The history of the Bridgewater-Callington Raiders is the history of two proud football clubs, which have been integral to their communities for over a 100 years. Their merger in 2013 has been mutually rewarding and will ensure that Callington and Bridgewater will be represented on SA's ovals for many years to come. Go you Raiders!
Bridgewater Football Club
Bridgewater FC Team Photo from 1956
The firsts records of a Bridgewater Football team date back to 1895 when the local lads took on Mt Lofty in a friendly. A team continued to exist right up to the 1940s when they came close to joining the local competition. However, it was not to be and so it was only in 1956 that Bridgewater joined the HFA. The club had been properly reformed and became the founding body of the future Raiders.
The start was difficult and victories were hard to come by, but the tide soon turned with a senior premiership in 1959.
Bridgewater may not have officially belonged to an association until the 1950s, but it did have great players such as Bert Schumacher (picture).
Bert (born in 1897) kicked his first football at Bridgewater Primary School and later became a "goal sneak" for the Bridgewater senior team (at about age 13), as shown in the report of Bridgewater's comprehensive win against Grunthal (now Verdun) in 1912 (Bridgewater 11 goals 15 behinds - Grunthal 1 behind) where "Schuey" kicked three goals.
Bert saw active service in World War I from 1917 onwards and then returned to play for Norwood from 1920 -1927. He played in three premierships and kicked 72 goals in 107 games as a highly effective rover.
Schuey was also selected for two interstate matches.
Unfortunately, Bert passed away in 1972 (aged 74), but he is remembered here as one of Bridgewater's great champions and a superb footballer from the Hills.
The start was difficult and victories were hard to come by, but the tide soon turned with a senior premiership in 1959.
Bridgewater may not have officially belonged to an association until the 1950s, but it did have great players such as Bert Schumacher (picture).
Bert (born in 1897) kicked his first football at Bridgewater Primary School and later became a "goal sneak" for the Bridgewater senior team (at about age 13), as shown in the report of Bridgewater's comprehensive win against Grunthal (now Verdun) in 1912 (Bridgewater 11 goals 15 behinds - Grunthal 1 behind) where "Schuey" kicked three goals.
Bert saw active service in World War I from 1917 onwards and then returned to play for Norwood from 1920 -1927. He played in three premierships and kicked 72 goals in 107 games as a highly effective rover.
Schuey was also selected for two interstate matches.
Unfortunately, Bert passed away in 1972 (aged 74), but he is remembered here as one of Bridgewater's great champions and a superb footballer from the Hills.
| win_against_gruenthal_in_1912.jpg |
Since 1956
When my dad, Mal Lang, passed away, Mum said we should spread his ashes on the oval as " he spent most of his life on it" He was a founding player, committee member and later president. We four children laughed at Mums comments. Also remember driving around and around the oval in a cut off Erskine car pulling a wide cutter to mow it. Dad and his mates also lit fires in Hutton Cottage every home game, to heat the water for the A grade to shower after the game. Happy memories and glad to see the club progressing so well.
I have memories of Mum and Dad, washing all the jumpers by Sunday after the game and hanging them in the Stable, hoping to they would dry by the following week. (Bev Arnfield)
Formed 1956
Colours: Light blue, royal blue and white
Emblem: Raiders
Affiliation: (Current)Hills Football League (HFL) start–2017
Senior Premierships:
Hills Football Association (HFA) - 1959 won A2 grand final beating Bremer 12-13 to 1-13
Torrens Valley Football Association (TVFA) - 1963 won A2 grand final beating Eden Valley 11-7 to 8-11
1964 entered Hills Central Association
1966 won B2 grand final beating Mylor 11-8 to 10-6
1967 entered HFL Central Zone
HFL Division Two - 1981 (1 total)
HFL Courier Cup 1987
Prior to joining the Hills Football League Bridgewater had competed in the old Hills Football Association from 1956 until the competition disbanded in 1961, capturing a senior grade flag in 1959, before spending the next five seasons in the Torrens Valley Football Association. In 1963 the club won a senior grade TVFA premiership after an 11.7 (73) to 9.3 (57) grand final defeat of Eden Valley Rovers.
