Sydney University Students

Sydney University Australian National Football Club can lay claim to being the second oldest in the Sydney AFL, having originally begun playing in 1887.

In 1888 Sydney University team travelled across the border to take on Melbourne University. This is believed to have been the first inter-varsity match in any code of football in Australia.

The University club has had three stints in the major league, 1948-1957, 1962-8, and 1988-1994. In the ten seasons from 1948 to 1957 the team struggled to make an impact and the best result was seventh in 1954. The next stint between 1962 and 1968 was scarcely any better as the amateur club found it increasingly difficult to compete against the established SFL clubs, a number of which had their own licensed premises. In 1969, University of NSW was promoted to 1st Grade, and the SUANFC 1st XVIII won the SFL Reserve Grade premiership.

The club was a founding member of 2nd division (later renamed the Sydney District Football Association, and subsequently as the SFA) in 1970. In the competition's inaugural season, the side contested an 'all student' grand final against arch-rivals, the University of NSW, but despite managing the same number of scoring shots as the opposition went under by 25 points. Another grand final appearance against the same adversaries in 1977 brought a similar result.

Sydney University's first SFA premiership arrived in 1981 after a 10.14 (74) to 9.12 (68) grand final defeat of St Ives, but the following year brought disappointment with a 42 point defeat at the hands of the same opponents.

Following consecutive flags in 1986 and 1987, University was ready for a another stab at the SFL. After a wooden spoon in 1988, however, the 'varsity, initially under the coaching of former Collingwood champion Phil Manassa, and then under former South Melbourne/Sydney player Brett Scott, began to make steady progress.

University won its first and only first grade premiership in its only ever finals appearance in that competition in 1992. Under the coaching of former Sydney Swans champion Rod Carter, the 'varsity met reigning premiers North Shore in the premiership decider and bolted away with the flag to win by 65 points.

After dropping to 5th in 1993, the side nose-dived to 8th position in 1994, before returning to the somewhat less intense environment of the SFA. University went on to contest every grand final bar one between 1997 and 2006, although the side was only ultimately able to secure premiership wins on three occasions, in 1997, 2003 and 2005.

Nevertheless, in terms of administration, finances and all round stability the Students remained premier division material, and at the end of the 2006 season it was announced that they were to be granted promotion to Sydney football's top tier from 2007.

Club Snapshot

Logo:
City	Sydney
Home Ground	No 1 Oval, Sydney University
Club Address	PO Box 109, Wentworth Building, Sydney University NSW 2006
Established	1887
Nickname:	Students
President:	Jason McLennan
Coach:	Roger Motten
Premierships:	1981, 1986-87, 1992, 1997, 2003, 2005
Phone Contact:	0405 751 043
Email Contact:	footballoperations@suanfc.com
Website:	http://www.suanfc.com
Facebook:	http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2331017923