The Old Westbourne Grammarians Amateur Football Club (OWAFC) was founded after a meeting of interested ex-students of The Westbourne Grammar School in Oct 1990. From that meeting, the Old Westbourne AFC was formed and entered playing in Club XVIII of the VAFA with a single team in 1991. The first 2 years of the club, all players were ex-students of the school.

In 1993, after a couple of hard-fought years, with wins few and far between, the club extended to Seniors and Reserves and opened its doors to the wider community and entered into the lowest grade of the VAFA competition.

It took some years to be successful. In 1996 the Reserves played Finals, a first for the club.

1998 can be summed up as the club’s lowest point. Facing the real prospect of folding mid-season; some wise heads and new blood, rejuvenated the club in a short time. Andrew Hadley was significant as head coach and laid the foundations for the success that would come in subsequent years.

In 1999 both grades played finals and the Seniors were curtailed severely by injury – being knocked out in a Prelim following a 16-2 H&A record.

In the early 2000’s the club welcomed Jeff Wilson as coach but more importantly as a reinforcer and leader on the ground.

Under the direction of legendary President Ivan Board and his committee, the introduction of the club’s first Under 19’S in 2003 was instrumental to the club winning their first flags in 2004. Taking out Division 4 against Kew in both Seniors and Reserves. The club also established its junior program in 2004.

More success followed in 2007, led by another experienced local coach, Fab Gatti, the Seniors won the Division 3 Senior flag against Ivanhoe. The Reserves were runners up that day.

Brett Connors was appointed playing coach in 2009 and was amongst the most talented to have worn our club colours. He took the team to Division 2 finals, the best level the club has reached.

By 2012 the club’s Junior program had grown to such an extent that the school was becoming concerned about the overuse of it grounds and facilitates, this led to the Junior program becoming the Wyndham Suns and re-locating to a council ground and the Senior program being renamed the Westbourne Grammarians.

Under the guidance of Senior Coach Roger Hand, the club rebuilt its list to contend for the 2015 Division 4 flag. Finishing second on the ladder after the home and away season, a seriously compromised final 6 system conspired against the Seniors who were bungled out of the finals after a week 1 loss. The Reserves went on to finish runners up. The heartbreak of 2015 inspired a flawless season in 2016 with the Seniors and Reserves winning the Division 4 Premierships.

In 2017, under Roger and again in 2018 under Justin Johns, the Seniors contested finals but ultimately fell short in consecutive Preliminary finals appearances.

In 2018, the club entered its first Women’s team in Division 3 of the VAFA Women’s competition. Under the guidance of first-time coach Emma Palowski, the Warrior women went onto win the clubs 6th Premiership - a flag in their first season of existence.  Club great- Gary ‘Tex’ Walker took over from Emma for the 2019 season, with the girls making it to the Division 2 Preliminary Final.

Unfortunately, like many clubs, 2020, 2021 and 2022 were very difficult years and the decision was made to place the club into recess for 2023.  

In late 2023, Chris Grant and Ian Allan who lead the Spotswood Football Club’s women’s program, joined the club to start a Women’s only program at Westbourne, fielding two teams in the Premier B, VAFA competition from 2024. In 2024 the Reserve making the Grand Final was an amazing achievement and in 2025 we have 55 registered players playing across Premier B, Division 4 and an start up Under 19’s competition.

Our club has survived, thrived, and faltered as various times over the past 30 years. Amazing highs and heart-breaking lows have created the club we love and will always call home. The unwavering support over the journey from the School, our sponsors and families such the Horsburgh’s, Roderick’s, Board’s, Christo’s and Hudson’s have allowed us to ride out the tough times and saviour the good times. The stability in our leadership ranks, committee, coaches and support crew have created the environment for over 1,000 plus players to play this great game in the very best environment. Friendship’s created, lifelong bounds formed, tragedies endeavoured and success tasted, altogether and all in the Green, Gold & Blue.