One of the most noteworthy footballer to have been involved with the Raiders was Tim Weatherald, who went on to enjoy considerable success in the SANFL with Sturt, winning the 2002 Magarey Medal and club best and fairest award, and playing in that year’s winning grand final against Central District. - See more at: http://australianfootball.com/clubs/stats/bridgewater/1938/#sthash.vV4a2d91.dpuf
When my dad, Mal Lang, passed away, Mum said we should spread his ashes on the oval as " he spent most of his life on it" He was a founding player, committee member and later president. We four children laughed at Mums comments. Also remember driving around and around the oval in a cut off Erskine car pulling a wide cutter to mow it. Dad and his mates also lit fires in Hutton Cottage every home game, to heat the water for the A grade to shower after the game. Happy memories and glad to see the club progressing so well.
I have memories of Mum and Dad, washing all the jumpers by Sunday after the game and hanging them in the Stable, hoping to they would dry by the following week. (Bev Arnfield)
Formed 1956
Colours: Light blue, royal blue and white
Emblem: Raiders
Affiliation: (Current)Hills Football League (HFL) start–2017
Senior Premierships:
Hills Football Association (HFA) - 1959 won A2 grand final beating Bremer 12-13 to 1-13
Torrens Valley Football Association (TVFA) - 1963 won A2 grand final beating Eden Valley 11-7 to 8-11
1964 entered Hills Central Association
1966 won B2 grand final beating Mylor 11-8 to 10-6
1967 entered HFL Central Zone
HFL Division Two - 1981 (1 total)
HFL Courier Cup 1987
Prior to joining the Hills Football League Bridgewater had competed in the old Hills Football Association from 1956 until the competition disbanded in 1961, capturing a senior grade flag in 1959, before spending the next five seasons in the Torrens Valley Football Association. In 1963 the club won a senior grade TVFA premiership after an 11.7 (73) to 9.3 (57) grand final defeat of Eden Valley Rovers.
One of the most noteworthy footballer to have been involved with the Raiders was Tim Weatherald, who went on to enjoy considerable success in the SANFL with Sturt, winning the 2002 Magarey Medal and club best and fairest award, and playing in that year’s winning grand final against Central District. - See more at: http://australianfootball.com/clubs/stats/bridgewater/1938/#sthash.vV4a2d91.dpuf
Bridgewater Football Club 1959
Callington Football Club
The original Bremer/Callington Football Club was playing challenge matches as early as 1903.
The club was called the Bremer Football Club from 1950 (approximately).
It merged with Nairne at the end of 1978.
In 1995 the newly formed Callington United Football Club joined the Hills Football League - Division 2.
In 2003 they joined the Hills Football League - Country Division.
Known as 'The Eagles' their colours were blue and gold.
In 2009 the Callington United Eagles made national headlines with their undying club spirit and never say die attitude to keep the Eagles alive (see video).
The club was called the Bremer Football Club from 1950 (approximately).
It merged with Nairne at the end of 1978.
In 1995 the newly formed Callington United Football Club joined the Hills Football League - Division 2.
In 2003 they joined the Hills Football League - Country Division.
Known as 'The Eagles' their colours were blue and gold.
In 2009 the Callington United Eagles made national headlines with their undying club spirit and never say die attitude to keep the Eagles alive (see video).
| callington_1907.pdf |
| hills_football_restarts_1946.pdf |
| callington_milang.pdf |
| final_1946_meeting.pdf |
| callington_1953_grand_final.pdf |
Merger 2013
When the two clubs merged in 2013, it sparked the most successful era for either team with the A-Grade reaching back to back Grand and Courier Cup finals in 2015 and 2016 in the HFL Second Division.
After a heartbreaking loss to Kersbrook in the 2015 Grand Final, the A-Grade managed to convincingly secure the Courier Cup in 2016 on home soil (Callington Oval) and then came from behind in an unforgettable nail biter of a Grand Final to defeat Nairne Bremer 9 12 to
9 9 to end 35 years of premiership drought (see below).
After a heartbreaking loss to Kersbrook in the 2015 Grand Final, the A-Grade managed to convincingly secure the Courier Cup in 2016 on home soil (Callington Oval) and then came from behind in an unforgettable nail biter of a Grand Final to defeat Nairne Bremer 9 12 to
9 9 to end 35 years of premiership drought (see below).
2017 saw the club win their first ever back to back senior trophies when they secured the Courier Cup for the second time in two years.
This was followed by the B-Grade winning the premiership.
This was followed by the B-Grade winning the premiership.