North Cairns Tigers celebrate 70th anniversary

From humble beginnings developing swampland into a football field to now boasting more than 300 members, the North Cairns Tigers have come a long in their 70 years.

The North Cairns Tigers have celebrated has celebrated its 70th anniversary as a footy club. Photo: Supplied.

From humble beginnings developing swampland into a football field to now boasting more than 300 members, the North Cairns Tigers have come a long in their 70 years.

In 1955, Kingsley ‘King’ Watson founded The North Cairns Australian Football Club, and in 1956 the club was split into two teams – Norths and Souths – to form a competition.

In 1959, Watson received a 90 pound grant to transform 15 acres of swampy land in Manunda, called Tea Tree Swamp, into a playing field.

Club members worked tirelessly to clear the land and develop the field, which officially opened in 1965 and was named Watson’s Oval after its founder.

A clubhouse followed in the early 1970s and the club grew.

Seventy years on, the Tigers now have more than 300 members and 11 teams across the men’s, women’s and junior competitions.

The first official Norths team. Picture: Supplied

One of those players is Gavin Ham, who first started at the Tigers in 1982 and has played more than 300 games for the club.

“The ground and the club has always been a part of the community,” Mr Ham said, who has fond memories of using the oval for school sport and social events.

“When I was young, some of the older players used to run blue light discos and stuff like that, so it was even a place to go when we were teenagers.”

Mr Ham has taken on many different roles at the club over the years, including president and junior co-ordinator, and at one stage his whole family, including wife Rachael and children Sarah and Hayden, were all playing footy for the Tigers.

Sarah, Rachael, Gavin and Hayden Ham in 2019 when they were all playing for the North Cairns Tigers football club. Picture: Supplied

“It’s a real family club. There’s a lot of us that played when we were younger and went to school together that have sons and daughters playing now,” he said.

“For the families, it a place to live and be, and we have all contributed in different ways over the years.”

The club has seen increasing success the past few years under new management and coaching leadership, including president Greg Applin.

In 2024, all three senior mens’ teams reached second on the ladder.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary, the Tigers are holding a gala dinner on Saturday, August 9 at Watson’s. Tickets are on sale at trybooking.com/events.

Originally published as North Cairns Tigers celebrate 70th anniversary