About
Border Downs Tintinara Football and Netball Club is a well-established sports club located in the Coorong District Council of South Australia. The club has a rich history, with its first football team being formed in 1912. The original players consisted of A. Bryden, A.
Wendt, B. Northcott, F. Sullivan, A. Hodge, J.
Bell, G. Henderson, B. Taylor, M. Hodge, G.
Hunter, the Bainger Brothers, F. Casey, F. Dall, M. Norman, H.
Rupkal, D. Bell, and G. Helling. The club's colours at the time were blue and white.
Transport to and from matches in the early days was primarily by train, but as road infrastructure improved, the club began using trucks. In the 1930s, the Tintinara footballers combined with players from Keith to compete against other local teams such as Wolseley and Bordertown. Additionally, social games were organised with neighbouring towns, fostering camaraderie and community spirit.
Formally, the club was established in 1936 when Tintinara joined forces with Keith, Coonalpyn, and Yumali to form the Cardwell Association. This association remained active until 1940, when it went into recess due to World War II. However, football matches were still played during the war years to raise funds for charity and maintain the sport's presence in the community. In 1944, the club reformed and continued playing against the same three teams until Keith dropped out.
Subsequently, Tintinara joined the Lakes District Association in 1949, competing against Coonalpyn, Yumali, Coomandook, Cooke Plains, Meningie, Ashville, and Narrung.
Despite success in the Lakes District Association, the Tintinara Club decided to join the Tatiara League in 1954, where a higher standard of football was being played. The club donned new colours, changing their uniforms to navy blue with a white monogram, navy blue shorts, and socks. In this league, the Tintinara Football Club won just one leadingship in the 'A' grade division in 1977, with George Burns as the coach. Over the years, the club expanded to include other teams such as reserves ('B' grade), colts, and a mini-league team.
Infrastructure improvements played a significant role in the club's growth. In 1949, the football oval was relocated to its current site, and a pipe fence was constructed around the field. The original change rooms, built in 1955-1956, were made of Mt. Gambier stone.
Before the stone change rooms, the players changed in a small tin shed with a dirt floor, while the ladies provided afternoon tea in another tin shed nearby. In 1964-1965, besser brick toilets and an afternoon tea room were added. New change rooms were then built in 1977-1978, followed by renovations in 1984, creating a modern clubroom with a well-equipped kitchen, toilets, showers for the netball teams and ladies, large change rooms, and a carpeted area with a glass front overlooking the football oval.
In 1993, the Tintinara Football Club merged with the BorderDowns Football Club and joined the River Murray Football League. The league consisted of teams from Murray Bridge, Meningie, Jervois, Tailem Bend, Mannum, Mypolonga, and Nairne Bremer. As part of this merger, the club changed its colours to match those of the Adelaide Crows. In its inaugural year in the RMFL, the 'B' grade team became premiers, while the 'A' grade team competed in the finals series.
The Border Downs Tintinara Football and Netball Club continues to be an active and competitive participant in the league, representing their local community with pride.
