North Albany Football Club

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

North Albany Kangas

Full Name	North Albany Football Club
Nickname	Kangas
Strip	Red with White V
Founded	1897
Dissolved
Sport	Australian rules football
League	Great Southern Football League
First season	1897
Ground	Collingwood Park, Albany
Club Song
President	Paul Williams[1]
Coach	Brad Bootsma
Captain	Brett Hall & Andrew McWhirter
2008	1st

North Albany Football Club or North Albany Football and Sporting Club, the Kangas, is an Australian rules football club located in Albany, Western Australia playing in the Great Southern Football League.^[2]

The home ground is called Collingwood Park.^[3] and although the main focus of the club is football the facilities are used by other sports such as cricket and soccer.

Some important dates

On the 13th May 1897 football players from the North Ward formed a club called the ‘North Albany Football Club’. The colours of the club were red and blue. Games were played at the Parade St Oval.

In 1908 the 1st official premiership competition held, with Norths winning the inaugural premiership. Norths wore the colours red with white hoops.

Between 1946 to 1956 North Albany was known as Towns FC.

In 1958 the Southern Districts National Football League formed.

In 1977 the North Albany Football Club move into a new home at Collingwood Park.

In 1978 the ‘fighting kangaroo’ adopted as the club symbol.

In 1991 the new league becomes known as the Great Southern Football League including teams from Katanning, Mount Barker, Tambellup and Denmark

Life Members

Service: F.Brown J.Garland K.Nesbitt B.Armstrong F.Shenfield J.Thompson C.McEwan G.Whitten E.Liversey H.Armstrong A.Kleeman R.Gillies B.Harris L.Stephen B.Foerte T.Croxford F.Wilson M.Reid J.Smith EG.Taylor L.Cook E.Thompson A.Colley R.Kenney T.Lambe R.Lockhart B.Cagnana (Snr) R.Barnett H.Croxford R.Inman R.Shenfield R.Sutton K.Rule A.Rule W.Pugh C.Philippson M.Bootsma

Games (150+): M.Wynne K.Stephen R.Mountford R.Williams M.Mustey C.Walker T.Nichols M Norman T.Cox B.Hitchcock T.Williams J.Woods B.Coyne B.Hall

Premierships

League: 25: (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1983, 1982, 1980, 1969, 1966, 1954, 1952, 1951, 1948, 1946, 1939, 1938, 1937, 1936, 1930, 1929, 1925, 1918, 1913, 1909, 1908)

Reserves: 15 (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1997, 1988, 1985, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1958, 1938, 1937, 1931)

Colts: 20 (2008, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1983, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1969, 1925)

North Albany Football Club have had a number distinct periods of success when it comes to League Premiership success. In the late 1930s the club won four in a row, starting with the 1936 flag and finishing with the 1939 flag. The team made the 1940 Grand Final only to lose. In the era 1979 to 1983 the Kangas won three League premierships (1980, 1982 and 1983), whilst unfortunately losing two (1979 and 1981).

After those back to back League flags in 1982 and 1983, the club had to settle for only premierships wins at Reserves (1985, 1988, 1997) and at Colts (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003) level. Then in 2005 after twenty two years the Kangas tasted success at a League level, and what a break through.

2005 was a successful year for the Kangas as their Reserves and League sides went through the season undefeated and culminating in two grand final victories. The North Albany League side beat Mount Barker 22.12 (144) to 12.9 (81). [1] Club stalwart Scott McKenzie was honoured with the Alan Barnett Medal for his performance on the day. The North Albany Reserves side beat Royals in a hard fought match, the final scores being North Albany 12.6 (78) d Royals 10.7 (67). Brendan 'Tractor' Dovey dominated the game, walking away with the best on ground award. The North Albany Colts made the Grand Final but went down to Royals on the day.

2006 was an even better year with all three grades Colts, Reserves and League winning the Grand Final at Tigerland. The League score North Albany 13.15 (93) this time beat Railways 9.7 (61). Brad Bootsma was voted best player on the day. [2] The Reserves won a close one against Railways, with Scott Ewen being the standout performer with 7 goals. Scores North Albany 11.6 (72) d Railways 10.8 (68). In the Colts, the Kangas overcame some late season controversy surrounding player eligibilty to outplay Denmark-Walpole in the final, 15.7 (112) to 10.9 (69). Joel Coyne was awarded the Panizza brothers trophy. ^[4]

2007 again was a successful year with League and Reserves winning the grand final playing at the Collingwood Park. The League Grand Final score was North Albany 18.19 (127) defeated Royals 15.15 (105). [3] North Albany Life member Terry Williams was awarded the Alan Barnett medal for his efforts. The Reserves score was North Albany 12.10 (82) beating Railways 6.6 (42). Youngster Brodie Sumich was awarded the Jim Hull medal.

