As of 2024, Albert Park's men's team competes in Division 3 of the VAFA, while the women's team is in Division 4 of the VAFA Women's (VAFAW) − both the lowest divisions in the respective competitions.
History
Early years
Colours of ANZ Bank
Albert Park was founded in 1954 as the ANZ Bank Football Club, nicknamed the Zedders. The club was founded by sports-minded officers at the head office of ANZ Bank, who negotiated a place in the VAFA's E Section, with the club's first home ground located at Yarra Bend Park in Fairfield.[13] The club initially was composed entirely of players who worked at the bank, and former Richmond and Hawthorn footballer Andy Brannan served as the inaugural coach.[14][15][16]
The Zedders made their first grand final in 1958, although they lost to St Kilda CBC Old Boys by 13 points.[17] They were promoted for the first time to D Section in 1959, but were relegated back down to E Section after only a single win in 1966.[13] The club won its first premiership in 1969 with a 12-point victory over Brunswick in the reserves grand final.[13]
In 1936, the clubs entered into a brief merger and competed as ES&A−National Bank until the end of the 1937 season.[20] After World War II ended, the administration of both banks issues a directive to reform the clubs, with ES&A returning in 1952 and National Bank returning in 1954.[13][21]
National Bank continued competing until it disbanded at the end of the 1979 season.[22]
Merger and new name
At the end of the 1969 season, ES&A Bank was absorbed by ANZ Bank, which was followed by the banks themselves merging in October 1970.[13][23] ANZ Bank won its second reserves premiership in 1974, defeating Old Geelong in E Section.[13][24] The club made its second senior grand final in 1991, but were defeated by Elsternwick by 10 points.[25]
Ahead of the 1996 season, the club decided to change its name to the ANZ Albert Park Football Club, nicknamed the Rats.[13] The decision was made amid difficulty in fielding teams, increasing interest from the local community in Albert Park and ANZ Bank withdrawing support.[13]
In 1999, the club removed any reference to ANZ Bank from its name and became known simply as "Albert Park", nicknamed the "Falcons" (although the "Rats" nickname lasted informally for several years).[13][26] The club was runners-up in the F Section grand final later that year, going down to Eley Park by 14 points.[27][28]
Albert Park's most recent premiership, as of 2024, was in 2002, when they defeated Werribee in the D4 Section reserves grand final.[7][29]
The club introduced its first netball teams in 2015.[30]
^ ab"2024 Awards". Albert Park Falcons Football & Netball Club. 6 October 2024. Archived from the original on 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
^"This is AMAZING!". Facebook. Albert Park Falcons Football & Netball Club. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
^Armistead, Nick (30 October 2018). "The emergence of Albert Park FC". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
