Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club

The Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Cherry Gardens, South Australia. The club currently competes in the Southern Football League and is known by the nickname Thunderers. Ironbank Cherry Gardens was established in 1986 and spent its first 38 seasons in the Hills Football League before joining the Southern Football League in 2024. The club has won four A Grade premierships.

History

The Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club was conceived in 1985 by a group of local players who played together at the local cricket club and football for other clubs in the Adelaide Hills. The group decided to establish a new football club in the Hills Football League. The league granted the club permission in late 1985 to enter the Division 1 A3 competition for the 1986 season.

The club adopted the colours and team identity of the long-established local cricket club. The original football jumper was based on the Woodville Football Club guernsey of the period. The club adopted the nickname Thunderers.

The Cherry Gardens Ironbank Recreation Ground became the club's home ground. At the time, the ground had previously been used for cricket, tennis and netball and had no football goal posts, change rooms, coaches' boxes or football clubhouse. Founding players and local residents worked together to prepare the ground for the club's inaugural season.

Ironbank Cherry Gardens began its first season in 1986. The club won its opening match against Echunga and went on to reach the grand final against Mount Lofty. Ironbank Cherry Gardens defeated Mount Lofty 91 points to 35 to win the club's first premiership in its first season.

In 1987, the club registered a second senior team and constructed new change rooms and showers. The club's first junior team was established in 1988, consisting of children of players and students from nearby Upper Sturt Primary School. The club has maintained a strong focus on developing junior players through to senior football.

In 1990, the club constructed the first stage of its new clubrooms through fundraising, local support and working bees. During the 1990s, the junior program continued to expand, with teams competing in multiple age groups. In 1994, the club's Senior Colts won the Courier Cup.

The club enjoyed a major period of senior success in 1998, when both the A Grade and B Grade teams won premierships. The A Grade premiership was Ironbank Cherry Gardens' second senior A Grade flag. Over a four-year period around this time, the club reached four grand finals, winning two and finishing runners-up twice.

In 2002, the club extended its clubrooms to improve the change rooms and add facilities including toilets, a larger bar and kitchen. The work was funded by the club and its members.

The club's C Grade team won a premiership in 2014. In 2017, Ironbank Cherry Gardens moved itself into Division 2 Country of the Hills Football League. The change was intended to provide a more sustainable environment for the senior program while continuing to develop the club's junior football.

The 2018 season was one of the most successful in the club's history. Ironbank Cherry Gardens won the Hills Football League Country Division A Grade premiership, while the club's women's team also won a premiership. The club also re-established junior football across most age groups.

In 2020, Ironbank Cherry Gardens won its fourth A Grade premiership, defeating Gumeracha in the Hills Football League Country Division grand final. The premiership was the club's first A Grade flag since 2018.

In 2022, Ironbank Cherry Gardens won its first B Grade premiership in 21 years. The club also fielded eight teams, including A and B Grade men's teams, IronRaiders under-age teams, a women's team and Moddies teams.

Southern Football League

In 2024, Ironbank Cherry Gardens moved from the Hills Football League to the Southern Football League. The move ended the club's 38-year association with the Hills Football League and saw the Thunderers become a Southern Football League club.

The club's move to the Southern Football League represented a new chapter in its history while maintaining its community-owned structure and its home at Cherry Gardens Ironbank Recreation Ground.

Premierships

Hills Football League (4) 1986 (D2), 1998 (D2), 2018 (D2), 2020 (D2)

Club colours and nickname

Ironbank Cherry Gardens is known by the nickname Thunderers. The club's colours are green, yellow and white, with the colours and team identity carried over from the long-standing local cricket club when the football club was established.

The club's original jumper design was based on the Woodville Football Club guernsey of the period. The Thunderers nickname and green, yellow and white colours have remained central to the club's identity throughout its history.

Home ground

Ironbank Cherry Gardens plays its home games at the Cherry Gardens Ironbank Recreation Ground, commonly known as Thunder Park, in Cherry Gardens.

The land for the recreation ground was donated by local resident Roy Chapman in 1950. The communities of Cherry Gardens and Ironbank worked together to clear and level the land, with cricket becoming the first major sport played at the ground. Tennis and netball facilities were subsequently developed before the football club was established.

Notable players

SANFL players

Josh Rosman – played for Ironbank Cherry Gardens before joining South Adelaide in the SANFL. Elijah Ware – former Port Adelaide player and Central District premiership player who has also coached Ironbank Cherry Gardens.

Club milestones

The club celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2011 and its 30th anniversary in 2016. The 30th anniversary included celebrations involving founding players and supporters who reflected on the club's early years.

The club's first A Grade premiership in 1986 remains one of the most notable achievements in its history, with Ironbank Cherry Gardens winning the premiership in its inaugural season.

Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club

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