Target 1000: Coburg’s toughest and greatest moments

A legendary full forward, an internationally-renowned singer and a last-minute Collingwood intervention. Relive some of the brightest and darkest moments at Coburg City Oval.

The Coburg Football Club has grown with the people of Moreland, even if it was once booted out by its local council.

Despite being synonymous with Coburg City Oval, the Lions were forced out by Coburg City Council in 1965 to make room for the North Melbourne Football Club, one of the many times the club was on its knees.

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Coburg returned the following year after playing at Port Melbourne.

That was the last time significant improvements were made at the oval, but Moreland Council and the State Government announced last year it would combine to fund a $6 million redevelopment of the tired facilities.

Coburg-Fitzroy supporters John and Liz Guest were among the few to get on board when the club changed its name.

Financial woes have been behind many of the club’s struggles, which were next felt at the turn of the century.

Ian Liversidge, who has been involved with the club since 1966, said he was behind an idea to tap into fans of the extinct Fitzroy Football Club by becoming Coburg-Fitzroy in 1999.

The venture lasted one season.

JOIN THE CAUSE AND SIGN UP FOR COBURG

An alignment with Richmond to become the Coburg Tigers was next, saving the club before it almost collapsed.

Mr Liversidge said Richmond dropped the phone on a different alignment, giving Coburg a chance.

“We were in dire straights, Robert Evans was the president at the time and he rang around a few of the AFL clubs to try and get a liaison,” Mr Liversidge said.

“Richmond said they had a deal lined up with Williamstown so we rang Collingwood, and they said they had just signed with Williamstown so we got Richmond.

“It probably saved the day but in long-term impact it could have killed the club because we lost a generation and a half of supporters.”

James Keogh was a defender with the club before he took up the moniker Vance Joy.

Current club general manager Seb Spagnuolo said that the club was still dealing with community awareness issues after a full time move to Craigieburn during the Richmond alignment collapsed.

Since returning to its original name and standing alone in 2014, Coburg has battled on field without gaming revenue or AFL support. To return to the on-field dominance that saw it win three flags in a row from 1926 and two in 1988-89, the club is hoping to reach 1000 members as part of its membership drive.