Glenelg Football Club

Club history

The Glenelg Football Club was formed on 20 March 1920, and entered the South Australian League in 1921. It was not until 2 May 1925 that the club saw its first league victory, a 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) win over West Torrens at Glenelg Oval.

"The Bays", as they are sometimes known, won their first SANFL premiership in 1934 with an 18.15 (123) to 16.18 (114) victory against Port Adelaide. The 1935 season saw them slump from first to last.

Until 1948, the team jersey was gold with a black V, in 1949 the club adopted the now familiar black with gold sash design.

In total the club has won 4 premierships – in 1934, 1973, and back to back flags in 1985 and 1986.

"The Bays" also had an unlikely amalgamation with West Adelaide Football Club during the war years.

2008 season

The 2008 season has been of particular note for several reasons. During the home and away season, the club had 51,583 fans through the gate, the highest total attendance for an SANFL home ground in recent history. On average, 5,158 fans attended each game at Challenge Recruitment Oval in the 2008 season (up more than 2,000 from 3,039 in 2007). This included a record attendance of 11,827, the highest SANFL "home and away" crowd since the inception of the Adelaide Crows. The club was undefeated for 12 matches between 5 April and 12 July, won their first match at Elizabeth since 1992, and at Alberton since 1993. The club also won its first minor premiership since 1981, and made its first Grand Final since 1992.

Home grounds

Since the club first entered the SANFL they have used Glenelg Oval as their home ground. The only year this did not occur was in 1991 when Glenelg used Football Park (along with new team Woodville-West Torrens) under the SANFL's ground rationalisation scheme. This arrangement only lasted for the 1991 season as Glenelg moved back to The Bay while the Eagles moved to Woodville Oval.

In 2012 Glenelg Oval became one of five suburban SANFL grounds to have lights installed for night games.

The ground record crowd for Glenelg Oval was set on 20 July 1968 when 17,171 saw Sturt defeat Glenelg by just one point, 13.13 (91) to 13.12 (90). The record night attendance was set on 25 April 2014 (ANZAC Day) when 9,245 saw Glenelg defeat the Adelaide Crows reserves 17.21 (123) to 13.8 (86) for the Tigers first win of the 2014 SANFL season.

Glenelg Oval also saw the highest score in SANFL history in 1975 when Glenelg defeated Central District 49.23 (317) to 11.13 (79): the winning margin of 238 is at of 2017 the SANFL record, and remains the club's record win. Glenelg's champion full-forward, the 1969 Magarey Medallist Fred Phillis, kicked 18 goals for the game, including his 100th for the season.

Club song

Oh we're from Tigerland
A fighting fury, we're from Tigerland
In any weather you'll see us with a grin
Risking head and shin
If we're behind then never mind
We'll fight and fight and win
For we're from Tigerland.
We never weaken till the final siren's gone
Like the Tiger of old, we're strong and we're bold
For we're from Tiger – yellow and black – we're from Tigerland.

Post war coaches

Magarey Medallists

The Magarey Medal is awarded to the "fairest and most brilliant" player in the League during the Home and Away season. Glenelg has nine Magarey Medalists and two Reserves Magarey Medalists:

SANFL leading goalkickers

Fos Williams Medalists

The Fos Williams Medal is awarded to the best player during State of Origin games for South Australia. Glenelg has six Fos Williams Medalists, including one dual medalist:

Jack Oatey Medalists

The Jack Oatey Medal is awarded to the best player during Grand Final. Glenelg has two Jack Oatey Medalists:

Notable and/or AFL listed players and officials

Notable players and officials from The Bay include;

Club ambassadors

As of 2013 the Glenelg Football Club has seven club ambassadors. They are: