HAPPY VALLEY
Current Affiliation: Southern Football League (SFL) since 1980
Formed: 1951
Colours: Black and gold
Emblem: Vikings
Senior Premierships: Glenelg-South Adelaide Football League Division Three - 1970 & 1974 (2 total); SFL/SFL Division One - 1992-3, 1995-6, 1998-9, 2003 (7 total)
Senior SFL Best and Fairest Awards: Ken Donne Medal (Division Two) - P.Willoughby 1980 (1 total)
The Vikings have a history stretching back to 1951, but most of the highlights, at any rate in terms of premiership success, have occurred comparatively recently. Indeed, with 7 senior SFL premierships since 1992 Happy Valley has stamped itself as the unequivocal pace setter of the competition.
The club's rise to prominence can be traced back to its successful under age development programme of the 1980s. Many of the youngsters blooded in junior ranks at that time went on to contribute significantly to the A Grade successes of the ensuing decade.
Happy Valley commenced in the SFL in 1980. Initially placed in division two, the seniors contested the grand final in their first season, and thereafter made the finals every year until 1984, when they gained promotion. At first, life in the top division proved difficult, but thanks to some astute coaching coupled with the steady emergence of top quality players from the club's junior teams, by the start of the 1990s there were definite signs muscles being flexed, and sights being raised. In 1991, coached by Brenton Honor, the Vikings reached their first division one grand final, and although beaten on the day by Noarlunga it would only be a matter of time before the flood gates opened.
Still led by Honor, Happy Valley reached a second straight grand final in 1992, and won convincingly, 14.10 (94) to Christies Beach's 9.7 (61). In the following year's flag decider, Marion provided somewhat sterner opposition, but the Vikings had the mental strength to go with their undoubted football skill, and edged home by 10 points.
The remainder of the 1990s must have had those of long standing involvement with the club pinching themselves in disbelief. Happy Valley went top in 1995 and 1996 under Mike Earl, and in 1998 and 1999 under former Box Hill and Sturt star Andrew Johns. As the winning mentality rapidly pervaded all sectors of the club, success at all levels became expected, but that is not the same as saying it was taken for granted.
Since the turn of the century, the Vikings have continued to pillage and plunder, with a 7th senior flag coming their way in 2003. The success has not been limited to the seniors, however - far from it - as the club's achievement in winning the SFL's champion club award, for the best combined performance in all grades, half a dozen times in the last eleven seasons makes clear.
Where now?
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