STRATHMORE
Current Affiliation: Essendon District Football League (EDFL) since 1954 (juniors) and 1957 (seniors)
Formed: 1954 as a junior club; seniors commenced in 1957
Club Address: P.O. Box 13, Essendon 3040, Victoria
Home Ground: Lebanon Reserve, Strathmore
Colours: Gold and navy blue
Senior EDFL Premierships: A Grade - 1981, 1984, 1989, 1998, 2005-6 (6 total); B Grade - 1967, 1971, 1973 (3 total)
League Best and Fairest Awards: A Grade (Reynolds Medal) - B.Elvery 1980; P.Lord 1981; C.Hille 1987; G.Holman 2005; D.May 2006 (5 total); C Grade (F.Garland Medal) - K.Wallis 1962; R.McCann 1977 (2 total)
| MINI-BIOGRAPHIES: | Daryl Gerlach |
Strathmore Football Club has enjoyed a long and highly noteworthy involvement in the Essendon District Football League, with its senior team having just completed its first half century with a highly impressive 9 premierships to its credit. Meanwhile, the club's junior arm is one of the biggest in Victoria, catering for a total of thirteen teams each weekend. Between them, the club's junior sides have won well in excess of 50 flags in every age group from under tens to under eighteens.
Strathmore's senior team first took the field in 1957 in the EDFL's B Grade competition under the coaching of Syd McGain, and at first it struggled to make its mark. It finally broke through for a B Grade premiership in 1967, and quickly followed this up with two more, but A Grade proved a much tougher nut to crack. The long awaited moment ultimately arrived in 1981 when, under the on field leadership of Peter Owens, Strathmore saw off the grand final challenge of arch rival North Coburg; since then, the Mores have consistently been among the EDFL's pace-setters, with only Keilor managing more in the way of premiership success.
Over the years, Strathmore has produced numerous V/AFL and state league footballers, with some of the most notable being Ian Aitken (Carlton), Daryl Gerlach (Essendon), Scott West (Footscray/Western Bulldogs), Geoff Gosper (Essendon), the Gowans twins, Chris and James (Central District) and Glen Manton (Carlton).
The Mores won their fifth and sixth A Grade pennants in contrasting styles. The 2005 grand final against Greenvale could scarcely have been closer or more dramatic, with the teams ending the four quarters on level terms before Strathmore edged home after extra time. The following season saw the side operating on cruise control for the most part, losing just one match in qualifying for a grand final clash with Doutta Stars, which was won with emphatic ease by 73 points. The Mores were coached to both flags by Craig Hille, who had at his disposal footballers of the calibre of skipper Richard Little, Reynolds Medallists Grant Holman and Dale May, half forward Adam Winter, on-baller Myles Quinn, and full forward Tim Harvey, who in 2006 became the first senior Strathmore player to 'top the tom'.
The 2007 season brought another senior grand final appearance in which the Mores were far from disgraced in going down to a powerful, unbeaten Greenvale combination by just 3 goals.
With the club's under-age sides also continuing to prosper, the future looks bright for one of the EDFL's best known and most consistently successful members.
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