NSW/ACT Club of the Week: Gosford AFL

Originally established in 1971, the Gosford Tigers were the first AFL club on the Central Coast. The Tigers originally competed in the NAFL, known today as the Black Diamond AFL or BDAFL. The club won their first Premiership in 1977, then further Premierships in 1980, 1983 and 1984.

Early in the club’s tenure, the Tigers had over 100 registered players and in 1975, under the leadership of the committee, split the club into five teams (Terrigal, Gosford, Narara/Wyoming, Wyong and Woy Woy) to form the Central Coast Australian Football Association.

The Gosford Junior Football Club was formed in 1996 and played as the Gosford Bulldogs. It wasn’t until 1999 that they followed the Senior Club and changed their name and colours to become the Gosford Tigers.

Today Gosford consists of the Tigers, playing in the Central Coast League, and the Gosford Wildcats who are the senior side, playing in Division 3 in the AFL Sydney competition. The club has approximately 100 juniors and 40 seniors.

In 2012 the Tigers changed their playing days to Sundays to give players from other codes the opportunity to play. In 2013, a further change from even year age groups to odd age groups took place. A girls-only Youth League was also introduced with Gosford one of the founding clubs for the Youth Girls competition which includes the Killarney Vale Bombers, The Entrance Bateau Bay Blues and Peninsula Swans.

The club continues to build to new heights with Under-9s, Under-11s, Under-13s, Under-15s, Under-17s and Youth Girls age groups in 2013.

Basil Czerwaniw is President of the Junior Club, with his son’s involvement beginning a love for the game.

“As with most parents, my AFL experience commenced when my son started Auskick back in 2006,” Czerwaniw said.

“I was asked to join the Committee by someone I knew outside of the Club and became Secretary. Eventually with years of experience I stepped into the role of President.

“Junior Footy Club Presidents don’t get to host pre-game President dinners, although we have our turn on the BBQ. We are usually first at the ground, busily setting up the ground for the day’s games, welcoming the opposition as they arrive and then, in my case, coaching the Under-9s or slipping into the Ground Managers jacket.

“Although I get joy from watching the talented players perform, I probably get more enjoyment out of watching the players that are not skilled enough to be considered for the Academy or representative teams.

“They play their hearts out for the love of the game, their team mates and demonstrate incredible fearless courage. They help form a champion team and at Gosford, we have many champion teams.”

If you would like your club to be featured for Club of the Week, get in touch with us at info@aflnswact.com.au or 02 8333 8000.