History
The Club was formed in 1951 as Batmac FC and came to recognise the local community through a name change in 1981 to the Coburg Districts Football Club.
The home ground of Coburg Districts is Cole Reserve situated on the corner of Cumberland & Kent Roads, Pascoe Vale. The Club is currently affiliated with the Western Region Football League, fielding both a Senior & Reserves side in Division 2.
As part of fostering a community spirit the following groups jointly share the facilities at Cole Reserve:
Currently the Coburg Districts Football Club has over 100 financial members with many enjoying cross memberships and participation with the above groups.
Performance
The Club has been perennial final performers over the past years without actually reaching the summit and achieving the best measure of onfield success there possibly is – a premiership.
The last senior premiership was in 1988 – our inaugural year in the FDFL
History – Playing Side
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1981 - Inaugural year Coburg Districts Football Club
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1981 - Under 17's Premiers in Essendon District Football League (E.D.F.L)
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1982 - Under 18's Champions and Premiers in Essendon District Football League
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1983 - Seniors make finals for first time
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1985 - Seniors make first Grand Final and finish Runners Up
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1986 - Reserves finish Runners Up
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1987 - Final year in Essendon District Football League
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1987 - Both Seniors & Reserves make the Preliminary Final
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1988 - Inaugural year in the Footscray District Football League (F.D.F.L)
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1988 - Seniors win Clubs first Premiership.
Clubs first premiership was achieved by the Under 17’s under the guidance of coach Graeme Scoberg against Brunswick City.
The Clubs Senior team’s first taste of final football was under coach Les Dowset in 1983. Les played a major role in the fostering of talent of the younger boys in both the under 17’s & under 18’s.
1985 saw the seniors make their first Grand Final under the coaching of Greg Nyman only to be defeated by some 17 points against Airport West. The preliminary final win against local rivals, Pascoe Vale, being of the highlights of the year.
1986 the Reserves under coach Clyde Day finished runners-up.
1987 saw both the Senior & Reserves sides make the Preliminary Final under the coaching of Steve MacDonnell (Seniors) and Brian Campisi (Reserves).
1987 was also the Club’s last year in the Essendon District Football League as the EDFL saw fit to reduce the number of teams within our immediate area. The basis of this decision was on account of 4 forfeited games at Under 18 level in the season. Since 1988 many EDFL Clubs have recorded numerous walkovers at both Junior and Senior level and in some instances withdrawn complete sides from junior competitions but no action in regard to withdrawing a Clubs application has ever been taken.
1988 was the Clubs inaugural year in the Footscray Districts Football League (FDFL), later to be renamed the Western Region Football League (WRFL). Ironically in that year Coburg Districts and another former EDFL club, Ascot Vale, played off in the Grand Final after going through the home and away season undefeated Districts lost their first finals game before bouncing back and recording the Club’s first Senior flag under coach Kevin Morrison.
1989 the Seniors again contested the finals under coach Ken Garrow.
1991 the Reserves made the Preliminary Final under coach Ron McGill.
1992 saw the Club recruit high profile ex VFL (Carlton) & VFA (Springvale) player Phil Maylin, the Seniors made the Preliminary Final under coach Peter Olivieri.
The Club’s Senior side has since contested the Finals in seasons 1995, 1997/98, 2000 ,2001 2006 & 2008. Whilst the Reserves side has managed to contest the Finals in seasons 1983/84, 1986/87, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2002/03 ,2005, 2006 ,2008 & 2009.
Inaugural Year Office Bearers
President Neville Williams
Vice President Steve Diggerson
Secretary David Boyd
Asst Secretary Allan Richards
Treasurer Jack Cumberland
Asst Treasurer Kevin Clapton
Senior Coach Russell Nilsson
Reserves Coach Mick Pittman
Thirds Coach Gary Rutledge
Notable Former Players
Wayne Harmes – Carlton VFL played his junior football at Batman Football Club
Phil Maylin – ex Carlton & Springvale Premiership player, payed at Districts 1992
Thirds Coaches
The Club had Thirds in 1981 and 1982 and were coached by Gary Rutledge in 1981 and Alan Wise in 1982.
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