Thursday, 11 March 2010
   
 

Club History 


The Willetton Junior Football Club was founded in 1971.  The new suburb of Willetton and “Burrendah” was growing steadily at this time and many boys who lived in the Willetton area were finding it difficult getting a game with the adjoining Riverton Junior Football Club, due to the excess of numbers. The Club fielded two teams, 9’s and 11’s in the first year of competition in the East Fremantle Junior Council. The first President was Mr Ian Adkins.

In 1972 the club changed its name to the “Willetton Junior Football and Sports Club”.  The following year the name was changed to the “Willetton Sports Club” with the make up of the W.S.C. being divisions representing each of the sports.  The Football division covered both junior and senior footballers until 1980 when two divisions were formed with the Senior division joining the South Suburban Murray National Football League and the junior division being aligned with the East Fremantle Football Club Junior Council. ie; 9’s to 17’s.

The number of teams representing the Club grew quite rapidly as the population of Willetton increased and as subdivision of all land west of Vahland Avenue neared finalisation. Team numbers went from 7 teams in 1979, 12 in 1980 and 1981 to a peak of 14 teams in 1982 and 1984. The number of teams reduced slightly throughout the balance of the 1980’s and in the 1990’s.  This reduction in numbers coincided with slightly lower numbers at the Willetton and Burrendah Primary Schools and the formation of the Rostrata Football Club east of Vahland Avenue.

By 2002 the Club numbers had fallen to only 5 teams with the 12’s being the oldest age group. A combined Willetton –Rostrata team won the premiership in the 14’s in this year. Committee numbers were at the bare minimum in 2002, finances relatively low and a merger with the Rostrata Junior Football Club was seriously considered. A number of meetings were held by each Club and it’s members and negotiations continued between the two clubs throughout 2002. However, a stalemate over a number of issues occurred and after strong consideration by the Willetton JFC Committee it was decided to continue on in it’s own right.

In 2003 the Club again fielded 5 teams and discussion was given in some sections as to whether the correct decision was made. However, in 2004 numbers at the Club began to increase and by 2007 the number of teams had risen to 9 with the Club also fielding a team in the 17’s for the first time since 2001. Auskick numbers were also increasing steadily throughout this period and this augured well for the future of the Club. During this time Committee numbers also increased, finances improved and social fundraisers were again introduced after an absence of several years.

In 2009 the Club continues in a strong vain and is fielding 10 junior teams and is operating a successful Auskick section.

The Club has been successful over the years in providing a high quality environment for children to develop their football skills.  Many former players of the Club have gone onto play at both WAFL and AFL clubs.

A healthy association is also had with the senior football division of the Willetton Sports Club, the Willetton Amatuer Football Club and this provides a pathway and transition to playing senior football at the local community level. 

NOTE:  Club records are relatively limited in the period between 1986 and 1998 and the Club would welcome any information relating to players, officials, life members and premierships through this time.