Lorne Football Netball Club

The History of the Lorne Football and Netball Club is very long and varied even though they were very late in joining an official Association.

The earliest record of a Lorne team dates back to the late 1850’s. In order to keep the local cricket team fit, a football team was organised. Players formed teams and played against each other. Before the current location of Stribling Reserve became available, all competition took place on the foreshore. Prior to joining the Polwarth Association, several invitation games took place amongst Lorne and other clubs/teams.

It was noted in 1919 that Lorne competed in the Shire Of Winchelsea Association along with Winchelsea, Birregurra, Wensleydale and Deans Marsh. Lorne’s colours were red and blue in this competition. There appears to be no further mention of a Lorne team competing in any official League or Association until the late 1920’s.

With the organisation of Mr H Stribling, Lorne grouped together and entered the Polwarth Association as a very strong team and soon became a much respected and a hard to beat opponent.

It is assumed that Lorne entered the Polwarth Association in approximately 1927-1929 along with Apollo Bay. Prior to these dates Lorne and Apollo Bay held matches amongst themselves.

Isolation, poor roads and lack of transport seemed to be the main reason these 2 teams were so late in joining the Association. Some players had to be collected from Wye River and Eastern View before a full team could be assembled for the day.

Matches against Apollo Bay required players to travel by boat from Lorne as poor roads and weather made the going very slow in the early years. With a tradition dating back many years the two clubs now compete for the “Coastal Cup” every time they meet.

Club Song

We are the Premiers
down by the sea,

We can’t be beaten
as you will see,

At the end of the season,
you’ll know the reason,

Why we are the Premier team.