The Sunday Football League Western Australia, commonly known as the Sunday Football League (SFL), was a semi-professional Australian rules football league based in the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The league was in operation from 1984 to 2008, and Kenwick Royals was the most successful club with eight senior team premierships.
History The Sunday Football League (SFL) was formed in late 1983 after a proposed merger between the South Suburban Murray Football League (SSMFL) and Western Australian Football Association (WAFA) fell through. The twelve SSMFL clubs were Armadale, Canning, Gosnells, Kalamunda, Kelmscott, Kenwick, Kwinana, Maddington, Mandurah, Rockingham, Thornlie and Willetton. The five WAFA clubs to join were Applecross, Fremantle (later North Fremantle), Osborne Park, South Perth and Wanneroo. Six WAFA clubs decided to stay in that competition rather than join the new league.
South Suburban Football Prior to the Sunday Football League being formed, the South Suburban Murray Football League was formed in 1960 when two leagues - the South Suburban Football Association and Murray Districts Football Association - agreed to a trial season. The SSFA had only five teams competing in 1959 (Armadale, Canning, Gosnells, Kelmscott and Maddington) while the MDFA had four teams (Hills, Pinjarra, Mandurah and Waroona). Kenwick, who had been trying since 1958 to join the SSFA, was accepted as the tenth team to remove a bye in each round.
The South Suburban Football Association began in 1910 with three teams, Armadale, Kelmscott and Mundijong. Queens Park joined in 1911, while Mundijong withdrew after five games. Victoria Park joined the SSFA in 1913. Queens Park won the premiership in 1913 after taking the SSFA to court after the league decided to change how the premier team would be selected that year.
The Murray Districts Football Association started in 1938 with five teams (Coolup, Mandurah, North Dandalup, Pinjarra and Waroona). Pinjarra won the first premiership, and Waroona won the next two before the competition was suspended due to World War 2. Waroona won the first two flags after the competition resumed in 1946 and 47. Pinjarra won in 1948 and Mandurah won their first premiership in 1949.
West Australian Football Association The West Australian Football Association (WAFA) was established in 1949 as the Mercantile Football Association (MFA). The MFA consisted primarily of work-based clubs such as Boans, Daily News, Foys, Hardies, Mails, Sunday Times, Wesfarmers and Telegraphs. In 1954, the league was renamed as the Sunday National Football League (SNFL) and there were separate A-Grade and B-Grade competitions with promotion and relegation. The more traditional suburban-based teams were introduced in the 1950s, such as Maylands, Scarborough (not related to the current Club of the same name), Rockingham and Osborne Park. Work-based teams also changed names, with Wesfarmers becoming North Perth, Tramways becoming Leederville, and Sunday Times becoming Metropolitans.
In the 1960s, the league expanded with the inclusion of clubs from Wanneroo, Midland, Belmont, Cockburn, Bayswater and East Fremantle. By 1964, a Reserves Grade replaced the B-Grade competition, and each Club was required to field two sides. The league also changed name to the West Australian Football Association (WAFA) in 1968. South Perth, Applecross and Mosman Park were introduced in the 1970s. In 1980, the WAFA absorbed six teams from the disbanded Fremantle Ex-Scholars Football Association and a Division 2 was created. The WAFA reverted to a single grade competition in 1984 after Applecross, Fremantle (later North Fremantle), Osborne Park, South Perth and Wanneroo left to join the Sunday Football League.
The final year of the WAFA was in 1987 with teams from Manning, Mosman Park, Midland, Cockburn, Belmont and Tuart Hill. Over its 39 years, a total of 49 different clubs competed in the WAFA.
