The Wanderers and Wanderer's Reserves have had a highly successful season with both 14th grade teams winning their championships this season. Its a testament to their spirit and culture that both grades have had such a great season.

Alan Pumfleet, manager and grade coordinator explains:

"The Wanderers started as the WSAFC 12th grade Boys 5th Division team in 2004 season. Most of the boys in the team were returning from the previous season's 11th grade 5 division team that had been coached very successfully by John Armstrong, a parent coach, and myself as Assistant and Manager.

In 2005 the team "recruited" Billy Harris as the team's coach. We still didn't have a name but when we considered that this team consisted of the lost boys who were left to wanderer in the WSAFC "social grades" the name "Wanderers" popped out and stuck.

We set up two training nights a week which was one more than most other social sides, we trained rain or shine, even hiring a local hall if the weather was too foul, Billy worked his magic and we came equal top of the division for 2004. I must say at this point that we also got a lot of help from Paul Preddey, who coached the team above us, with joint practices and games on Thursday nights. Stepping up to 2nd divsion in 2005 the Wanderer's got hammered in the grading round but did enough to stay up. Billy turned on the turbo chargers in the championship round and we finished third. Not the heady stuff of the previous year but a solid year and everybody was happy.

2006 came round and all but two of the Wanderers returned which was 14 of the 29 players in the grade. Once the trials were over and the two teams were selected for the 2nd and 3rd divisions we set up a new Wanderers structure based on the previous years but this time we had two teams. The Wanderers and the Wanderers Reserves, Billy Harris became the skills coach of both teams and the coach of the Wanderers. We cast about for a coach of the Wanderers Reserves and Nick Hemmings, the father of Kyle who plays for the div2 side, put up his hand to coach the Reserves and away we went.

As grade coordinator I manage both teams which makes organisation a little easier. We run two practices a week, rain or shine. Remarkably we haven't had to cancel an out door practice all this season. Monday night we run a skills night with Billy for both teams which, almost always, ends in a game.
Thursday night Billy takes his team for their team drills and practice and Nick takes his for the same. The practice again, almost always, ends with a game and I can tell you it is full on.

Both teams are enjoying a very successful season with the Wanderers Reserves already winning their division with a game to go.
The Wanderers are currently second on their table but they need only win their last game and they will win the division. As this game is against the top team in the division it promises to be a cracker.

Neither Wanderers side has lost a game in the Championship round and we are very proud of them. They are a great bunch of mates having a ball doing what we all love."

- Alan Pumfleet