The Wodonga Raiders Football & Netball Club is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the city of Wodonga. The Raiders' football and netball squads currently compete in the Ovens & Murray Football League. The origins of the club dates back to the Kergunyah Football Club.
History
Origins
The "Kergunyah Football Club" was established in 1923, based in the small township of Kergunyah, Victoria is choose "Red and White colours" for its playing jumpers. Over the next few decades they spent time in the "Allans Flat District Football Association", the "Yackandandah Football Association", and the "Dederang And District Football Association". During this time they competed in two Grand Finals, the 1928 YFA-B Grade Grand Final where they were defeated by Yackandandah at Sandy Creek, and the 1937 DDFA Grand Final where they were defeated by Kiewa (10.5.65 - 11.9.75).
Before the 1940 season Kergunyah went into recess due to a lack of number because of the ongoing War, they continued to be in a state of recess until the 1944 post season. The club was re-activated during the 1945 pre-season, they continued to be based in the small township of Kergunyah, Victoria and chose to "Red and White colours" for its playing jumpers. They re-joined the Yackandandah Football League (formally known by "Yackandandah Football Association") for the 1945 season. They competed in the league until 1952 when they decide to leave Yackandandah Football League in favor of joining the neighbouring Tallangatta And District Football League, and within just three short year the "Yackandandah Football League" had folded due to lack of clubs. The club was an early powerhouse in its new league, becoming the first club to achieve a three-peat of premierships (1955-1956-1957), a record only equaled by Mitta United (1959-1960-1961). However by the early 1970s the club was in trouble, starved for on field success combined with not having very good facilities and with most players & club people residing in the Wodonga area. The tough decision was made following the 1975 season to disband the Kergunyah Football Club.
Kergunyah's three-peat record for most consecutive senior TDFL flags stood for 50-years before being beaten by Mitta United when they achieved the impressive feat of winning four consecutive senior TDFL flags (2004-2005-2006-2007).
Formation
Following the 1975 decision to disband the Kergunyah Football Club, a group of former important club people gathered at the Wodonga's Blazing Stump Hotel and decided to create the new club, they would be based at Wodonga's Martin Park and continue to wear Kergunyah's Red and White colours for its playing jumpers. In early 1976 the "Wodonga Demons Football and Sports Club" was established, they joined the Tallangatta And District Football League for the 1976 season, filling the void left by Kergunyah Football Club.
In 1978 the club moved to Martin Park's number two oval (Now known as the Les Cheesley Oval), while here the ground was expanded to full size. After a request to Wodonga Council in 1980, some vacant land was located for a new home ground, and the facility at Birallee Park was completed by the end of the 1983 season.
On field the club was strong in its early years, contesting many final series. During the 80's the club contested three senior Tallangatta & District Football League Grand Finals, the 1980 TDFL Grand Final where they were defeated by Tallangatta Valley (20.10.130 - 13.11.89), the 1985 TDFL Grand Final where they were defeated by 1985 Holbrook (22.17.149 - 13.6.84), and the 1987 TDFL Grand Final where they defeated Mitta United (15.13.103 - 14.13.97).
The club left the Tallangatta & District Football League after the 1988 season, and spent the following post-season preparing to join the Ovens and Murray Football League for the 1989 Season.
Changing leagues
Following the 1988 decision to allow the Wodonga Demons permission to join the Ovens and Murray Football League, the Wodonga Demons Football and Sports Club went about re-establishing their new identity. They had to change both their name and colours so as to not cause confusion with the Benalla Demons (also wore Red and White colours for its playing jumpers) and the long established Wodonga Football Club (previously the sole Wodonga-based club between 1952-1975). The club settled upon the name of the Wodonga Raiders, officially the Wodonga Raiders Sports Club, and chose to wear Red and Navy colours for its playing jumpers.