The Banks Bulldogs Football Club was established in 1978 as a founding member of the Carlton United Sunday football competition, along with Combined Services and North Darwin, Banks was then known as “Combined Banks”. This competition was known as the NTFL C Grade competition however was never formally recognised as such by the NTFL. This competition was the forerunner to the Northern Territory Football Association [NTFA] being formed in 1982, later in 2000 becoming known as TEAFA. In 2010, the competition known as TEAFA [Top End Australian Football Association], merged with the NTFL, forming a larger three-tiered competition, with Banks being represented in Division 1 and 2. In season 2022/23 the competition structure changed yet again, with our A-Grade now in the Men’s Premier League Reserve competition, and our Killer-B’s in the Division1. The Club's first ever game was played as a social match between the Commonwealth Bank and Westpac, following which it was thought we could perhaps form a 'proper' side with players from all banks. The club played against the other founding member clubs plus irregular teams from NTFL clubs Darwin, Nightcliff and Wanderers. With the formation of the NTFA in 1982, no club was allowed to have the same name as any current NTFL club. Banks [renamed some years earlier] and Combined Services were again founding member clubs and North Darwin became East Darwin, later becoming known as Tracy Village. New clubs joining were Jabiru, Katherine and Pints, with later at the direction of the NTFL, Southern Districts joining for a few years prior to formerly joining the NTFL competition. During these changing times Banks have always had a competitive playing group and a strong committee, winning our first premiership in season 1981/82. To this day, the club continues to be very successful on and off the field with both a committed playing group and committee[s]. Very few clubs can boast the level of success Banks FC has achieved over an extended period of time. In the early years, the football club was run on a very small budget and sponsorship was minimal. In our founding years, our main sponsor was CUB and our motto was 'Powered by Fosters', which was taken seriously by the playing group. Players filled almost all committee positions, and social functions were (and continue to be) well patronised and enthusiastically attended. From our infancy, this club has helped form lasting legacies, lifelong friendships, and lasting fond memories for all who have donned the blue and white. The club has been through many positive changes over the last decade and has developed into a strong, family orientated, community football club, that continues to have success on and off the field. We have added four junior teams to our ranks (U10, U12, U14 & U16) since 2015/16, and in season 2022/23 launched our inaugural women’s team. Our teams and member base are constantly growing, but our connection to the past remains intact. Banks Bulldogs Football Club is thankful and proud of our heritage, but we are even more excited about where our club is heading. For a detailed summary and highlights of our Club history, please refer to our website.
