Forming The Club

The foundation of the Olympic Dam Football Club began in 1986 with a tongue-in-cheek comment. Neville Growden, brother Trevor Growden, and Bill Newson were in Wet Mess No.1 when members of the Roxby Football Club arrived, celebrating a big win over the Americans. As they carried on about their victory, the three remarked that they had only beaten the Americans. A few words were exchanged, and in the heat of the moment, Neville, Trevor and Bill declared that we would start a team the following year and beat them in the grand final. They laughed at them, but we assured them that it was on.

Determined to follow through, they held a meeting in one of their caravans and decided to form a football club. At the next meeting, they chose the name and colors—green and gold—officially forming the "Dam Devils." We sought out a president, and Mick Bullock stepped into the role. Together, Mick, Bill, and Neville attended a Woomera Football League meeting to apply for entry. After many discussions and negotiations, "Dam Devils" were accepted into the league.

Signs went up in the wet messes, word spread, and our first training run was organized at the F.R. Mayfield compound, concluding with a run around Camp One. It was clear—we were officially forming a club.

 

Organizing the Club

With the foundation laid, the next step was organizing everything we needed. Neville, Bill Newson, Trevor Growden, Brian Growden, Gary Growden, Kim Stutley, and Mick Bullock took on the responsibility of securing guernseys, shorts, socks, footballs, and all necessary training gear. They also arranged club membership cards and foundation club badges. Recruiting and securing clearances for players became a key focus—this was also the first time some had seen a fax machine in action.

Securing sponsorships was critical for the club’s survival. Growden Brothers Excavation, F.R. Mayfield, and Coates Hire came on board as early sponsors, followed by our major sponsor and club patron, Keith Wilson from Mitsubishi Dealer in Whyalla. Balancing all this while working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, away from home, was no easy task, but the effort was well worth it.

 

Building the Club

As more people got involved, the club quickly grew, reaching its first 100 members. "Dam Devils" introduced a members' draw that raised $1,000 per month, often held at "The Clay Pan Oval"—a location that hosted some memorable nights. Training also took place on The Clay Pan Oval, which proved to be more hazardous than game day, with injuries common due to the rough surface.

One of the club’s most recognizable symbols was the "Club Ute," fully painted in green and gold. Meanwhile, the Woomera RSL generously allowed us to use their clubhouse for post-game functions and barbecues, which led to fantastic nights and long drives home on dirt roads.

Managing the club was a challenge, as we were largely made up of contractors who juggled demanding work schedules alongside training, playing, and celebrating. Despite this, the club was run successfully—an impressive feat for any football organization.

 

Forming a Team

Neville Growden was named coach, with Ray Martin serving as captain. By this stage, we had a steady training group of around 12 players, though we quickly realized we had a problem in the ruck. Roxby Downs had a formidable 6'7" captain-coach in, Tim McLoud, a player with 100 SANFL games under his belt. Just when we thought we were at a disadvantage, a 6'8" player named Murray Pearce stepped out of a ute and joined the squad. He would later go on to be the runner-up in our Best and Fairest award. With the help of many individuals, the team was finally coming together, and we were ready to compete.

 

The First Game – The Blood Bath

Our debut match was against the undefeated Roxby Downs Football Club, and it would later become known as "The Blood Bath Game." With only an hour until game time, we were three players short and still waiting on our guernseys to arrive from Adelaide. Fortunately, they showed up just in time, and we were ready to go.

The first bounce went up, and chaos erupted—it was an all-out battle. We made it clear that there was a new team in town, engaging in multiple altercations, reports, and stitches. Our youngest player, 16-year-old Trevor Growden Junior, was our best on ground. Though we lost our first game, it marked the beginning of something truly special.

​

Challenges Along the Way

Midway through the season, a strike in Roxby decimated our playing group. To keep the team alive, we had to bring in our runner Bill Newson, as well as Trevor and Brian Growden, Jim Bowe, and a few veterans. The league refused to allow us to forfeit, while Roxby Downs did everything in their power to get us rubbed out. Despite these challenges, we survived.

​

The Road to the Grand Final

The season was filled with memorable moments, including playing against the Americans—a fantastic and fun-loving group of opponents. Our clashes with Roxby Downs were intense, drawing passionate crowds. After countless trips along dirt roads to Woomera—some involving vehicle rollovers and run-ins with kangaroos—the finals finally arrived.

We lost the second semi-final against Roxby Downs, but each game leading up to that point had seen us close the gap. We bounced back, winning the Preliminary Final and securing a spot in the Grand Final in our very first season.

​

The Grand Final

The build-up to the Grand Final was intense, as we sought to intimidate Roxby Downs at every opportunity. Bar fights erupted, and we staged mind games, including towing a dummy dressed as a Roxby player behind a ute, we "borrowed" one of their guernseys. We knew we were getting into their heads.

With 20 players—some seasoned veterans, some young guns, and a mix of others—we were ready. Inside the changerooms, "We Are the Champions" blared over the speakers. We waited until Roxby Downs had run out onto the field before storming through the doors in one tight group, plowing straight through their huddle and knocking over a few players. The psychological warfare had begun.

We won the toss and went against a four-goal wind in the first. That’s the quarter we stopped them from playing footy.  A few scuffles slowed the game down, keeping the footy out of their hands. By quarter-time, we were only one point down. From that point on, we played disciplined footy, outscoring them in every quarter. The result—Olympic Dam won its first-ever Grand Final.

​

Celebrations and the Footy Trip

Back at the RSL, celebrations were in full swing with a live band. It was a night to remember, with our captain Ray Martin, Gary Growden, and young gun Trevor Growden Jnr standing out as the best players of the day.

For our end-of-season trip, we hopped on The Ghan and headed to Alice Springs. The journey started with a stop at the Roxby Downs Tavern, where we "kidnapped" a player straight from the bar—wearing only his shorts, thongs, and singlet. The next seven days were legendary, even landing us a feature in People Magazine.

​

The End of a Historic Season

At the end of the season, the flag, all club records, and the bank account were handed over. What started as a bold challenge in a bar had grown into something extraordinary. The Olympic Dam Football Club had been established, and its legacy was just beginning.

This is a rough account of 1987—the foundation year of what has become a great football and sporting club, the Dam Devils.