Kingsley Remembers 10 Years On
15 Aug, 2012
TEN years on from their first WA Amateur Football League Premiership in 2002, the Kingsley Amateur Football Club will this Saturday both celebrate the achievement and grieve for the tragedy that followed.
Kingsley joined the WAAFL E Grade competition after moving from the Sunday Football League in the 1990’s. The club received its first taste of team success in 2002 when both the E and E Reserves sides made the Grand Final – the reserves winning the clubs first ever flag while the league just fell short of premiership triumph.
Sadly, what should be remembered as one of the clubs proudest moments will also serve as a reminder for all at the club of how precious life can be.
After a successful season where both their league and reserves sides made the Grand Final, 20 Kingsley players headed to Bali on an end of season trip that should have been one of their happiest football memories.
Instead, just six hours into their trip, what was meant to be a celebration turned into a tragedy as a bomb planted by terrorists in a car outside the Sari Club where the team was partying exploded with devastating effect.
202 people lost their lives in the Bali Bombings on the 12th October 2002, 88 of them Australian and seven from Kingsley Amateur Football Club. A further two Kingsley players suffered burns so severe they had to be airlifted back to Australia for treatment.
On their return to Australia the 13 survivors worked to raise funds to build a memorial clubroom for their fallen teammates (pictured).
Now, ten years on, Kingsley will remember the outstanding season as well as the tragedy that befell the group of 20 mates, many of whom were on their first trip outside of Australia.
Following the conclusion of the B Grade’s last home and away match for the season, a Kingsley Amateur Football Club “Legends Team” will take to the field against representatives from the Kingsley Junior Football Club, who are celebrating their 30th year.
The Kingsley Legends side will be compromised of players from the early years of the club, with the game also involving other football identities such as former West Coast Eagles, Port Adelaide and Fremantle Dockers star Jarrad Schofield.
Former Essendon, Port Adelaide and West Coast Eagles player Scott Cummings will also be on hand to provide entertainment.
The match itself will start at 6:00pm, with other entertainment such as a DJ and bouncy castles running throughout the evening.
The Legends game will reunite players from the early days of both Clubs, many who have not been back to Kingsley for years.
Part of the proceeds raised on the night will go towards funding a trip for Bali Bombing victims and victims’ families wishing to return to Bali to pay their respects on the tenth anniversary of the tragedy.
Bounce down for the league match is at 2:30pm, following Colts at 10:45am and Reserves at 12:35pm, with the Legends Match kicking off at 6:00pm that night.
