The South Bunbury Football Club was formed as a result of a meeting at the Prince Of Wales Hotel on the evening of Wednesday the 19th of May, 1897. The club that night adopted South Bunbury as it's name and red and white as it's colours, this making only West Perth (formed 1891) as senior to South Bunbury so far as continuity of it's name and colours are concerned.
The famous red and white "Tiger" nickname comes from the early remoteness of the South Bunbury area from the remainder of the Bunbury town. The area was commonly referred as "Tiger" country and produced a tight knit club of great character, strength, uncompromising attitude and was highly motivated to succeed.
No club in Australia can match the illustrious record of South Bunbury, which has 44 premierships and has been runner-up on 24 occasions in the 98 seasons it has competed. In the 50 years of the South West Football League the club has won 17 premierships and has been runner up 6 times.
This is an amazing record by any standards. Couple this with the undefeated sides in 1908, 1985 and 1988 and a record undefeated run of 26 games during the seasons 1980-1981 and again in 1984-1985, plus winning the colts, reserves and league in the season of 1984 and you see the results of a very professional football organization.
South's residence at Hand's Oval had it's origins back in the early 1920's when the club raised enough finances to purchase a block of land in Spencer Street and erect the first Southway Hall, this was followed in1956 with the building of the still second Southway Hall, all with many dedicated volunteers. When the club began playing it's home games at the showgrounds (now Hand's Oval) in the early 1950's the club sold the Southway Hall and erected it's current club rooms in1971 to be the first country football to have a full club licence.
In the 2002 Grand Final, South Bunbury played it 900th game in the South West Football League, this included 87 finals games, The Tigers leading games player is Ian "Sheriff" Cahill with 277 games whilst the most goals in a game is 17 by Adam Matson in 2000. Most goals in a season is 87 by Don Aldersea in 1967 and the club's highest score is 40.27 (267) vs. Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup in 1999.
The club's motto, formulated in 1984 by the late John Depiazzi is "Cede Nullis" which is translated to 'Yield To No One' and this style still breathes deep in the club.