Lower SFL Grades Between 1988 and 1991, the SFL managed a second-tier competition (with League, Reserves and Colts grades) known as the Metropolitan Football League (MFL). The MFL initially consisted of six teams, including four teams from the disbanded WAFA - Manning, Mosman Park, Midland and Cockburn - plus Fremantle and Kwinana, who previously competed in the top division of the Sunday Football League. Pinjarra and Mundijong Centrals joined in 1989 after the Murray Districts Football League disbanded, and were joined in 1990 by Waroona and South Mandurah. At the end of 1991, teams from the MFL joined the newly formed Peel Football League.
Between 1994 and 1997, the SFL managed another second-tier competition (with League, Reserves and Colts grades), known initially as the Sunday Amateurs Football League (SAFL). The SAFL initially consisted of seven teams, including Belmont, Midland, Kingsley, Cockburn, Manning, Mosman Park and North Fremantle. A number of these teams had joined after previously competing in the Peel Football League. Kalamunda and Ballajura joined the SAFL in 1995, replacing Cockburn and Manning. In 1997, the League was re-badged as the Sunday Football League (SFL) Division 2, and was reduced to four teams, after Belmont, Midland and North Fremantle left. Belmont joined the SFL at that time.
Between 1985 and 2008, the SFL managed a single-grade, third-tier competition, known initially as the SFL Saturday Amateurs Division. The Saturday Amateurs Division included the Thirds teams from those Division 1 clubs that had sufficient players to do so. The grade was renamed the SFL Division 3 from 1994 to 1997, but returned to the SFL Saturday Amateurs Division from 1998 to 2003. In 2004, there was revamp of the grade to include other single-team clubs, and there was a renaming to the West Australian Football Association (WAFA), which was a tribute to the former WAFA that existed between 1949 and 1987.
Disbanding In February 2009 it was announced that the league would not be operating for the 2009 football season with clubs applying to join the Western Australian Amateur Football League and the Peel Football League.
Armadale were admitted to the Peel Football League and the remaining clubs were admitted to the West Australian Amateur Football League.
It was an unfortunate event that clubs which had high public profiles in the SFL largely faded from public view when they were thrust into the lower-leagues of the Amateurs.
Clubs SFL Division 1
Final clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFLSFL PremiershipsFate Total Years Armadale Demons Gwynne Park, Armadale SSMFL1909 1984-2008 1 2001 Moved to Peel FL in 2009 Canning-Victoria Park-South Perth Tigers Wyong Reserve, Bentley –2001 2001-2008 0 - Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Gosnells Hawks Gosnells Oval, Gosnells SSMFL1914 1984-2008 2 1989, 2008 Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Kelmscott Bulldogs John Dunn Oval, Kelmscott SSMFL1897 1984-2008 1 2000 Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Kenwick Royals Mills Park, Beckenham SSMFL1948 1984-2008 8 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Maddington Bulls Maddington SSMFL1923 1984-2008 2 2003, 2007 Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Thornlie Lions Berehaven Oval, Thornlie SSMFL1970 1984-2008 2 1993, 1995 Moved to WAAFL in 2009
