Club History & Honour Board

The Mansfield Junior Football Club has a proud history of providing football opportunities for local young people for more than 60 years.

The foundations of junior football in Mansfield were laid in the mid-1960s, when the Mansfield Football Club recognised the importance of developing young players and established a committee to oversee and support under-age football programs in the town. This commitment to youth development would become the cornerstone of a strong and enduring junior football tradition.

The first recorded season of under-age football in Mansfield was in 1965, when a Thirds team was formed and played occasional matches against neighbouring towns. The program continued to grow and, in 1970, a Fourths (Under 14) team was established, also beginning with matches against surrounding communities.

By 1977, the Mansfield Junior Football League had been formally established. A Fourths team competed at half-time during Mansfield Senior Football Club First XVIII matches in the Tungamah League, while local Under 10 and Under 12 competitions provided opportunities for increasing numbers of young footballers across the district.

As junior football continued to develop, Mansfield joined the Benalla and District Junior Football League in 1998, providing players with greater opportunities to compete across the region. In 2014, the club entered the Wangaratta and District Junior Football League, where it continues to compete today and welcomes both male and female players.

From those early matches in the 1960s to the thriving club of today, the Mansfield Junior Football Club has helped generations of young footballers develop their skills, build lifelong friendships and progress to senior football. The club remains a vital part of the Mansfield and broader community, guided by the same commitment to participation, development and community spirit that inspired its founders more than six decades ago.