The Wodonga Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the city of Wodonga, Victoria.
History
Wodonga's first recorded match was against the Albury Football Club on Saturday, 6 July 1878 in Wodonga. Between 1878 and 1891, Wodonga played many intermittent friendly matches against other local club's and towns, before organised fixtures and competitions were starting to be arranged from the early 1890s.
In 1886, the Wodonga Junior Football Club played Chiltern in a very rough match, with T Powell captaining the winning Wodonga side and in 1887, Wodonga Junior's journeyed to and were beaten by Chiltern. Walter Pemberton captained the side.
In 1891, Wodonga "Starlights" played in a series of matches against Albury United, Chiltern, Osborne's Flat and Wagga Wagga.
In 1893 Wodonga played in a series of matches against, Albury, Barnawartha, Corowa Federals, Osborne's Flat and Wangaratta.
At the club's 1895 Annual General Meeting at the Terminus Hotel, the following gentlemen were voted in – Mr. R H Smyth (President), Mr. George Bodycomb (Honorary Secretary) and Mr. George Leighton (Honorary Treasurer).
In 1899, the Wodonga FC – "Starlights" junior club was reformed and adopted the club colours of blue, black and a white star. The club patrons were Joseph Hoddinott MLA, and Isaac Isaacs MLA. This team went on to win the Fagan Trophy premiership (Donor – Chris Fagan – Market Hotel, Albury).
In 1900, the Wodonga FC – "Starlights" played in the Albury Football Association and finished in third position.
In 1903, 1904 and 1905, the Wodonga FC – "Shamrocks" entered a team in the local Federal Junior Football Association. They were runners up to the Albury "Endeavours" in 1904 and to the "Britons" in 1905.
In April 1906, the Wodonga FC – "Shamrocks" met and decided to become a senior team and be known as just the Wodonga FC.
The Wodonga FC senior team played in the Border Football Association (BFA) in 1901, 1902, 1903 and also in 1906. In May, 1907 the BFA was wound up after being in debt and "in a state of muddle".
Wodonga FC played in the Wednesday Half Holiday Football Association in 1908 and were runners up to the Albury Catholic Young Men's FC (CYM) on the Albury Sports Ground.
After winning the 1909 – Twomey / Stewart Football Association Premiership, in early 1910, Wodonga FC attempted to form a local football association, but due to a lack of commitment, Wodonga FC were left with no official competition in 1910. They did manage to play some friendly matches with other local clubs during the 1910 season.
In 1911, Wodonga FC applied to both the Ovens & Murray Junior Football Association and the Rutherglen & District Football Association to play in these competitions, but were both rejected due to other club's opinion that the travel would be too far. In 1911 Wodonga played their home matches at Wodonga Park. The Albury Senior Football Association was established in 1911, in which Wodonga FC entered and were runners up to the Catholic Young Men's FC (CYM) again!
The club first played in the Chiltern & District Football Association in 1912 (runners up), 1913 and 1915 and also from 1930 to 1935, prior to joining the Ovens & Murray League in 1936.
In 1913 the club arranged for 100 membership tickets to be printed in the club colours - blue and black!
In 1914, Wodonga FC played in the Wodonga and District Football Association against - Bethanga, Federal Railways, Sandy Creek and Tallangatta. Wodonga finished second on the ladder to premiers, Federal Railways.
In 1914, the Wodonga Military FC was formed, with W Twomey appointed as President. They played matches against Albury Battery FC and Albury Infantry FC in 1914 and 1915.
In 1917 the Wodonga Cadets played the Chiltern Cadets in three games of football.
In 1921, Wodonga lost to Diggers in the Albury & Border Football Association Preliminary Final. In 1921 Wodonga had both an A team and a B team, with the B team playing their first game against Bowna at the Racecourse Oval.
At the club's 1924 AGM, under financial difficulties, the Wodonga FC applied for admission into the Kiewa Football Association, but were rejected. It appears that the Wodonga FC went into recess at this time, mainly due to a lack of community support and financial debt.
In 1924, the Wodonga Rovers FC was formed and this new club entered the Chiltern & District Football Association and had a reasonable amount of success, winning a premiership in 1926 and being runners up in 1927 (minor premiers) and 1928.