Regional Football
At the the turn of the 20th century, regional leagues covered the state from Warrnambool in the west to the La Trobe Valley and Gippsland in the east and as far north to Sunraysia. Clubs such as Wonthaggi, Yallourn and Irymple Knights were instrumental in shining a regional light on the growth of association football beyond Melbourne. The Post World War II migration boom spread far and wide, and there were flourishing local competitions in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, while several established clubs competed with distinction (Yallourn won the First Division in 1951) against Melbourne's best in all levels of the Victorian Metropolitan League before the Victorian Soccer Federation banished them back to their local leagues in 1967.
Undeterred, these clubs maintained their reach and focus, and readmission to an ever growing metropolitan football landscape came with success, most notably with two-time Championship winner Morwell Falcons in the 1980s and North Geelong Warriors in 1992. By then, the Victorian Country Championships (established in 1978) were providing a pathway for seniors and juniors to represent their respective regions at a higher level.
The 21st century witnessed significant restructure, initially in Geelong as the Western Victoria Soccer Association ceded administrative control to Football Federation Victoria in 2010, then further north where the Goulburn North East Football Association disbanded in 2016, leaving its remaining member clubs to join the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League.
However, the most significant change arrives in 2026, as Football Victoria assumes administrative control of the majority of the football associations in regional Victoria, marking a new dawn as the game continues to grow throughout the state.
For a history of football in the following regions, follow the links below.
- Albury-Wodonga
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Cobram
- Geelong
- Gippsland
- Goulburn
- La Trobe Valley
- Moama-Echuca
- South-West
- Sunraysia
- Swan Hill