The North Albany Football and Sporting Club, more often referred to as North Albany, is an Australian rules football club located in Albany, Western Australia. Nicknamed the Kangas, the club play in the Great Southern Football League, with home games being hosted at Collingwood Park. Since being formed in 1897, netball and association football teams have played under banners of North Albany or Kangas.
History
On 13 May 1897 football players from the North Ward formed a club called the North Albany Football Club. Wearing the colours of red and blue, the side played their inaugural matches at the Parade Street Oval. In 1908, North Albany competed in Albany's first formal football competition. North Albany entered the history books after claiming the first Premiership. It was in this season that the club altered their colours, with the team wearing red and white hooped guernseys.
In the late 1930s, the North Albany Football Club enjoyed a period of success. From 1936 until 1939, the club won continual Premiership flags. The club competed in their fifth successive Grand Final in 1939, only to lose the encounter.
Reformation after WWII the club altered their identity. This change came in the form of the club name, with Towns FC being adopted as the new moniker. This title would be dropped in 1956, with North Albany resuming as the club's official name.
Football in the Albany region had a massive overhaul in 1958 with the formation of The Southern Districts National Football League. Nineteen years later, in 1977, the North Albany Football Club move into a new home at Collingwood Park. The following season, the 'Fighting Kangaroo' became the club mascot. The aesthetic reconfiguration of the Kangas was followed with success. Another period of sustained dominance started with North Albany's 1979 Southern Districts National Football League Grand Final. Despite losing the 1979 finale, the club would go on to compete in five straight Grand Finals, winning the 1980, 1982, and 1983 editions.
In 1991 the league had an overhaul. The new titled Great Southern Football League included teams from neighbouring townships. Clubs in the GSFL represented Katanning, Mount Barker, Tambellup and Denmark.
Alan Barnett, who had played for the club in 1972 and 1973 when injury prevented him from playing on, served as Club President from 1998 to 2007, when he was awarded life membership.
After a period of dominance from cross-town rivals Royals, 2005 saw a resurgence for the Kangas. The club won four back-to-back Flags, ending a 22-year Premiership drought.
Russell Hare was President of the Club in 2007.
Records and achievements Football Premierships
League: 29:
Reserves: 19:
Colts: 26:
Under 16's: 1:
Football Fairest & Best League
2020Talon Delacey2019 Nathan Crudeli2018 Matt Orzel2017 Jack McPhee 2016 Matt Smith2015 Matt Orzel2014 Declan Mountford2013 Luke Cameron2012 Brent Welshman2011 Mitch Tuffley2010 Kris Ericsson2009 Graham Ross2008 Graham Ross,2007 Graham Ross, 2006 Brett Hall, 2005 Scott McKenzie, 2004 Jono Woods, 2003 Brett Hall/ Jono Woods, 2002 Brett Hall, 2001 Brett Hall, 2000 Mat Bateman 1999 Boydan Coyne, 1998 Mat Bateman, 1997 Murray Gomm, 1996 Simon Deegan, 1995 Mick Mustey, 1994 Nathan Ashton, 1993 Jono Woods, 1992 Brad Hitchcock, 1991 Gerard Cameron, 1990 Jono Woods 1989 Ray Mountfield, 1988 Gerard Cameron, 1987 Rob Sutton, 1986 Andrew Partington, 1985 Rob Sutton, 1984 Keith Wynne, 1983 Brian Stamp, 1982 Keith Wynne, 1981 Keith Wynne, 1980 Kim Allsop 1979 Graeme Evans, 1978 Ollie Galante, 1977 Les Holt, 1976 Clive Bonney, 1975 Rod Gillies, 1974 Peter Stephen, 1973 Peter Stephen, 1972 Rod Gillies, 1971 Graham Wellington, 1970 Gary Adams 1969 Gary Adams, 1968 Peter Stephen, 1967 Peter Stephen, 1966 Peter Stephen, 1965 Len Edwards, 1964 Edward Thompson, 1963 Edward Thompson, 1962 Edward Thompson
Kleemann Medalists
2010 Kris EricssonKleemann medal history made 2009 Graham Ross 2006 Brett Hall 2003 Brett Hall & Jono Woods 1995 Jono Woods 1986 Rob Sutton 1985 Rob Sutton 1984 Gerard Cameron 1980 Rob Sutton 1979 Peter Walsh 1967 Peter Stephen 1965 Ted Thompson 1964 Ted Thompson 1961 Ted Thompson 1960 Barry Loo
League Leading Goalkicker 2005 Doug Roberts (66) 1994 Troy Cox (71) 1980 Chris Elliot
(Reserves Fairest & Best) Charlie Punch Medal 2016 Brodie Sumich & Jyrin Woods 2013 Grant Freeborough 2012 Reg Mcwhirter 2010 Adam Ditchburn & Jordan Willox 2009 Kael Sumich 2008 Mark Chambers 2006 Mark Chambers
Reserves Leading Goalkicker 2009 Boyden Coyne (27)
Rod Gillies Medal (Colts Fairest & Best) 2006 Jayden Woods 2004 Warwick Durack
AFL players 2016: Darcy Cameron was drafted to the Sydney Swans 2015: Declan Mountford was drafted to North Melbourne 2014: Mitch McGovern was drafted to Adelaide 2012: Marley Williams was drafted to Collingwood 2012: Josh Bootsma was drafted to Carlton 2010: Jeremy McGovern was drafted by the West Coast Eagles in the 2011 rookie draft.
Former AFL players started their football careers playing for the Kangas. Tarkyn Lockyer (Collingwood) Ryan Brabazon (Sydney)
Former AFL players have all played football in the red and white. Allen Daniels (Footscray & WA), Brad Wira (Footscray, Fremantle & WA), Brad Bootsma (Fremantle & WA) and Bill Shenfield (Fitzroy)
WAFL players
Some significant WAFL players that have played at the North Albany Football Club include - Ron Boucher (Swan Districts & WA), Peter Stephen (East Fremantle & WA), Stuart Hillier (West Perth & WA), Ray Nott (Claremont & WA), Doug Roberts (Claremont) and Matt Orzel (Claremont).
Other notable players
One time Kangas player and footballing nomad Trevor Sutton played in WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Victoria and North Territory, representing both Queensland and NSW at state level. In 1982, playing for Deniliquin in the Murray Football League (NSW) Sutton kicked 249 goals, an Australian record.
Gordon Collis ex-Carlton player and Brownlow medalist coached the North Albany Football Club for two years, winning a Premiership in 1969.
AFL pre-season games In 2003 the West Coast Eagles held a pre-season Community Camp in Albany, using Collingwood Park for training and practise games during their stay.
In 2008 Collingwood Park hosted a pre-season AFL game between West Coast and Collingwood, drawing a big crowd.
Other sports and related clubs
The Collingwood Park Cricket Club, which calls Collingwood Park home, is a hugely successful club in the region winning many A Grade and B Grade premierships. In recent years the Collingwood Park CC A Grade has won titles in - 2007-08, 2006–07, 2005-06
2003-04
The newly formed North Albany Bears Soccer Club, made up of predominately NAFC players, won the Albany Soccer Association Trophy in its first year of competition.
References