The Woden Valley American Football club was first introduced in the ACT and registered in 2006. The clubs main role was to introduce a new team in the valley and to expand to the ACT the growth of the sport in Australia which is dominated by other codes.
In the inaugural year of 2007, The Gladiators fielded there first competitive side that participate in the 2007 Season.  Head Coach Mike Whitesell and Assistant Coach Dom Radman founded the club, and had the difficult task of educating many new players who had never experienced American Football, as well as harnessing a number of “grizzled veterans” of the gridiron.

It would take 2 seasons of blood, sweat and tears before Gladiators would achieve there first win - and the belief that the Gladiators were close to playing to their potential finally became a reality. The Gladiators saw some significant changes to the club for the 2009 season with there appointment of a rookie Head Coach, Andrew Old, one of the club’s foundation players from 2007.

Coach Old immediately established his credentials by attracting some of the best and brightest assets of ACT Gridiron to his team.  With Dom Radman still coaching Special Teams, John “Hollywood” Roe was convinced to bring his considerable expertise and visionary style to the Offensive Team. Their experience and knowledge formed the seed of new ideas, and a new coaching style and culture was introduced. 

In fact, it was in 2009 that the established clubs within the ACT League stood up and took note that a new force had arrived.  Team’s that had dominated the league over the previous years such as the Firebird, Astros and Centurions were cast aside as the Gladiators stormed into the 2009 Capital Bowl, and after a nail-biting game in front of five-hundred of ACT Gridiron’s supporters and sponsors, snatched a hard fought victory from the Tuggeranong Tornadoes.

The 2010 season saw a return of Coach Old’s visionary coaching technique, and the Gladiators established themselves as a true contender within the ACT Gridiron League.  After one of the hardest fought seasons in the ACTG record books, the Gladiators managed back-to-back appearances at the Capital Bowl – this time against the in-form UC Firebirds.  After one of the toughest encounters in Capital Bowl history, the Gladiators narrowly fell to the Firebirds.

The 2011 season see’s Coach Old return for his third season at the helm of the Gladiators.  Also returning are Coach Hollywood and Coach Radman to assist in the coordination of Special Teams and Offence.  With the catch-cry “Bleed Green” being spread amongst the team, and the chance to square the record against the Firebirds,you can expect big things from the boys this year!