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 Timeline
Bethanga Football Club have played in the following football competitions.
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.
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.
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.
↑ "1913 - A trophy in dispute!". Trove Newspapers. The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times (Albury, NSW). 4 October 1913. p.6. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
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