AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Official name
Horsham United Football & Netball Club Inc.
Known as
Horsham United
Nickname
Horsham Diggers (2003–2008)
Former name
Imperials Wonwondah
Former name date
1986-01-01
Formed
1976: merger of Horsham Imperials and Wonwondah to form Imperials Wonwondah
Disbanded
2014: merged with Natimuk to form Natimuk United
Colours
Black and gold
Emblem
Diggers
Associated clubs
Natimuk; Natimuk United; Horsham Imperials; Wonwondah
Affiliations (Historical)
Horsham District Football Netball League (HDFNL) 1977–1982; Wimmera Football Netball League (WFNL) 1983–2013
Senior Premierships
Horsham and District Football League (HDFL) - 1980 (1 total); WFL - 1988 (1 total)
In 1976, Horsham and District Football League rivals Imperials and Wonwondah merged to form the Imperials Wonwondah Football Club, known from 1986 onwards as Horsham United. Both merger partners had enjoyed senior grade premiership success in the HDFL, Imperials in 1966, and Wonwondah in 1949, 1953 and 1957. The merged club continued in the HDFL for seven seasons, claiming a senior grade flag in 1980 thanks to a 46-point grand final defeat of St Michaels.
In 1983 the Diggers crossed to the much stronger Wimmera Football League, in which they gradually emerged as a force. They won their only senior grade premiership in the competition in 1988, but went close on several occasions since, most notably in 1995 when they were minor premiers and scored a resounding second semi-final victory over Minyip Murtoa, only to suffer a surprise 3-point grand final reversal against Stawell.
In 2014, Horsham United undertook a merger with Natimuk, which gave birth to the Natimuk United Football Club.
John Devaney - Full Points Publications