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFLSFL PremiershipsFate Total Years Applecross Hawks Shirley Strickland Reserve, Ardross WAFA1969 1984-1994 0 - Moved to Mercantile FA in 1995 Belmont Bombers Forster Park, Cloverdale PFL1991 1997-1998 0 - Merged with Redcliffe to form Belmont Districts in WAAFL in 1999 Canning Tigers Wyong Reserve, Bentley SSMFL1905 1984-2000 1 1994 Merged with Victoria Park-South Perth to form Canning-Victoria-South Perth in 2001 Fremantle Magpies Gil Fraser Reserve, North Fremantle WAFA1928 1984-1987 0 - Moved to Metropolitan FL in 1988 Kalamunda Cougars Ray Owen Reserve, Lesmurdie SSMFL1965 1984-2000 2 1984, 1985 Moved to WAAFL in 2001 Kwinana Knights Medina Oval, Medina SSMFL1962 1984-1987 0 - Moved to Metropolitan FL in 1988 Mandurah Mustangs Rushton Park, Mandurah SSMFL1927 1984-1991 0 - Formed Peel FL in 1992 Osborne Park Saints Richard Guelfi Reserve, Balcatta WAFA1920s 1984-1997 3 1986, 1987, 1990 Merged with Balcatta to form Stirling in WAAFL in 1998 Rockingham Rams Anniversary Park, Rockingham SSMFL1954 1984-1986 0 - Moved to WAAFL in 1987 Swan Valley Valley Swan Valley Sporting Complex, Herne Hill HFA1965 2002-2003 0 - Returned to Hills FA in 2004 Victoria Park-South Perth (1984-96)(1997-2000) Lathlain WAFA1931 1984-2000 0 - Merged with Canning to form Canning-Victoria Park-South Perth in 2001WannerooRoosKingsway Sporting Complex, MadeleyWAFA19481984-200631988, 1991, 1992Moved to Mercantile FA in 2007WillettonBluesBurrendah Reserve, WillettonSSMFL19761984-19970 -Entered recess after 1997 season, re-formed in WAAFL in 1999
Saturday Amateurs Division / SFL Division 3 / WAFA
Final clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFLSFL Div 3/WAFA PremiershipsFateTotalYears Bayswater Blues Hillcrest Reserve, Bayswater WAAFL 1946 2005-2008 0 - Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Forrestdale Falcons William Skeet Oval, Forrestdale WAAFL 1993 1999-2008 12007Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Kenwick Royals Mills Park, Beckenham SSMFL 1948 1990–1992, 1995–2004, 2006–2008 71997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Koongamia Crows Koongamia Oval, Koongamia – 2000 2000-2008 0 -Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Mustangs Mustangs Forrestfield – 2001 2001-2008 12006Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Nollamara Roos Des Penman Reserve, Nollamara WAAFL 1964 2004-2008 0 -Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Roleystone Tigers Cross Park, Roleystone – 1987 1987-2008 22001, 2002Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Rossmoyne Rhinos Shelley Park, Shelley WAAFL 1996 2004-2008 0 -Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Southern River Falcons Sutherlands Park, Huntingdale – 1998 1998-2008 0 -Moved to WAAFL in 2009 Thornlie Lions Thornlie Oval, Thornlie SSMFL 1970 1991-2008 11994Moved to WAAFL in 2009
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFLSFL Div 3/WAFA PremiershipsFateTotalYears Applecross Hawks Shirley Strickland Oval, Ardross MFA 1969 1985–1989, 1993, 2003-2006 21988, 1989 Folded after 2006 season Armadale Demons Gwynne Park, Armadale SSMFL 1909 1989-1993 11993 Disbanded after 1993 season, league team remained in SFL Division 1 Ballajura Saints Kingfisher Oval, Ballajura – 1995 1998-2001 0 - Moved to WAAFL in 2001 Beechboro Bombers Altone Park, Beechboro – 1999 1999-2005 0 - Moved to WAAFL in 2006 Cockburn Lakes Warriors Anning Park, South Lake WAAFL 1980 2004 0 - Returned to WAAFL in 2005 Ellenbrook Eels Coolamon Park, Ellenbrook HFA 2002 2006 0 - Moved to WAAFL in 2007 Gosnells Hawks Gosnells Oval, Gosnells SSMFL 1914 1989-1997 21995, 1996 Disbanded after 1997 season, league team remained in SFL Division 1 Innaloo Bulldogs Birralee Reserve, Innaloo MFA 1967 2007 0 - Returned to Mercantile FA in 2008 Kalamunda Cougars Ray Owen Reserve, Lesmurdie SSMFL 1965 1985–1986, 1989, 1991-1992 0 - Disbanded after 1992 season, league team remained in SFL Division 1 Kelmscott Bulldogs John Dunn Oval, Kelmscott SSMFL 1897 1985–2001, 2003-2004 11992 Disbanded after 2004 season, league team remained in SFL Division 1 Koonga Valley (1993-95)