BEECHWORTH
Current Affiliation: Talangatta and District Football League (TDFL) since 2004
Colours: Black and red
Emblem: Bushrangers (formerly Bombers)
Senior Premierships: Ovens and Murray Football Association (OMFA) - 1893-4, 1897 (3 total); Ovens and King Football Association/League (OKFA/L) - 1912-13-14, 1937-8-9, 1950-1, 1956, 1961, 1974, 1979, 2000-1, 2003 (14 total)
Senior Competition Best and Fairest Player Awards: OKFL (Baker Medal from 1968) - Keith Parris 1933; Tim Lowe 1954; John Rutten 1977; Con Madden 1985; Andy Mihaljevic 2001; John Allen 2002 (6 total)
In 1893, Beechworth District Wanderers was an inaugural member of the Ovens and Murray Football Association. The club was formed by the merger of the town's two teams, Beechworth and Wanderers, which had been playing informally, both against one another and against teams from other nearby mining settlements, such as Chiltern and Rutherglen, since the 1860s. The merged club was initially quite powerful, claiming the OMFA's first two premierships, and adding a third in 1897. The 1897 flag was won by means of a play-off after Beechworth (the 'District Wanderers' had fairly quickly been dropped) and Rutherglen had finished level at the head of the premiership ladder. There were no finals series as such in those days, but to all intents and purposes this was the fledgling association's first ever grand final, with Beechworth edging home by 9 points, 3.4 (22) to 1.7 (13).
The early years of the new century saw Beechworth beginning to find the going tough. In 1905, the club left the OMFA and joined the Ovens and King Football Association, where the standard of football was somewhat lower. With the exception of a single season return to the OMFA in 1907 that was where Beechworth remained until after World War One. The club fielded strong sides during much of its time in the OKFA, and managed a then unprecedented three flags in a row between 1912 and 1914.
Beechworth returned for one last attempt at glory in the OMFA in 1923, but after six dismally inglorious seasons switched back to the Ovens and King, where it would remain until the end of the 2003 season. The club's overall tally of 14 senior OKFA/L premierships is surpassed only by Moyhu.
Since 2004, the Bushrangers have competed in the Talangatta and District Football League, finishing 5th in their debut season, 8th in 2005, and 6th in both 2006 and 2007.
Where now?
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