The Koondrook Barham Football & Netball Club was founded in 1996 as a result the merger of two teams from the now defunct Northern District Football League (NDFL) and the former Northern & Echuca Football League (NEFL). The Koondrook Tigers & the Barham Magpies, both old and successful teams in their own right, and long time rivals, merged to form The Koondrook Barham River Raiders.
The merger of the clubs was unique as it brought together the twin towns of Koondrook in Victoria & Barham in NSW, breaking down state borders and galvanizing a community.
The clubs first season, in 1996, was in the Northern & Echuca Football League however at the end of that season the VCFL decided to wind up the league and, after much consideration, the club chose to enter the Mid Murray Football League. This league originally encompassed the Swan Hill area, but with the participation of Koondrook Barham and our old foes; Leitchville-Gunbower, Cohuna and Kerang, the league was renamed to the Central Murray Football League to reflect the wider region that was now included.
The merger has been very successful to date with the River Raiders winning four football premierships, with the Under 11's, Reserve Grade in 2008, Colts in 2011 and 2012. The Seniors team has played finals footy several times but are yet to achieve that ultimate prize! Our Netballer's have also stood out and have won two netball flags which is a credit to our netball program.
The club has also won at least one League Best & Fairest in each grade, Seniors (Shane Guerra), Reserves (Mick O'Toole and Brett Whitman) & Under 17's (Marc O'Neill, Leigh Hollingworth, Marc McConnel, Warren Lolicato and Zac Hare), plus we've also had CMFL leading goal kickers in the Seniors, Reserves and Colts grades.
Our first jumper was black with yellow and white hoops and was formed from the jumpers of the Koondrook and Barham clubs but in the last 5 seasons we've adopted the red, blue and gold hoops of the Adelaide Crows. The inaugural senior coach was Shaun Filo who took the team to its first finals appearance in just our second year.
Each Saturday our club fields six teams of football, four juniors and two open age, plus 6 netball sides. We play all our home games at Barham Recreation Reserve and are very much a family orientated club with a huge supporter base.
So if you are visiting our great area and wish to see country football at its finest, close up and personal, come and have a drink and cheer with the locals, we welcome you.
Best & Fairests
Teams
Club
Club Song
WE ARE THE RAIDERS, WE ARE THE MIGHTY RAIDERS WE'RE THE TEAM THAT NEVER LETS YOU DOWN WE'RE THE ONLY TEAM FROM OUR TWIN TOWNS OH WE'LL FIGHT FOR VICTORY WE'LL KEEP OUR HEADS UP AND NEVER GIVE UP UNTIL THE FINAL FLAG IS FLYING FOR THE YELLOW, RED AND THE BLUE
