Altona Football Club
| Altona | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Names | ||
| Full name | Altona Football Club | |
| Nickname(s) | Vikings | |
| Club details | ||
| Founded | 1918 | |
| Colours | ||
| Competition | Western Region Football League (s. 1988) | |
| Premierships | 1947, 1951, 1991, 2004, 2005, 2012 | |
| Ground(s) | Grant Reserve, Altona | |
| Uniforms | ||
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| Other information | ||
| Official website | altonafc.com.au | |
The Altona Football Club is an Australian rules football club which compete in the WRFL since 1988. They are based in the Melbourne suburb of Altona.
Altona Football Club was established in 1918 in a Pier Street café by James Duke. Altona`s nickname in the 1930s was “The Sea Dogs”. In 1939 Altona changed their Guernseys to Navy Blue with a white "A" on the breast and were known as "The A's" In 1940 Altona struggled to keep a team going due to many players joining the Armed Forces. With 2 games to complete the 1940 W.D.F.L. season, Altona were expelled from the Association due to not fielding a team on 2 occasions. Altona would go into recess from 1941 to 1943. In 1944 a group met at Leo Barnes shop in pier street Altona and formed a committee to resume the football club which would play social matches in 1944. In 1945 Altona entered the Footscray District Football League in B-Grade where they won the 1947 Premiership and were elevated into the A-Grade for seasons 1948 & 1949.
In 1950 Altona did not field a Senior team due to the Werribee Shire unwilling to supply a satisfactory playing area, Altona only ran a Under 18 team in C-Grade of the F.D.F.L.
In 1951 with a new playing area Altona rejoined the B-Grade of the F.D.F.L. where they won the Premiership Flag.
1952 the F.D.F.L. made it mandatory that there would only be 1 Senior Grade and that all teams must have an Under 18 side. Altona could not raise an Under 18 side so it joined the Werribee Football League and changed their Guernseys back to purple & gold. Altona played in the W.F.L. from 1952 to 1964 and were finalists every year and winning the 1956 & 1964 Premierships.
1965 Altona had 2 Senior sides and Juniors. Due to the W.F.L. only having one Senior Division, Altona joined the strong Metropolitan Football League with 1 Senior side and had its Reserves and Juniors in the Werribee Football League. Altona's Reserves would move to the 2nd Division of the Metro Football League in 1966 and the Juniors played in the Western Suburban Football League which had changed its name from the Werribee Football League on the request of the South Melbourne Football Club whom was sponsoring the League.
In early 1969, Altona Football Club Committee released a statement that due to lack of support and poor finances Altona would not field a Senior side and only field Juniors in the W.S.F.L. Former Altona Shire President, Bill Lee had registered the name "Altona City Football Club" with the W.S.F.L. and this would be the start of a new club which would have all the A.F.C. players, same colours and same ground. 1972 Altona City adopted the nickname "The Vikings" and penned the theme song which would pay homage to the Altona Football Club with the ending chours of "C'mon the A's". This era would be Altona's most successful winning Senior Premierships in 1970,71,72,73,75 &76.
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