Wodonga Saints Football Club Explained

Clubname:	Wodonga Saints
Color1:	ffffff
Color2:	000000
Color3:	solid #ff0000
Fullname:	Wodonga Saints Football Netball Club
Motto:	"Our Strength is within"
Clubsong:	"Oh When The Saints Go Marching In"
Nicknames:	Saints
League:	Tallangatta & District Football League
Premierships:	1913, 1929
Ground:	Martin Park, Wodonga & Bethanga Park
Pattern B1:	_redwhiteblack
Pattern So1:	_hoops_black_red
Shorts1:	000000
Socks1:	ffffff

The Wodonga Saints Football Netball Club is an Australian rules football and netball club playing their home games at Martin Park in Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.

Originally established as the Bethanga Football Club in 1907, with the club was based at the Bethanga Park Recreation Reserve, Bethanga, Victoria, Australia up until 2001.

Following the 1999 Victorian Country Football League report that stated a number of clubs, including Bethanga, were on the verge of collapsing if some kind of action was not taken. After playing a handful of matches at Wodonga's Martin Park to see if there would be enough local support to support the club moving there, the club made the decision in 2002 and Bethanga FC relocated fully to Martin Park, Wodonga & were renamed as the Wodonga Saints Football Club.

History

Bethanga Football Club

The Bethanga Football Club was established in 1907 and initially played in the Mitta Mitta Football League (Tallangatta Football Association) with its first match against Tallangatta Football Club at home at Bethanga Park in the black and red (Essendon) colors.^[1]

In June 1926, Bethanga Footballer, John Thomas Tankard received a knock to the stomach, resulting in severe pain, was later operated on at a private hospital, but later died.^[2]

Local brothers, Arthur Mills and Albert Mills played for Bethanga in the 1926 and 1927 Kiewa & District Football Association grand finals, before the family moved to Oxley,^[3] near Wangaratta, playing with Wangaratta Football Club in 1929, then both brothers made their debuts for the Hawthorn Football Club in 1930.

In 1928, Bethanga FC wore the colours of red, white and blue.

In 1958, Granya FC (who folded in 1954) and Bethanga FC merged to become the Granya / Bethanga Bombers and were coached by Norm Benstead, who happened to kick 100 plus goals in 1958. In 1959, the merged club changed its name to the Murray United Football Club and was coached by Alf Deane. Unfortunately for the local community the new club folded after the 1959 season, after winning only one game and forfeiting two. Granya FC would never reform and the Bethanga FC would not reform until the 1976 Tallangatta & District Football League season.^[4]

Football Competitions TimelineBethanga Football Club have played in the following football competitions.

• 1907 & 1908: Tallangatta Football Association^[5]
• 1909: Twomey Stewart Football Association^[6]
• 1910 to 1912: Club in recess.
• 1913: Mitta Mitta Valley Football League
• 1914: Wodonga & District Football Association^[7]
• 1915 to 1919: Club in recess due to World War I
• 1920 to 1921: Kiewa Football Association^{[8] [9]}
• 1922 to 1923: Tallangatta & District Football Association^[10]
• 1924 to 1928: Kiewa & District Football Association ^{[11] [12] [13] [14]}
• 1928: Yackandandah & District Football Association - B. Grade competition ^{[15] [16] [17]}
• 1929 to 1932: Yackandandah Football Association^{[18] [19] [20] [21]}
• 1933: Tallangatta & District Football League^[22]
• 1934 to 1938: Hume Football League^{[23] [24] [25] [26]}
• 1939: Dederang & District Football League ^{[27] [28] [29]}
• 1940: Kiewa & Mitta Football League ^[30]
• 1941 to 1944: Club in recess, due to World War II
• 1945 to 1955: Tallangatta & District Football League^{[31] [32]}
• 1956: Chiltern & District Football Association^{[33] [34]}
• 1957: Tallangatta & District Football League^[35]
• 1958: Granya / Bethanga Bombers FC - Tallangatta & District Football League^[36]
• 1959: Murray United Football Club - Tallangatta & District Football League^[37]
• 1960 to 1975: Club in recess
• 1976 to 2001: Bethanga FNC - Tallangatta & District Football League
• 2002 to 2020: Wodonga Saints FNC - Tallangatta & District Football League

Senior Football - Premierships

• Mitta Mitta Valley Football League
  • 1913: Bethanga defeated Granya by one point.^[38] Granya claimed that this match was a draw and refused to hand over the premiership trophy.^[39] Bethanga were compelled to take legal action against Granya Football Club to obtain possession of the premiership trophy. The case was to be heard at the Bethanga Police Court on the Wednesday 8 October 1913.^[40] This premiership trophy is now on display at the Bethanga Hotel.
• Yackandandah Football Association
  • 1929 - Bethanga: 5.15 - 45 defeated Yackandandah: 4.7 - 31 ^[41]

