Glenelg first entered the South Australian Football League (later known as the South Australian National Football League - SANFL) B Grade competition in 1920 and was promoted to the League competition the following year. The first few years were a struggle for the club and they did not win a game until May 2nd 1925 when they defeated the previous year's premiers West Torrens. 'The Bays' had to wait until 1934 to taste premiership success when former West champion, Bruce McGregor, coached such players as George 'Blue' Johnston who won the Magarey Medal that year, full forward Jack Owens from Broken Hill and centreman Len Sallis who won the club's best and fairest five times. It was not until 1973 that the Tigers were able to win another premiership when they won the last Grand Final to be played on Adelaide Oval. Since then they have triumphed in 1985 and 1986. However the club has been close on many occasions during its history, coming second on thirteen occasions.

Apart from 'Blue' Johnston other Magarey Medallists to have played for Glenelg include Herbert 'Jim' Handby 1928, Mel Brock 1940, Marcus Boyall 1941, rugged ruckman Allan Crabb 1949, D.K. 'Fred' Phillis the first full forward to win the award 1969, rovers Kym Hodgeman 1978 and Tony McGuinness 1982 and Brent Backwell 2006.

Of course many other players have worn the black and gold with distinction including another champion full forward Colin Churchett, SANFL record holder for the number of games played Peter Carey, centreman Peter Marker, father and son Harry and Stephen Kernahan who both played for South Australia with distinction, Neil Kerley who, after retiring as a player, coached the 1973 premiership team and Graham Cornes who, after retiring in 1982 with three club best and fairest awards to his credit, came back to coach the club to the 1985 and 1986 premierships.

Item 1 : Jim Handby - King of football badge c1928

Item 2 : Transfer from the late 1940s

Item 3 : Mobilgas car sticker from early-mid 1960s

Item 4 : Plastic medallion from a packet of Twisties, 1970

Item 5 : Car sticker from the early 1970s

Item 6 : Pin from the 1990s donated to the State Library by Lisa Maxted

Cornwall, Peter and Wood, John. Pride of the Bay : the story of Glenelg Football Club, 1920 -2003, Richmond, S. Aust. : Graphic Print Group, 2003

Whimpress, Bernard. The South Australian football story, West Lakes, S. Aust. : South Australian National Football League, 1983.