Club History
It Begins
Whilst records are scant, it appears that a group of men decided in 1919 that as there were enough ready, willing and able men around the Tyntynder Flats area that a football team should be formed.
The 20's
Many other towns such as Woorinen, Nyah, Lake Boga, Swan Hill and Ultima had teams so it was obvious that a team should be established.
Names associated with the beginning of the Club included Cadd, Mathieson, McInnes, Rust and Borelli (Mahon), whose descendants continue to support the Club. These are only a few of the many names who were to put our Club firmly on the football map and the name Tyntynder has been to the fore in football ever since.
We are extremely fortunate that the late Joe Crowe retained a copy of the 1920 Tyntynder team which is prominent in the Clubrooms.
Tyntynder played a match against Woorinen in August 1919. The match was played in a cow paddock behind Chas Cadd’s Dairy, known as Beurle's paddock. The result was a draw.
A Football League was formed in 1920 comprising teams known as Tyntynder, Goschen, Woorinen, Lake Boga, Faugh-A-Balaghs, Tresco and the Fire Brigade.
In 1921, Robert Hastings, a great uncle of Life Member, the late Lloyd Jones, donated the recreation ground at Tyntynder South to our club and this was our home ground for a couple of years.
Tyntynder did not field an individual team in 1923, but between that year and 1926, it combined with Woorinen, played games on Woorinen’s ground, but played in Tyntynder jumpers.
The Tyntynder Football Club reformed in its own right in 1927 and played in the Swan Hill District League until 1933 when the Northern District Football League was formed. The Swan Hill and District League comprised teams known as Tyntynder, United, Lakeside, Rovers, Ultima and Pira. In its first game, Tyntynder defeated United 6.6 to 5.5.
The 30's
In 1933 the Northern District Football League was formed. It was known as the Lines League.
The teams in this league were selected because of their location adjacent to the train line to enable teams including supporters to travel by train to matches. Tyntynder shared the Swan Hill Recreation Reserve with Swan Hill.
A great benefit of the "Lines League" was that each time the train stopped at a station, such as Mystic Park, all players and supporters could run to the pub and have a beer. Unfortunately, for a few, having a second beer meant that they missed the train and had to find another way home.
It has also been said that as telecommunications were not as we know today, to ensure that all the supporters at the Commercial Hotel knew the current scores when we played away, homing pigeons were sent to the pub from the away ground to keep all supporters up to date with the scores.
The competition was disbanded in 1939 as a result of the onset of World War 2.
The 40's
The Mid Murray Football League was formed in 1946 and Tyntynder again reformed as part of that League. The League comprised Tyntynder, Balranald, Quambatook, Nyah, Nyah West, Swan Hill, Lalbert, Woorinen and Ultima.
The Club appointed its first professional coach in 1947 – Len Mathieson – and under his astute leadership were premiers that year.
Brick change rooms were built on the Swan Hill Showgrounds Reserve (currently the site of the Swan Hill Leisure Centre) around 1949 and these rooms were shared by the Tyntynder and Swan Hill Football Clubs.
The Showgrounds were redeveloped in 1949 accordingly. Tyntynder then used a ground at Murray Downs. Lloyd Jones stated that this was not an overwhelming success as he was called upon on numerous occasions to attend the Federal Hotel to ensure that all players actually went to training and not drink there.
The 50's
During the early 1950s, Swan Hill built new change rooms and Tyntynder returned to the brick change room building at the showgrounds.
Tyntynder was very successful during the 1950’s winning premierships in 1955, 1958 and 1959.
The 60's
The Club moved from the brick change rooms building to the space beneath the grandstand in the early 1960s. The 1960s did not prove successful on the field but due to the late Joe Crowe, who was president of the Club during this period, the Club established our own Clubrooms on the Alan Garden Memorial Reserve. They were officially open on the 22nd of March, 1968.
The 70's - 90's
The bar and kitchen areas of the club rooms were extended in the 1970s and then again in the 1980s. Rooms were added to accommodate the home Club and the opposition players. A major upgrade of the Club rooms occurred in the 1990s with improvements continuing to the present day.
Hard work, generosity and the dedication of many Club supporters over a long period of time have resulted in the current excellent Club facilities with all works financed by the Club and its members.
A special mention should be given to the Ladies Committee who continually provided much needed finance for the operation of the Club. In addition, Alan and Shirley Looney, Jan Free and Mully Pearse should be congratulated for their contributions in raising funds for the Club via the Bingo nights at the RSL Club in the 1990’s.
Tyntynder played in one grand final in the 1970’s which was a prelude to what was to become the most successful decade in the clubs history.
We played in nine grand finals during the 1980’s winning five of them. Whilst Tyntynder was competitive for the 1990s, it was not until 1997 that it again won a premiership followed by premierships in 1998 and 1999. A rare feat for any club.
In 1997 Tyntynder joined the Central Murray Football League which comprised teams from Tyntynder, Swan Hill, Cohuna, Barham Koondrook, Leitchville Gunbower, Lake Boga, Lalbert, Woorinen, Nyah Nyah West United, Tooleybuc and Balranald.
Into the new millennium and beyond
Unfortunately Tyntynder has not won a senior flag since 1999 but it continues to strive to be successful and no doubt will achieve many premierships in the future.
The Tyntynder Football Club has always had a very strong junior body which works tirelessly to keep their young footballers coming through the ranks.
Our netballers have also been very successful competitors in all grades over a long period of time with numerous premierships which are outlined later.