Reservoir Football CLub

(est. 1923)

Reservoir Football Club first participated in local Melbourne football in 1923. The Club played in the Bourke and Evelyn Football League for a few seasons, the last recorded as 1930. From 1946 Reservoir’s history is more clearly traceable. The club played in the Diamond Valley Football League (DVFL), winning the Premiership in 1946 and ’47. Don Atkinson was captain-coach of the 1947 team; he would later serve as mayor of the City of Preston. Atkinson was also at the helm in 1948 when the Club were runners-up. Reservoir wore brown jumpers with a gold vee up until 1946 when they switched to a red and white jumper, similar to that of Preston Football Club. This was a demonstration of the close alliance the two clubs would form, as Reservoir became a feeder club for Preston. That year also marked a switch to the Sub-District Football League which became the Metropolitan Football League in 1950.

In the early 1950s Reservoir used J.E. Moore Park near Edwardes Lake Park as a home ground. The Club sought permission from the Preston City Council to erect a shelter for their players but were denied. Soon after this denial, the Club would again approach the council, this time seeking leave to play at nearby Crispe Park. In March of 1952 the Council resolved to discontinue the playing of football and cricket at Edwardes Lake Park. The sporting facilities at the Park have been primarily for Athletics since this time. Meanwhile, Reservoir have played at Crispe Park ever since.

The first timber clubrooms were just inside the main entrance to the ground where the current toilet block and playground is situated.
The present clubrooms which have been extended a number of times were originally named “The Fred Birchall Pavilion”. Fred was a local builder who served on the Reservoir Football Club committee for many years.

In 1959 Reservoir captured their only Premiership at senior level in the Metropolitan Football League. The club was led by Alan Chandler, who coached the side as well as being runner up in the Best and Fairest award. The Chandler family have been great servants of the Reservoir Football Club. Bob, Alan, Frank and Ken Chandler played for and served the Club in a variety of administrative roles including president, coach, secretary and treasurer. Bob, Alan and Ken are life members of the Club.

Reservoir switched to the Panton Hill Football League in 1971 after 22 seasons in the MFL. This move was an immediate success as Reservoir finished runners-up in their debut season then captured premierships for both seniors and reserves in 1972. This feat was matched in 1975 and the senior side made it back-to-back premierships in 1976. The Club spent ten seasons in the PHFL, all of which ended in finals appearances. In 1981 Reservoir returned to the Diamond Valley Football League after 31 years, in which time the DVFL had become arguably the strongest of all Melbourne’s suburban football leagues. In 1982 Reservoir amalgamated with the Reservoir Y.C.W. Football Club. It was during the 1980s that the Club changed its jumper to design featuring vertical stripes of royal blue and light blue. The Club still wears these colours today.

The 1984 season was a special one for the Reservoir Football Club. The senior team, playing in Division 2 of A grade in the DVFL, won the premiership after a 10 point win over Northcote Park. This saw the Club promoted to Division 1 for the first time. That alone was a great achievement, but Reservoir’s seconds, thirds and Under 11 junior team also won premierships in ’84 to cap a spectacular season. Unfortunately the senior side lasted only one season in Division 1 as they were relegated after finishing last in 1985. They have not managed promotion since, losing out in three Division 2 grand finals (1993, 1994 & 2004) and most recently in 2006 reached the 2006 Preliminary final.

2007 saw the club forced to withdraw from the Diamond Valley Football League at 1st and 2nd eighteen levels, due to a chronic lack of players. The club fielded an Under 19 team. Prior to the commencement of the 2007 season the league was renamed the Northern Football League. 2008 has seen the club again field 1st, 2nd eighteen and Under 19’s teams in the renamed Northern Football League. 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013 has seen the club field 1St, 2nd eighteen in Division 3 and Under 19’s in Division 2 of the Northern Football League. 2014 seen the club field only 1st and 2nd Eighteens in Division3 of the Northern Football League.

The Seniors were runners up and the Reserves won the Premiership. In 2015 the Seniors were Premiers and won promotion into Division 2 for season 2016 but unfortunately in March 2016 the club again due to a chronic lack of players were unable to field teams in 2016.
Fortunately due the commitment of a dedicated committee the club was able to recruit some 60 plus players and field Seniors and Reserves in 2017 and this continued for seasons 2018, 2019.

Due to the COVID19 virus season 2020 was called off by the Northern Football League.

In 2021 and 2022 the club fielded Seniors and Reserves in Div 3 of the Northern Football League.

Club Theme Songs

An old (early 50’s) Reservoir Football Club theme song, sung to the tune of “Bless ‘em all”, features the following lyrics:

There is a fair suburb 10 miles north of town,
Reservoir’s township by name.
They have a great football team of red and white.
The premiership can be for seen.
They play at Crispe Park as opponents well know.
They never do envy the match.
When they start a ‘bashing’,
We give them a thrashing,
And send them away for dispatch.
Chorus
Thrash ‘em all, kick a score,
We’ve never been out of the four,
Foes chances are thinner
We’d eat them for dinner
They can’t beat the old Reservoir

Current theme song (introduced in 1981) sung to the tune of “The Road to Gundadal” and features the following lyrics:

We’re a team with guts galore
We’re the boys from Reservoir
We are the boys from Reservoir
From back to the forward line
Our system is divine
For courage we’re we’re renowned
We are wearing our colours
The mighty two blues
To the finals they take us
We’re premiers through and through
Every game we’re on the ball
All for one and one for all
We are the boys from Reservoir