Midland Tigers Celebrate Anniversary Weekend

One of WA’s oldest football clubs has overcome enormous adversity to celebrate its 125th Anniversary game this weekend.

The Midland Tigers will host a gala day at North Swan Oval on Sunday, including a feature match against Koongamia at 3pm.

Kids Football Clinics, Bouncy Castles, Face Painters, Market Stalls and Live Entertainment are all planned for the day, which begins at 10am.

Midland was the seventh team to be established in WA, in 1897, a year after Subiaco was formed.

Joining the A Grade League in 1905, Midland played its first match against East Fremantle at Midland Oval.

After five seasons, the club was axed by the WAFA (1908 became WAFL), leaving Midland to return to the First Rate Junior Association, where they won the 1911 Grand Final.

Re-admitted to the WAFL in 1914, Midland’s future was doomed.

Midway through the 1916 season, the club was decimated with many players enlisted to fight in World War One.

Missing a host of players because of the War, Midland lost every match in 1917 and was promptly dropped from the WAFL at season’s end.

Fast forward to 1960 and after decades of trials and tribulations, the Midland Junction Football Club as it was known, discarded Junction from its name.

Despite the setbacks, Midland has survived the test of time and has a record of which it’s proud.

In a century of football, Midland played in over 60 Grand Finals and won more than half of them.

In 1998, the Midland Football Club played its last game at Midland Oval and joined the Midland Sports Association at Swan Park, in what was a controversial move for many at the club.

Since moving to the new premises there have been further challenges, with the hard work of volunteers and devoted staff ensuring Midland remains open for business.

Sunday will be a special occasion for Tigers President Ian Boot.

“As a member of the Midland Junction Football Club for over 40 years and now President, it’s been a big part of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve been through all the good times and bad, and I could not be prouder of where we are today.

We’re really hoping our 125th Anniversary will attract many old and new players, sparking some great memories and conversations about the history of this great club.

We appreciate all the help and support from our committee leading up to this big event and hope that our future is just as bright as this year has been.

Congratulations to everyone on this huge milestone,” Boot said.