More than 125 years of history will be acknowledged by Katamatite Football Netball Club this season, with the club celebrating the significant milestone — albeit a year late.
With last year’s festivities put on hold due to COVID-19, the club will host its 125th anniversary celebrations this season and president Casey Brown was excited about the occasion.
“Obviously 125 years is quite an achievement, especially for a small community club like ours,” Brown said.
“There’s a real buzz about the club, it’s a bit of a shame that we didn’t get to have it last year, but it just means that we can better prepare and celebrate this year.”
The club has big plans for the 2022 season, with special 125-year anniversary guernseys ready to go.
Guest speakers, premiership reunions and a jumper auction are planned to celebrate the occasion, with a roast dinner pencilled in after Katamatite takes on Katunga on April 23.
Brown, who took over the presidency from Max Wright this year, said it was not always about winning for the club, but providing somewhere to come together and share the good times and the bad.
“It might be the only time farmers come off their farm for the whole week and then they’re back to the grind, so we’re just proud of the community side of things, the way we bring people together and support each other,” Brown said.
“It’s more about the community than winning flags and I think COVID-19 has really kinda shown that for the whole Picola league, so we’re not enemies we’re opponents now.”
Former player and encyclopedia of Katamatite knowledge, Rod Kilgour, was also looking forward to the anniversary events.
“We’re looking forward to a good night which hopefully will be full of memories,” Kilgour said.
“There will be quite a few people bob up who played from my era and I look forward to catching up with them.”
Kilgour played junior football at the club, before playing about 50 games in the senior and reserves sides in the early 1960s.
He has a unique connection to the club, with his father club president and player in the 1950 premiership side, while his great uncle played in the 1911 team.
“The Kilgours and the Sidebottoms go back a long time with the Katamatite Football Club,” he said.
“We played a lot of years where we didn’t have much success, but the club had a great feeling about it and it was always enjoyable, people came to the club and enjoyed it and said ‘well Katamatite is the club I like’.”
Katamatite has a rich and proud history, winning premierships in 1950,1979,1996 and 2001 and producing a number of AFL/VFL talents including Tom Clurey, Sam Wright, Darren Flanigan and Rod McGregor among others.
It also became well known in football circles in the 1920s when the side scored a massive 78 goals in a single match.
More information on Katamatite’s 125th anniversary celebration can be found on the club’s Facebook page and Brown encouraged people to get along.
“Something like this is a great way to get people to reconnect with the club and make it a habit again,” Brown said.
The main celebrations will take place on Saturday, April 23 at Katamatite Recreation Reserve, with plenty of activities throughout the day.