Lauderdale Football Club, located in Clarence City Council, is a sports club that has a rich history and a strong presence in the local football community. The club was established in 1979 and has since been striving to participate in higher levels of football. Originally known as the Magpies, the club transitioned to the Cats when it joined the Tasmanian Amateurs in 1981.
After a few years of adjusting to the higher standard, the club started regularly participating in the finals and even won the Grand Final in 1991. In the early 2000s, Lauderdale Football Club formed an association with the Essendon Football Club, leading to a change in its nickname to the Bombers and adopting their iconic colours. This period saw the club achieve significant on-field success, particularly in the junior ranks.
As the club's success and growth continued, it received an invitation to join the premier Division of the Southern Football League and became one of the founding clubs of the Tasmanian Statewide League in 2009. Competing in the highest level of football in Tasmania has presented numerous challenges for the young club, but it has responded well and continued to improve.
One of the major challenges has been developing the ground and facilities to meet the standards expected in the elite level of football. Despite being unable to secure funding from State and Federal Governments, the club has used its own funds and received generous support from Clarence Council to make considerable improvements. This includes expanding and enhancing the ground, installing a new scoreboard and coaches box, improving spectator facilities, and making alterations and additions to the clubrooms, including a players gymnasium.
However, the club acknowledges that more needs to be done to bring the spectator facilities up to the level of its competitors in the Southern Football League. Lauderdale Oval consistently attracts the highest home crowd numbers in the state, and the club hopes that the government will recognise this and provide funding to enhance spectator comfort.
On the field, the club has continued to improve and is on track to make the finals this year. With the support of AFL Tasmania and its generous sponsors, including K&D and major sponsor Tyreright, the club has reappointed a highly regarded coach who will help lead the team to success.
Lauderdale Football Club prides itself on its values of big games, big plays, and big wins. They are a club that welcomes members and encourages everyone to get involved. Whether you're a passionate supporter or interested in joining the club as a player, Lauderdale Football Club aims to provide an inclusive and supportive community for all who share a love for football.