The Rochester Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football and netball club, formed at a meeting held on 8 June 1874 at Tidy's Restdown Hotel. The club was formed with the purpose of soon "playing and beating Echuca". An intense rivalry that has endured ever since regardless of which competition each was playing in.
Rochester FNC is based in the town of Rochester, Victoria. Its teams currently play in the Goulburn Valley League, where Rochester played for the first time in 1913.
History
The Rochester Football Club was formed in 1874 at Tidy's Rest Down Hotel, Rochester, with a committee elected and players resolved to practice with the intention of beating Echuca.
On 1 June 1877 at Oliver's Cafe the Victorian Football Association was formed, with Rochester FC being one of the foundation clubs.
Between 1874 and 1889 (apart from 1877 in the VFA), there appears to be no evidence that Rochester played in any formal football competitions, but did play some friendly matches against local teams in most years, with regular matches against Echuca.
Rochester played in the Echuca District Football Association against Echuca, Echuca East and Cummeragunja in 1890.
From 1891 to 1893, Rochester played in the Northern District Football Association and in 1892, Rochester won the Aitken Football Premiership Trophy by finishing on top of the ladder, but were disqualified for playing a player without a permit, after a protest from Echuca. A grand final match was then arranged between Rochester and Echuca, but Rochester refused to attend and the premiership was awarded to Echuca.
In 1893, Rochester were runners up to Echuca East for the Lyon & Sons Trophy.
The Rochester Juniors were an official club in 1887 and played against Albion(Sandhurst FC Juniors).
In 1903, Rochester had two teams that played in the Northern Districts Football Association - Rochester Hopetouns and Rochester Federals.
In 1904, Rochester FC did not arrange their AGM until May and by that time there was already two other football club's formed in Rochester - Rochester Imperials and Rochester Federals FC. So the Rochester FC decided to go into recess for the 1904 season. Then in 1905, both Imperials and Federals merged to form one senior club and entered the Campaspe District Football Association.
Rochester FC guernsey's colours in 1906 were blue with a red sash and played in the Northern District Football Association. In 1906 Rochester's 'new football oval area will measure about 2 3/4 acres, being 7 chains long, 5 broad and 19 in circumference. Outside this, about half a chain. A stout wire rope is to be placed to keen barrackers in their places'.
In 1910, Rochester entered two teams - Ramblers and Rovers into the Football Association, with the Rovers winning the premiership.
Rochester Rovers 3.6 - 24 lost the 1911 Rochester Football Association grand final to Digorra 4.3 - 27.
In 1911, the Rochester DFA played the Bendigo Football League in a match at the Upper Reserve (Queen Elizabeth Oval), with Bendigo: 2.12 - 24 defeating Rochester: 1.6 - 12.
In 1912, the Rochester DFA played the Bendigo Football League in a match at the Upper Reserve (Queen Elizabeth Oval), with the match resulting in a draw, with the scores 6.6 - 42 each.
More than 20 Rochester players joined the war effort in 1915, and some never came home. William Campbell, Cyril Downe, William Edwards, Victor Lamb, Norman Rae, Vincent & Donald McInnes, Patrick Morrissey, Sam Sherlock all died in World War One.
In 1920, Bamawm: 4.7 - 31 defeated Rochester Imperials: 2.6 - 18 to win the Rochester & District Football Association.
In 1922, Rochester defeated Bamawn in the final, but Bamawn as minor premiers challenged Rochester to a grand final, in which Rochester won.
From 1933 to 1935, there was a Rochester Rovers FC that played in the Echuca District Football League.
A Rochester Football Association was formed in 1938 from the following clubs - Methodists, Naneella, Presbyterians, Rochester and St. Joseph's.
Goulburn Valley FNL
1913 & 1914 and 1973 to 2021
Rochester entered the Goulburn Valley FL for the 1913 season; they were eventually runner-up to Shepparton. The following year, they defeated Echuca in the Grand Final. With the outbreak of World War I, the Goulburn Valley FL did not reform in 1915, so Rochester entered the Bendigo FL.
1990's
The 1990s was a successful period, culminating in six senior grand final berths.
Both seniors and reserves made the grand final in 1990, but both teams lost.