The FIDA Football League (Football Integration Development Association) is an Australian rules football based in Victoria. The competition provides people with an intellectual disability the chance play football at a competitive level.
The league is mix-gendered and open to people aged 14 and over, with four regional conferences, the largest being in metropolitan Melbourne.
As of 2022, FIDA has 28 clubs and approximately 800 players. The competition is supported by the Hawthorn Football Club, Box Hill Hawks, Coburg Football Club and Williamstown Football Club.
History Origins and formation On 18 June 1989, a football clinic for people with an intellectual disability was run by the Hawthorn Football Club and the Hawthorn City Council. Hawthorn players Peter Curran and Rob Dickson were among those conducting the clinic.
A skills and match day was held a year later on 21 October 1990 following a steering committee, where the "Football Integration Development Association" name was agreed on.
The first FIDA matches were held on 7 March 1991. Six clubs – Chadstone Chargers, Werribee Blues, Mitcham Tigers, Hawthorn, Royal Magpies and Heidelberg – participated in the first round, with Broadmeadows and Keilor Saints joining the competition later in the year.
The 1991 grand final was held at Glenferrie Oval, with Chadstone (who were undefeated for the season) defeating Mitcham 19.14 (128) to 2.5 (17). Former Hawthorn coach John Kennedy Sr, whose son Bernard played for Chadstone, presented the trophy and medallions.
Four new clubs entered the competition in 1992, and it was expanded to a multi-division format with Division 1 and Division 2.
VAFA links In 1993, FIDA established relations with the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), who agreed to house the FIDA co-ordinator at VAFA headquarters at Elsternwick Park. The VAFA agreed to promote FIDA, with the VAFA Umpires Association also supplying umpires to the competition.
The links with the VAFA were formally established in 1995, supporting FIDA to grow further. The same year, Bendigo also entered the competition as its first regional-based club.
Recent growth FIDA employed a General Manager in 2009, which saw the competition develop rapidly. By the end of the 2015 season, FIDA had more than 600 players, and the running of the competition was taken over by AFL Victoria.
No season was held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 season was curtailed because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Clubs Metropolitan Conference Club Colours Nickname Est. First season AJAX Jackas 1957 2023 Ballarat Bulldogs Bulldogs 2016 2016 Carrum Downs Jets ???? ???? Coburg Lions 1891 2017 Cranbourne Eagles 1889 2021 Eltham Panthers 1904 20?? Ferntree Gully Eagles 18?? 2012 Fountain Gate Gators Gators ???? 2023 Kananook Bulls Bulls ???? 2017 Lower Plenty Bears 1962 2016 Mazenod Panthers Panthers 2005 2005 Monash Demons Demons 2020 2020 Parkside Devils Ringwood Spiders Spiders 1992 2021 Sandown Cobras Cobras 2010 2010 St Albans Saints 1946 2015 Williamstown Seagulls 2011 2011 Wyndham Tigers Tigers 1991 1991 Monash Demons was known as Mount Waverley Demons in 2020
Northern Conference Club Colours Nickname Est. First season Benalla Saints 1871 2024 Echuca Moama Rockets 2010 2010 GV Stars Stars 2014 2016 Merriwa Magpies 1875 2021 North Albury Hoppers 1943 2023 Wodonga Bulldogs 1878 2???
Central Conference Club Colours Nickname Est. First season Bendigo Suns Suns 2018 2018 Kyneton Tigers 1868 2021 Rupertswood Sharks 1999 2021SunburyLions??
Western Conference Club Colours Nickname Est. First season Grampian Giants Giants 2017 2017 South Warrnambool Hurricanes 2013 2013 Wimmera Whippets Whippets 2016 2016 Koroit SaintsSaints2026 South Warrnambool was known as the Hampden Hurricanes until 2017
Former clubs Source: Club Colours Nickname Est. Seasons Fate Bendigo Warriors Warriors 19?? 1995−???? Folded Broadmeadows 19?? 1991−???? Folded Chadstone Chargers Chargers 19?? 1991−1996 Merged Colac 19?? 1999−???? Footscray Underdogs Underdogs 19?? 1992−???? Folded Geelong 1997 1998−???? Geelong Dragons Dragons 2018 2018−2023 Folded Hamilton Boomers Boomers 2019 2019−2022 Folded Hawthorn Centrals Centrals 19?? 1992−???? Folded Heidelberg Bomers 19?? 1991−???? Folded Karingal Bulls Bulls 19?? 1992−???? Folded Keilor Saints Saints 19?? 1991−???? Folded Lions Lions 1997 1997−???? Folded Marlins Marlins 1996 1996−1997 Folded Maribyrnong 19?? 199?−???? Folded Mitcham Tigers Chargers 19?? 1991−1996 Merged North Ballarat 19?? 1999−???? Parkside 19?? 199?−???? Ringwood Blues Blues 19?? 1992−???? Folded Royal Magpies Magpies 19?? 1991−???? Keon Park Tigers 19652024-2024 Folded
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