Senior Football - Runners Up

• Tallangatta & District Football Association
  • 1922 - Tallangatta:9.8 - 62 defeated Bethanga: 3.5 - 23 ^[42]
• Kiewa & District Football Association
  • 1926 - Bethanga: 7.11 - 53 defeated Granya: 5.10 - 40.^[43] Bethanga won the first grand final, but Granya as minor premiers had the right to challenge Bethanga to a "Challenge Grand Final".^[44]
  • 1926 - Granya: 4.18 - 42 defeated Bethanga: 5.8 - 38 ^[45] Granya won the 1926 premiership.
  • 1927 - Granya: 8.12 - 60 defeated Bethanga: 3.1 - 19 ^[46]
• Yackandandah Football Association
  • 1930 - Kergunyah: 11.6 - 72 defeated Bethanga: 6.16 - 52 ^[47]
  • 1931 - Talgarno: 8.6 - 54 drew with Bethanga: 8.6 - 54. Drawn grand final.^[48]
  • 1931 - Talgarno: 11.14 - 80 defeated Bethanga: 10.8 - 68. Grand final replay.^[49]
• Hume Football League
  • 1938 - Lavington: 17.23 - 125 defeated Bethanga: 5.6 - 36 ^{[50] [51] [52] [53]}
• Tallangatta & District Football League
  • 1991 - Holbrook: defeated Bethanga:

Bethanga FC footballers who played senior VFL football.

• 1927 - Clarrie Morelli - Collingwood ^[54]
• 1930 - Arthur Mills - Hawthorn
• 1930 - Bert Mills - Hawthorn
• 1958 - Len Cottrell - Carlton

Wodonga Saints Football Netball Club

In 2002, the club decided to relocate to Martin Park, Wodonga in order to save the club from possibly folding.

• 2002–present: Tallangatta & District Football League

Football Season	Senior Ladder Position	Reserves Ladder Position	Thirds / U/17's Ladder Position	Fourths / U/14's Ladder Position
2002			5
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009	11	10	1st	12
2010	12	12	10	11
2011	12	9	7	7
2012	12	9	12	11
2013	10	9	12	12
2014	9	10	12	10
2015	12	12	12	12
2016	12	10	12	12
2017	11	11	12	12
2018	12	9	12	11
2019	11	7	12	11
2020	COVID-19	COVID-19	COVID-19	COVID-19
2021	12	9	No team	No team
2022	11	10	No team	No team
2023	10	10	No team	No team
2024	10	6	No team	2nd
2025

Back To Bethanga

Since 2009 the Wodonga Saints have moved one home match back to the old Bethanga Football Ground on four occasions. The move has been widely welcomed by both the football club & greater Bethanga community.

Year	G	B	Pts	Home	G	B	Pts	Away	Report
2009	11	7	73	Wodonga Saints	16	11	107	Mitta United	Report (Saturday April 18)
2010	No match played
2011	No match played
2012	No match played
2013	17	12	114	Wodonga Saints	10	11	71	Tallangatta	Report (Saturday May 4)
2014	11	7	73	Wodonga Saints	11	12	78	Tallangatta	Report (Saturday April 12)
2015	2	5	17	Wodonga Saints	49	23	317	Tallangatta	Report (Saturday May 30)
2016	No match scheduled
2017	No match scheduled
2018	No match scheduled
2019	No match scheduled
2020	No match scheduled. Season abandoned due to COVID-19
2021	No match scheduled.
2022	No match scheduled.
2023	No match scheduled.
2024	No match scheduled.
2025
2026

