Nestled on the banks of the mighty Murray River is Albury-Wodonga - home of the mighty Steamers Rugby Club.
CLUB HISTORY
1976: Public Meeting called at Sodens Hotel to gauge interest in starting a rugby union club. Albury-Wodonga Football Club is formed and enters a second grade team in the Riverina Rugby Union Competition taking out the premiership in debut year.
1977: Club makes it back-to-back premierships.
1978: Club fields first grade team for the first time. Makes the grand final but loses to Rivcoll. Club moves from Greenfield Parkto Alexandra Park.
1979: Club wins second grade premiership.
1982: Golden Oldies team, the Murray Cods, formed.
1986: First grade defeated by WaggaAgriculturalCollegein Grand final at Wagga Cricket Ground. This is the college's fourth successive premiership. Club adopts name The Steamers and adopts the logo of a paddle steamer.
1987: All three grades make the Riverina Rugby Union grand finals. First grade wins its first premiership for the club. Official Riverina Rugby Union Club Champions for the first time.
1988: Steamers move home ground to present site and Albury Council agrees to rename the complex Murrayfield.
1989: Third grade takes out the premiership for the first time.
1990: Second grade takes out the premiership. First grade defeated by Leeton in controversial circumstances in preliminary final at Murrayfield.
1991: Second grade wins back-to-back premierships. Both premierships achieved under coach Derek Asher.
1997: Steamers take out first and third grade premierships in Riverina second division competition. Women's rugby team formed
1999: All grades make first division finals. Club wins second first grade premiership and makes second grade grand final.
2000: 25th anniversary. Team competes in junior rugby for the first time. Steamers win Inaugural Southern Inland Competition.
2001: Steamers defeated by Grenfell in Preliminary Semi Final. Finished 3rd.
2003: First grade finishes 5th in competition after winning 9 out of last 10 games. City breaks Griffiths 2 year winning streak to knock the Steamers out of the competition.
2004: U14s win premiership. First grade are minor premiers, but lose to the Tars in the grand final.
2005: 30th anniversary. Steamers move base to Paddy's Irish Bar after the infernal demise of The Hotel Termo. First Grade are minor premiers again, but once more lose the grand final - but not to the Tars this time.
2006: U16s win Premiership
2007: U18s win Premiership.
2008: After a couple of lean years, Steamers are back in the finals under Don Cameron.
- Category:
- Amateur sports team