150 George StreetPARADISE
EMAIL US:raggies@athelstonefc.org.au
ESTABLISHED
IN 1904
The Athelstone Football Club was established in 1904 by a group of local market gardeners who donned hessian bags as guernseys, which is why we are called “The Raggies”. The club originally played at the corner of Maryvale Road and Addison Avenue but later moved to Foxfield Oval on Maryvale Road. Separate clubrooms were established at Glynde in 1971. The club moved to Torrens Valley Oval on George Street, Paradise in 1976 where they built and moved into the previous ‘below oval level’ clubrooms. New clubrooms were built at oval level and opened in 2022.
Our early games were played on an oval on the corner of Maryvale Rd and Addison Ave. With the assistance of Colonel Fox a new oval was establish on Maryvale Rd. In recognition of his assistance the oval was named the “Foxfield Oval”. In 1954 the club members erected brick changerooms which became the club headquarters, both for football and social meetings. In 1971 we leased the Glynde Hall as our social facility which assisted us with the development of both our senior and junior football programs.
Our present location on the corner of George St and Schulze Rd commenced with the formation of the oval at a LGA Demonstration Field Day. Following the Field Day, club members then finished construction by fencing the playing field, installing irrigation and seeding the oval. The clubrooms, located below oval level, were opened in 1976 and allowed us provide meals and drink services to our members and the local community. A shelter was constructed at oval level for spectators and canteen services as the Club.
In 2021 construction of the current facility commenced. The new building, open in 2022, provide facilities to cater for female players and umpires and sits above and overlooks the oval provides an outstanding spectator experience.
1904 - 1931
During the early days Clubs organised to play against each other rather than in a formal competition. Modbury and Tea Tree Gully are two Clubs that we regularly play against then (and now). In 1912 we achieved the title of “Champions of Australia”.
1931 – 1940
North Eastern Hills Football Association
The League was formed in 1931 and Athelstone as one of the foundation clubs. In 1932 our A Grade team were the runners-up in the competition.
1940 - 1970
East Torrens Football Association
The club played in the East Torrens Football Association in the early years, winning A grade premierships in 1940, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1965 and 1966.
1968 – 1977
Norwood North Football Association
The club then played in the Norwood North Football Association from 1970, winning premierships in 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976 and 1977.
1978-1995
South Australian Football Association
The Raggies joined the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) in its inaugural year in 1978 and we lost the Grand Final that year. We did not taste A grade premiership success in SAFA until 1995, SAFA's final year.
1996-Now
When the SAFA disbanded at the end of 1995, the Club joined the South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL). The SAAFL created two separate divisions Premier Division 1 and Premier Division 2 to cater for the SAFA clubs which were semi-professional. Athelstone was placed in the Premier 2 division and in 1996 won the Premier Division 2 premiership earning it a promotion to Division 1. (The ‘Premier’ Divisions were only in place for one year, before the SAAFL reverted to its original division structure.) Athelstone remained in Division 1 until it dropped to Division 2 in 2001. In 2003 we dropped to Division 3 where we remained until we finished second to SMOSH West Lakes in 2007, earning a return to Division 2 in 2008. In 2013 the Raggies returned to Division 3 where it remained until it lost another grand final to Pembroke Old Scholars in 2016. 2017 saw another grand final loss (to Henley) and a promotion back to Division 1 for the first time since 2000. A poor win/loss ratio in 2018 saw us relegated to Division 2 for the 2019 season, where we finally tasted premiership success against Unley Mercedes Jets, earning promotion to Division 1 in 2020. In 2021 we returned to Division 2 where we have remained since.
2019-now
Women's Football
In 2019 we fielded our first senior womens team in the then South Australian Amateur Football League (SAWFL). The ladies played in Division 5 in their first year before the SAWFL became part of the Adelaide Footy League in 2020. Women’s divisions are based on a combination of ability and team numbers and the Raggies ladies have bounced around between Divisions 4, 5 and 6 since their inception. In 2023, the ladies had a breakout year losing 2 games during the minor season and ultimately making but losing their first grand final by 3 points to Golden Grove. In 2024, the ladies went through the season undefeated before losing the Grand Final to Edwardstown.
2019-now
Masters Football
In 2019 the Club fielded its first Masters team in what is known as the AFL Masters SA competition. Whilst they only play fortnightly and don’t play for premiership points each game is hotly contested but played in a safe, supportive and fun environment.
2023-now
Men's Inclusive Football
In 2023, the Raggies fielded their first Inclusive team in the SANFL APM Inclusive League. The league offers players with an intellectual disability the opportunity to play community football where they may not otherwise get the chance due to their disability. In their first year the team were Grand Final runners-up. In 2024, the team went through the season undefeated and won the Premiership, beating Kilburn by 35 points.
