Wahgunyah started a football club with thirty members early in the 1877 season. Rutherglen and Corowa also formed teams, and the first football match for Corowa was played against Wahgunyah on the Queen’s Birthday in 1877 at Wahgunyah. McCutchen captained Corowa, and Harris led the Wahgunyah team. The game began at 3pm and finished at 5pm by which time four games (or quarters) had been played. Despite a disputed goal in the fourth game, Wahgunyah won the match three goals to nil.
The return match was played ‘on the hill’ in Corowa, and the site was probably where the Corowa High School now stands. Wahgunyah again ran out winning two goals to nil. After this match, the Border Football Club was formed, and for the next season, the cricketers formed themselves into the Border Cricket Club.
The recreation reserve was originally dedicated on 20th March 1894, as the cricket and football ground.
Guernseys & Nicknames :
1934 – Wahgunyah wore black and white colours and were known as the Magpies
1957 – Changed to Tigers colours and were known as the Wahgunyah Tigers
2008 – Changed to Lions colours and were known as the Wahgunyah Lions
Timeline :
1889 – The Wahgunyah Football Club formed
1896-1899 – Ovens & Murray Second Division
1906 – Corowa DFA : Wahgunyah participated.
1909 – Ovens & Murray Association
1919 – Chiltern & DFA Grand Final : Wahgunyah 4.11.35 defeated Chiltern Valley 2.8.20.
1920 – Chiltern & DFA : Wahgunyah participated.
1921 :
Conflicting Data :
– Chiltern & DFA : Wahgunyah participated.
– Ovens & Murray FA : Wahgunyah participated.
1922-23 – Coreen & District : Wahgunyah participated.
1924 – Chiltern & DFA Grand Final : Wahgunyah 12.10.82 defeated Chiltern 7.7.49.
1925 – Chiltern & DFA : Wahgunyah participated.
1926 – Chiltern & DFA Grand Final : Wodonga Rovers 12.11.83 defeated Wahgunyah 6.8.44.
1927-29 – Chiltern & DFA : Wahgunyah participated.
1930 – Corowa DFA : Wahgunyah participated.
1931-37 – Chiltern & DFL : Wahygunyah participated.
1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 – Recess for War Years
1947 – Club reformed and re- joined the Coreen & District League (Guernsey was blue with a white V).
1948 – Coreen FL : Wahgunyah participated (Guernsey was black with a white V).
1949 – Coreen FL : Wahgunyah’s final season in this league.
1950 – Chiltern & DFL : Wahygunyah recommenced.
1951-53 – Chiltern & DFL : Wahygunyah participated.
1954 – Chiltern & DFL Grand Final : Wahgunyah 8.12.60 defeated Barnawartha 7.15.57.
1955 – Chiltern & DFL Grand Final : Wahgunyah 14.13.97 defeated Lavington 6.10.46.
1956 – Chiltern & DFL : Wahygunyah’s final season in this league.
1957 – Coreen FL : Wahgunyah recommenced (Changed to Tigers colours and became Wahgunyah Tigers)
1958-96 – Coreen FL : Wahgunyah participated.
1997 – Coreen FL Grand Final : Wahgunyah 15.10.100 defeated Jerilderie 8.11.59.
1998 – Coreen FL Grand Final : Wahgunyah 9.10.64 defeated Jerilderie 9.4.58.
1999 – Coreen FL Grand Final : Jerilderie 19.13.127 defeated Wahgunyah 18.6.114.
2000 – Coreen FL Grand Final : Jerilderie 7.6.48 defeated Wahgunyah 5.6.36.
2001 – Coreen FL First Semi-Final : Coleambally 9.13.67 defeated Wahgunyah 4.15.39.
2002 (Coreen DFL) :
Second Semi-Final – Wahgunyah 20.5.125 defeated Coleambally 11.12.78.
Grand Final – Wahgunyah 15.18.108 defeated Coleambally 7.15.57.
2003 – Coreen FL : Wahgunyah participated.
2004 – Coreeen FL Grand Final : Wahgunyah 10.16.76 defeated Rennie 6.8.44.
2005- 2007 – Coreen FL (Coreen League disbanded at end of 2007 season)
2008 – Tallangatta & District Football League (Changed to the Lions colours and became the Wahgunyah Lions)