Lying on the junction of the Newell and Sturt Highways in southern NSW, Narrandera is home to almost 4,000 people and is the gateway to the productive Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.??
The date of when the club played its first ever game of Australian Rules is not certain, although it is thought it was back in the 1890s. The first documented game of AFL was in 1905, with a photograph from that time depicting a game on the sportsground beside the current grandstand.??
The club’s first official entry in a local competition was on May 12, 1910.The Narrandera Imperial, or NIFC as it is known to many, are the proud wearers of the royal blue and gold, the colours they still use today. ?
The club began their footballing journey with quick success, taking out the 1913 and 1914 Premierships. Their next wins came in 1924 and 1925 before the beginning of the second World War.
During the WWII games of football were played, but only at a social level. Many of the club’s players were off fighting in the war, but once the war had ended life went on and Aussie Rules resumed in earnest.??Narrandera went on to win Premierships in 1932,1933,1947,1948,1960,1966,1967 and 1972.??
In 1974 and 1979 the club won Premiership flags across First, Reserve and Third grades.
They continued their sustained success, winning further Premierships in 1981 and 1986 before a 16-year drought was broken last year.?
The club has also seen many talented players go onto play professional VFL and AFL. The club’s most successful product is Peter Box who, in 1956, won the Brownlow Medal whilst playing for Footscray. ??
The club celebrated 100 years of football in 2010, with many ex-players and committee members attending the celebrations.
Secretary of the Narrandera IFC, Joyleen Hutchins, said the club has a great community feel.
"Our club looks after the locals, nurturing them from juniors through to seniors," she said.??
"In turn, the community of Narrandera really gets behind us, and the club has helped to forge many friendships both within our playing group and with neighbouring teams."
We have a fantastic number of players from Auskick, including a girls Auskick program, right through to our senior players."
The club has teams at an Under-11s, Under-13s and Under-15s level in the South West Junior Football League, while their seniors play in the Riverina Football League. ?
The club’s home ground, the Narrandera Sportsground, has a fantastic playing surface, with 360 degree views around the ground. The town and club has played host to senior AFL games in the past with Narrandera home to the Sydney Swans in NAB Cup pre-season games.
"Our club promotes the values of friendship, loyalty and integrity," Joyleen said.??
"The Narrandera club has more than 30 dedicated and hard-working volunteers who give up their time to ensure we have a team on the paddock each week," Joyleen said.
"We believe we are in the process of forging a new era of players for future Premierships and that the club is in a strong position of continued future success."
