC (FHFC) is located in
Flagstaff Hill and is nicknamed the Falcons. Originally began as Brighton Methodist, and after some debate decided to move to Flagstaff Hill, and thus became the Flagstaff Hill "Bushpigs". The closest state league (SANFL) club to FHFC are the South Adelaide Panthers and the West Adelaide Bloods. The club has had some success mainly in juniors and has produced AFL players; 2008 Brownlow MedalistAdam Cooney (Western Bulldogs), Nathan Eagleton (Western Bulldogs) and Danny Meyer (Richmond) in recent years.http://www.fhfc.com.au/ FHFC ]Senior premierships winners
DIV.1 RES SOUTHERN F.A.
1950 - 2008 Christies Beach
Division 11 - Denny's Shield
Competition held 1977 to 2001.
*1977 Reynella
*1978/79 Morphett Vale
*1980/81 McLaren Vale
*1982 Kangarilla
*1983 McLaren Flat
*1984 Meadows
*1985 Flagstaff Hill
*1986 O'Sull.Beach
*1987 Kangarilla
*1988/89 McLaren Flat
*1990 Hackham
*1991 Aldinga
*1992 Mawson
*1993 Aldinga
*1994 Meadows
*1995 McLaren Vale
*1996/97 O'Sull.Beach
*1998 Cove
*1999 Kangarilla
*2000 Kangarilla
*2001 LonsdaleDivision 111 - SFL Shield
*1983-85 Reynella
*1984 No competition
*1986 Flagstaff Hill
*1987 Port Noarlunga
*1988 Morphettville Park
*1989 Plympton
*1990 Morphettville Park
*1991 Port Noarlunga
*1992 Morphett Vale
*1993 Morphettville Park
*1994 Christies Beach
*1995 Port Noarlunga
*1998/99 Morphetville Park
*2000 Reynella
*2001 Morphett Vale
*2008 NashReferences
External links
* [http://www.sflinc.com.au/ Southern Football League]
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