Club president Stuart Schifferle said players and supporters from the past, present and future were all invited to celebrate ‘‘a massive milestone for a country footy club’’.
‘‘When we started 125 years ago the club was on a different ground and would have just had a tin shed. Now, we have wonderful, state-of-the-art clubrooms and a great team of community members and footy players, netball players and committee members that make up our whole club,’’ he said.
‘‘We are having a casual celebration to acknowledge this growth and what we have experienced with the local community.
‘‘I think it is a great opportunity to catch up with your mates, learn about our history and learn where we are up to and where we are going forward.’’
Several retired players and coaches will attend the night as guest speakers to share their memories and wisdom.
The event will be held at Berrigan Sports Ground at 7pm.
Tickets are $25 and can be bought online at https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=500744&.
Bookings can also be made by phoning Steph Reynoldson on 0490 219 172, Brendan Haintz on 0419 548 695 or Doug Cameron on 0439 358 670.
Berrigan — which has been in the Picola District Football League since 2003 and won the flag in 2011 — has had a storied history.
While competing in the Southern Riverina Football Association, from 1906 to 1931, the Saints managed to win six premiership flags.
The club’s first success was in 1906, which it claimed was the first premiership for any sporting club in the town.
It continued its success with flag wins in 1911, 1917, 1924, 1925 and 1931.
In 1932 Berrigan joined the Murray Football League and had quick success with premiership wins in 1934 and 1936.
Berrigan, nicknamed the Saints, switched to its current red, white and black colours in 1949.
Three years later, North Melbourne captain Les Foote became coach, staying for two years before returning to the VFL to coach St Kilda.
The Saints played in several grand finals during the years, claiming two more flags in 1965 and 1968.
One of Berrigan’s most famous recruits joined the club in 1978, and after having failed to win a game the year before, Graham ''Tommy'' Bland joined as playing coach to lead it to a grand final.
He had kicked 121 goals in Merbein’s 1975 premiership season and coached that side the next two seasons before moving up the river.
In 1979 Berrigan made it to the decider, but lost to Numurkah. The next year it went one better, beating Nathalia despite an injury worry.
A local doctor was able to nurse Bland through the final and he kicked five goals in the decider to help the Saints claim their 11th premiership in 1980.
The Saints found a new home in 2003, joining the Picola District Football League.
It took a while for Berrigan to find its feet in its new league, but it wasn’t long before it made an impact.
After the league split into two divisions in 2009, Berrigan made it to its first grand final in 29 years.
However, the Saints fell short against their rival Jerilderie by three points in the decider.
In the 2011 season, Berrigan broke a 31-year drought, claiming a historic 34-point win at home against the Demons.
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