Lefornish Football League

The Lefornish Football League is a Victorian Football tournament based in Lefornland.

## History

The University Football League was established in 1895 between Lefornland's four major Universities. In 1898, the competition opened up, allowing non-university based clubs to join. This did not have the effect they were expecting, when three clubs from Burnia's working-class suburbs joined the UFL. They didn't care at first, as the working-class teams were very unsuccessful, but they were slowly climbing. In 1902, the Railroad Steamers joined the UFL, and destroyed Dermacha University in their first game. They went on to win the 1902 season undefeated. The UFL decided on banning them and other working-class teams from the UFL, so they created their own tournament, the Burnia Football League. The BFL only lasted one season because the UFL lost money from its four most popular teams being removed and they realised the potential of making money from charging people to go to games. In 1904, the Lefornish Football League was created, and all the University-based clubs dropped 'University' from their names. In 1913, The Nationals became the first club to ever exit the competition, which was massive for a university-owned team. In 1915, two clubs entered the league. The Drovlina Cottoners, from a poor area of Dernville and the McGarstone Rhinos; who weren't owned by a university but were still based in a significantly rich area. In the 1920's, many university club players started moving to other teams from poorer areas, as they were paying players to play for the club. The Universities were not very happy about this, and created a contract which would prevent their best players from leaving their club, unless traded to another university. The working-class teams were now unhappy, and threatened to create a new competition. So the Universities removed the rule, and started paying players more to stay with them. In the 1950's, Burnia and Dermacha University shut down. Dermacha took their club with them, and the Royals were disbanded. The Blue Whales managed to survive, and became independent from the University. The LFL was concerned about the potential of the league folding, so four new clubs were added in the 1960's, all based in different cities.

Throughout the 1990's, the Lefornish economy started to crumble, and suddenly, the competition could no longer afford to hold on to all the teams. First of all was Gorteva, who were forced to relocate to Norbury. In the same year, Norbury's biggest club, the Dockers, folded. Just a year later the Giants moved to Dermacha. Then, in 1997, one of the biggest moments in Lefornish sport happened as the president of the LFL announced that Kentworth and Mont Bernie, two of the competitions' biggest clubs, and two clubs with a history of rivalry with one another, would be merging to form the Mont Bernie Coalers. The decision was protested, but still went ahead. Many people like to say that the day that the Mont Bernie Coalers were created, professional football in Lefornland died. Fans of both merged clubs refused to support the new team, and attendances at games were less than a quarter of what the Fighters and Coalers would get combined. The two clubs were also arguably two clubs which made the league what it was. Kentworth were hated by fans of almost every club, with their supporters having some negative supporter stereotypes. They were often compared to Collingwood in the VTFL, both wearing the same colours and boycotting the dentist. Mont Bernie were one of the most successful teams throughout the 70's and 80's, and had started building quite a significant fanbase.

During the 80's, every grand final was able to fill all the seats in the house. From 1990 to 1997, the grand final was still fairly significant, with the attendances and TV ratings staying about the same, but the regular season match crowds were declining. From 1998 to 2010, grand finals were getting stadiums that were half empty. Since 2010, attendances are on the rise again, with the 2017 grand final being the first grand final to sell out since 1996, as the Tigers took home their first trophy in 40 years. Many experts on the current playing field of Lefornish sport claim that the LFL will never truly hit its peak again without Kentworth or the Fighters in the competition. As fans of both clubs continue to protest, and with the LFL currently more than capable of holding more teams, the likeliness of the two clubs coming back and Lefornish football rising again is higher than ever.

## Clubs

\*Georgiava relocated to Dermacha in 1996

\*\*While many believe that Gorteva merged with the Dockers, the Dockers just happened to fold the same year that Gorteva relocated. Gorteva were originally going to be called 'East Norbury', but took the chance when they realised they could drop the 'East'

\*\*\*Kentworth and Mont Bernie, two fierce rivals merged in 1998. The decision was protested by fans of both clubs, and the newly formed 'Mont Bernie Coalers' still get poor match attendances as fans of the two sides still refuse to support the new club. The LFL has said in recent years that the chance of the Mont Bernie Coalers splitting back into two clubs is a "reasonable possibility"

### Club Songs

DJELVARK

We're a happy team at Djelvark

We're the red and gold and blue

We play to win each game for you

We'll win the premiership too

The mighty Crows will stop at nothing

We are headed for the cup

All for one and one for all

The way we play at Djelvark

We are the team to take the top

HARENBURG

It's a grand old flag

It's a high flying flag

It's the emblem for which we will fight

It's the emblem of the team I love

The team of the red and the white

Every heart beats right

For the red and the white

So let's play with all our might

Should old acquaintance be forgot

Keep your eye on the red and the white

KENTWORTH

Cheer, cheer the black and the white

Honour the name by day and by night

Lift that loyal banner high

Shake down the thunder from the sky

Whether the odds be great or be small

We'll come out and win overall

While our players keep on fighting

Onwards to victory!

MONT BERNIE FIGHTERS

Mont'n Burnie players know the meaning of success

Dedication is the way to fight for happiness

We will keep on fighting til the final siren sounds

To the premiership we're bound

Glory, glory, keep on fighting

Glory, glory, keep on fighting

Glory, glory, keep on fighting

Mont Bernie's striving on!

NORTH BURNIA

*North Burnia use Richmond's song and recording*

Oh we're from Tigerland

A fighting fury we're from Tigerland

In any weather you will see us with a grin

Risking head and skin

If we're behind then nevermind

We'll fight and fight and win

For we're from Tigerland

We never weaken til the final siren's gone

Like the Tiger of old

We're strong and we're bold

For we're from Tiger- Yellow and Black!

We're from Tigerland