{"id":463515,"date":"2025-09-30T16:31:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T16:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/463515\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T16:31:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T16:31:23","slug":"west-london-wildcats-celebrate-their-35th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/463515\/","title":{"rendered":"West London Wildcats celebrate their 35th anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over 100 club members attended an extravagant reunion party in Melbourne last Thursday as West London Wildcats celebrate their 35th anniversary. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Formed in 1990, the Chiswick-based side were one of England\u2019s founding Aussie rules clubs and are widely considered to be Europe\u2019s most successful side, with 43 domestic titles and five AFL Europe Champions Leagues.<\/p>\n

Having endured a 10-year barren spell following their inception, the Cats\u2019 success peaked with their women\u2019s side winning an unprecedented fourth=consecutive Premiership title last season \u2013 an appropriate cause for celebration alongside over three decades as an AFL London side.<\/p>\n

Wildcats president Jonathan Carter explained over 100 players past and present \u2013 roughly 70% of whom are native Australians \u2013 attended a reunion party at a pub in Melbourne owned by a senior member on Thursday evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cOne of our life players, Evo, has done a mountain of work getting it all together.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s had banners printed, photos, slideshows, and food.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old heaped praise on the club\u2019s close-knit community, with bonds between members which have transcended boundaries despite a constant turnover of players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cThere\u2019s Wildcats that live all around Australia and all around the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything from marriages and babies to people who have been friends for 35 years. It\u2019s really cool.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, we had one of our original players pass earlier this year and the outpouring of support and love for this guy was like, \u2018Wow, they\u2019re a close group\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Carter believes this culture of community was also a key ingredient in the unprecedented four-year winning streak achieved by the women\u2019s Premiership team between their inaugural season in 2022 and this year<\/p>\n

The Australian said: \u201cThey\u2019re a really close group and always get numbers at training. That\u2019s what you see in the best teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a new player turns up, automatically, it\u2019s the clich\u00e9 saying but you\u2019ve got 200 mates all of a sudden or there\u2019s 200 people that want to get to know you.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know whether that person is going to be a friend for life, or help you get a job, or they\u2019ve got a spare room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Off the pitch, West London Wildcats have raised over \u00a32,000 for Women in Sport UK over the last two years, in addition to \u00a31,200 raised for their internally-funded league.<\/p>\n

\u2018Jonno\u2019, who first joined the club six years ago, highlighted a memorable year in 2022, in which all of the Wildcats\u2019 men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams stormed to titles in their respective Premiership divisions, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He also cited the annual opportunities to travel abroad, provided by the club\u2019s pre-season tours, as a highlight of their calendar, along with the Champions League where the continent\u2019s elite compete for the ultimate prize.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Wildcats president recalled an \u201cabsolute cracker of a grand final\u201d against five-time Football League of Ireland winners Belfast Redbacks<\/a>, beating the Cats by just a goal, in a final which was very tight by AFL standards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cEveryone\u2019s in such a good mood there, because everyone\u2019s there for the same reason: to play footie in a new country and to try and win.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the promise of a memorable game of football abroad doesn\u2019t always come to fruition, as a past tournament in Belfast the Cats flew out for was cancelled due to extreme snow.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"A little snow won\u2019t keep the Aussie state-league Cats from a kickabout. (Credit: West London Wildcats)<\/p>\n

As the Wildcats celebrate their 35th anniversary, further dominance is the aim.<\/p>\n

They will defend the Movember Cup in Manchester prior to their winter pre-season commencing next January.<\/p>\n

Carter said: \u201cWe didn\u2019t have a great year in the men\u2019s just been, but a fantastic year in the women\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe men will aim to be as good as the women and get back to the top of the tree.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of success over 35 years. It\u2019s been a combined effort to be so successful for that long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feature image: Courtesy of West London Wildcats<\/p>\n