A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MURCHISON FNC

The town of Murchison has boasted its own team since 1877, but  was not officially formed until 1881, when the club played its first series of games against Rushworth.

Like most clubs in that era, Murchison only played games via invitation until 1895, when the club played in the G.V.F.L for two seasons. Murchison then played in the newly formed Upper Goulburn F.A, winning the premiership against Nagambie (5.9.39 to 5.7.37) in the club’s first attempt.

The club spent two more years in the UGFA until it disbanded, and then the club moved on to play one season (1900) in the GVFL, until leaving that competition to play invitational matches against Nagambie, Rushworth, Whroo & Wanalta.

These five sides formed the Waranga Football Association in 1904, where Murchison was the inaugural premier; the club was to play in the WFA until it again moved back to the GVFL in 1908, where apart from two brief spells, was to be the club’s home for almost half a century.

Despite our long association with the GVFL, the club only won one premiership in 1910, defeating Echuca by 62 points (13.9.87 to 3.7.25) the club was to remain competitive throughout finishing Runners-Up against eventual premiers, Shepparton in 1912. The club moved to the newly formed Waranga North East F.A in 1913 where they won another premiership against Nagambie (7.6.48 to 4.8.32) in 1914 before shortly disbanding due to World War Two.

After the war, the club moved back into the GVFL where the club played off in the 1920 Grand Final eventually losing to Shepparton. The club never reached the Grand Final again until 1930, when the club lost a tough game against arch rival, Rushworth.

The club then went through a rough patch until 1936 when captained by former North Melbourne wingman, Leo Dwyer the club lost another Grand Final to Mooroopna, and this proved to be the last time a Murchison team made the GVFL finals.

After World War Two, the club spent one season in the Euroa DFA in 1945, winning the premiership against Euroa wearing dyed Green sugar bags for uniforms, due to wartime rationing.

Although the club had many fine players in this era, the team struggled in the GVFL, narrowly missing out on a finals berth in 1948, 1950, 1952 & 1960 so a decision was made in 1964 to move to the Kyabram DFL in order to become more competitive. This decision proved to be the right one as the club won two premierships in three years (1964 & 1966), and was one of the KDFL’s strongest sides throughout the 60’s & 70’s.

The club welcomed Netball to its ranks in 1979 with the newly formed KDFNL, and the club’s finest hour was in 1982, when the club featured in all three Grand Finals winning the Seniors & Reserves titles.

The club last featured in a Seniors Grand Final in 1988, losing to Lancaster, the club’s fortunes went up and down in these years, but a main highlight was the Reserves winning the flag in 2001.

The club has had some tumultuous times throughout its 129 year history, and this year will be another to add to the history of our proud old club.