External links

• • 1938 - Bethanga FC team photo
• Yackandandah & District Football League

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1907 - Bethanga Football Club . Trove Newspapers . Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 8 . 25 May 1907.
2. Web site: 1926 - Player Killed . The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic) . 19 August 2024 . 8 . 9 June 1926.
3. Web site: 1929 - Mills move to Oxley . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga & Towong Senitel . 3 November 2020 . 3 . 15 February 1929.
4. Web site: Bethanga FC - history . Wodonga Saints FNC . Danny "Ditch" Steel. . 3 November 2020.
5. Web site: 1907 - Tallangatta FA - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 23 . 30 August 1907.
6. Web site: 1909 - Twomey Stewart FA - Draw . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 3 . 11 June 1909.
7. Web site: 1914 - Wodonga & DFA - Ladder . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 5 . 10 July 1914.
8. Web site: 1920 - Kiewa FA Semi Final scores . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 2 . 13 August 1920.
9. Web site: 1921 - Kiewa & DFA - Semi Final match reviews . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 3 November 2020 . 4 . 19 August 1921.
10. Web site: 1923 - Tallangatta & District FA - Final Ladder . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 1 . 3 August 1923.
11. Web site: 1925 - Kiewa & DFA - Draw . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 3 November 2020 . 1 . 19 June 1925.
12. Web site: 1926 - Kiewa & DFA - AGM & Draw . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 3 November 2020 . 1 . 16 April 1926.
13. Web site: 1927 - Kiewa & DFA - AGM . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 3 November 2020 . 1 . 15 April 1927.
14. Web site: 1928 - Kiewa & DFA - Draw . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 3 November 2020 . 4 . 1 June 1928.
15. Web site: 1928 - Yackandandah & DFA - B. Grade - AGM . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 3 November 2020 . 4 . 4 May 1928.
16. Web site: 1928 - Yackandandah & DFA - B. Grade Finals . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 3 November 2020 . 4 . 3 August 1928.
17. Web site: 1928 - Yackandandah & DFA - B. Grade Semi Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 3 November 2020 . 4 . 17 August 1928.
18. Web site: 1929 - Yackandandah FA Draw . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 2 . 10 May 1929.
19. Web site: 1930 - Yackandandah FA - Draw . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 4 . 25 April 1925.
20. Web site: 1931 - Yackandandah & DFA - Draw . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 1 . 1 May 1931.
21. Web site: 1932 - Yackandandah & DFA - Ladder . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 3 . 8 July 1932.
22. Web site: 1933 - Tallangatta & DFA . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 2 . 28 April 1933.
23. Web site: 1934 - Hume FL - Preliminary Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020. 12 . 31 August 1934.
24. Web site: 1935 - Hume FL - 1st Semi Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner & Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 3 . 23 August 1935.
25. Web site: 1936 - Hume FL - AGM & Rd.1 Draw . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 6 . 10 April 1936.
26. Web site: 1937 - Hume FL - Preliminary Final . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 40 . 3 September 1937.
27. Web site: 1939 - Dederang & DFL - AGM . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 4 . 26 April 1939.
28. Web site: 1939 - Dederang & DFL - Draw . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 5 . 3 May 1939.
29. Web site: 1939 - Dederang & DFL - Final Ladder . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020. 3 . 8 August 1939.
30. Web site: 1940 - Kiewa Mitta FL - Draw . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 4 . 24 April 1940.
31. Web site: 1945 - Bethanga FC Reforms . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 3 November 2020 . 5 . 18 April 1945.
32. Web site: 1945 - Tallangatta & DFA - Semi Finals . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 3 November 2020 . 3 . 9 July 1945.
33. Web site: 1956 - Chiltern & DFA Scores . Trove Newspapers . The Argus . 2 November 2020 . 13 . 23 July 1956.
34. Web site: 1956 - Chiltern & DFL semi final scores . Trove Newspapers . The Argus . 3 November 2020 . 15 . 6 August 1956.
35. Web site: 1957 - Tallangatta & DFL - Final Round Scores . Google . The Age . 4 November 2020 . 15 . 19 August 1957.
36. Web site: 1958 - Tallangatta & DFL - Last Round Scores . Google . The Age . 4 November 2020 . 17 . 11 August 1950.
37. Web site: 1959 - Football in Country: Tallangatta . Google . The Age . 9 September 2024 . 21 . 10 August 1959.
38. Web site: 1913 - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 3 . 8 August 1908.
39. Web site: 1913 - Bethanga FC - Premiership Trophy . Trove Newspapers . The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 6 . 19 September 1913.
40. Web site: 1913 - A trophy in dispute! . Trove Newspapers . The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 6 . 4 October 1913.
41. Web site: 1929 - Yackandandah FA - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 3 . 20 September 1929.
42. Web site: 1922 - Tallangatta DFA - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 46 . 1 September 1922.
43. Web site: 1926 - Kiewa & DFA - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 4 . 3 September 1926.
44. Web site: 1926 - Kiewa & DFA - Drawn Grand Final . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner & Wodonga Express . 3 November 2020 . 32 . 3 September 1926.
45. Web site: 1926 - Kiewa & DFA - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 4 . 24 September 1926.
46. Web site: 1927 - Kiewa & DFA - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 41 . 19 August 1927.
47. Web site: 1930 - Yackandandah FA - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Yackandandah Times (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 4 . 29 August 1930.
48. Web site: 1931 - Yackandandah FA - Drawn Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic) . 2 November 2020 . 2 . 4 September 1931.
49. Web site: 1931 - Yackandandah FA Grand Final Replay Scores . Trove Newspapers . The Argus . 2 November 2020 . 12 . 7 September 1931.
50. Web site: 1938 - Please at premiership prospects . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 1 . 1 September 1938.
51. Web site: 1938 - Hume FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 6 . 5 September 1938.
52. Web site: 1938 - Hume FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 38 . 9 September 1938.
53. Web site: 1938 - Flying leap at Jindera . Trove Newspapers . Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) . 2 November 2020 . 2 . 5 September 1938.
54. Web site: Clarence Morelli - Collingwood Forever profile . Trove Newspapers . Collingwood Forever . 3 November 2020.