Who we are
The Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club. A successful staple amongst community sport in the Essendon area since its' formation and establishment in 1946. The club has evolved through the years and inclusion of the ‘Essendon’ in ‘Doutta Stars’ underpins the club's positive and inclusive environment created within the Essendon area and surrounding suburbs.
We know that success is not only about winning on-field and taking home premierships. It is also about nurturing and supporting young people in our communities to become well-rounded adults who continue to contribute to the area in which they live and play sport. We use our club as a vehicle within our community to support inclusive networking and to provide the foundation for lifelong friendships and connections
HiSTORY OF THE CLUB
It all started back in 1945 with a team of junior players associated with the North Essendon Church in nearby Keilor Road who were competing within the Northern Junior Football League. At this time, young servicemen who had completed their military duties in the second world war were returning to the local area and were keen to participate in their sporting interests again. With the interest for sport growing, the fathers of these young men decided to arrange a meeting at the Doutta Galla Hall in Royal Avenue, North Essendon. And so began the formation of another local football club - The Doutta Stars Football Club.
The Star portion of the name was derived from other teams in the Essendon District Football League containing the ‘Stars’ in their name. There were the "Lincoln Stars", the "Riverside Stars", the Coburg Stars" and even the ‘Strathmore Stars"; so it made sense for this newly formed team Doutta (driven from local parish ‘Doutta Galla’) became the ‘Doutta Stars’.
Officially formed in 1946, Doutta Stars entered a team into the Senior Grade of the Essendon District Football League. This team consisted mainly of young men returning from services in the war. The club went on to have immediate success, reaching the grand final in their opening season. Unfortunately, Ascot United defeated them in the match played at Essendon Football Ground on Saturday 7 September 1946. The entry fee for this day of entertainment was 9 pence for adults and 3 pence for children.