The 2008 season ended with North Albany winning all three premierships for the second time in three years. The North Albany Reserves team also completed an undefeated season. The League Grand Final score was North Albany 15.8 (98) defeated Royals 5.7 (37). [4] North Albany coach Brad Bootsma was awarded the Alan Barnett Medal for his 'best a ground' performance. [5] The Reserves score was North Albany 4.9 (33) beating Royals 3.1 (19) [6]. Brodie Sumich won his second consecutive Jim Hull Medal for his 'best a ground' performance. The Colts score was North Albany 5.4 (34) beating Royals 3.8 (26). [7] North Albany captain Joe Flavel won the Panizza brothers medal for his 'best a ground' performance.

League Fairest & Best

2008 Graeme Ross, 2007 Graeme Ross, 2006 Brett Hall, 2005 Scott McKenzie, 2004 Jono Woods, 2003 Brett Hall/ Jono Woods, 2002 Brett Hall, 2001 Brett Hall, 2000 Mat Bateman

1999 Boydan Coyne, 1998 Mat Bateman, 1997 Murray Gomm, 1996 Steve Deegan, 1995 Mick Mustey, 1994 Nathan Ashton, 1993 Jono Wood, 1992 Brad Hitchcock, 1991 Gerard Cameron, 1990 Jono Woods

1989 Ray Mountfield, 1988 Gerard Cameron, 1987 Rob Sutton, 1986 Andrew Partington, 1985 Rob Sutton, 1984 Keith Wynne, 1983 Brian Stamp, 1982 Keith Wynne, 1981 Keith Wynne, 1980 Kim Allsop

1979 Graeme Evans, 1978 Ollie Galante, 1977 Les Holt, 1976 Clive Bonney, 1975 Rod Gillies, 1974 Peter Stephen, 1973 Peter Stephen, 1972 Rod Gillies, 1971 Graham Wellington, 1970 Gary Adams

1969 Gary Adams, 1968 Peter Stephen, 1967 Peter Stephen, 1966 Peter Stephen, 1965 Len Edwards, 1964 Edward Thompson, 1963 Edward Thompson, 1962 Edward Thompson

Kleemann Medalists

2006 Brett Hall [8]

2003 Brett Hall & Jono Woods

1995 Jono Woods

1986 Rob Sutton

1985 Rob Sutton

1984 Gerard Cameron

1980 Rob Sutton

1979 Peter Walsh

1967 Peter Stephen

1965 Ted Thompson

1964 Ted Thompson

1961 Ted Thompson

1960 Barry Loo

League Leading Goalkicker

2005 Doug Roberts (66)

1994 Troy Cox (71)

1980 Chris Elliot

Charlie Punch Medal (Reserves Fairest & Best)

2008 Mark Chambers

2006 Mark Chambers

Rod Gillies Medal (Colts Fairest & Best)

2006 Jayden Woods

2004 Warwick Durack

AFL Players

Current AFL players Tarkyn Lockyer (Collingwood) and Ryan Brabazon (Sydney), started their football careers playing for the Kangas. Former AFL players Allen Daniels (Footscray & WA), Brad Wira (Footscray, Fremantle & WA), Brad Bootsma (Fremantle & WA) and Bill Shenfield (Fitzroy) have all played football in the red and white.

WAFL Players

Some significant WAFL players that have played at the North Albany Football Club include Ron Boucher [9] (Swan Districts & WA), Peter Stephen (East Fremantle & WA), Stuart Hillier (West Perth & WA), Ray Nott (Claremont & WA), Doug Roberts (Claremont) and Matt Orzel (Claremont).

Interesting

One time Kangas player and footballing nomad Trevor Sutton played in WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Victoria and North Territory, representing both Queensland and NSW at state level. It is rumoured that he kicked more than 4 000 goals in his career!

In 1982, playing for Deniliquin in the Murray Football League (NSW) Sutton kicked 256 goals, an Australian record. Trevor Sutton played 41 games with Nightcliff (NTFL) kicking 239 goals in 3 seasons. He averaged 5.82 goals a game. Sutton lead the North Territory Football League goalkicking twice, 1979 (103 goals) and 1982 (99 goals).

Gordon Collis ex-Carlton player and Brownlow medalist coached the North Albany Football Club for two years, winning a Premiership in 1969.

In 2003 the West Coast Eagles held a pre-season Community Camp in Albany, using Collingwood Park for training and practise games during their stay.

In 2008 Collingwood Park hosted a pre-season AFL game between West Coast and Collingwood, drawing a big crowd [10].

Other sports and related clubs

The Collingwood Park Cricket Club, which calls Collingwood Park home, is a hugely successful club in the region winning many A Grade and B Grade premierships. In recent years the Collingwood Park CC A Grade has won titles in 2007-08 [11], 2006-07 [12], 2005-06 [13] and 2003-04 [14]

The newly formed North Albany Bears Soccer Club, made up of predominately NAFC players, won the Albany Soccer Association Trophy in its first year of competition.

[edit] References

Coordinates: 35°0′4.25″S 117°55′7.36″E / 35.0011806°S 117.9187111°E / -35.0011806; 117.9187111