In 1968, the Upper Murray Football Leagues B grade competition consisted of Cobdogla, Paringa, Moorook Kingston, Lyrup and Chaffey, as well as the B grade teams of Loxton, Loxton North, Waikerie, Renmark, Berri and Barmera Monash. By 1969, the Upper Murray B grade had grown to 13 members with the introduction of the two Brown’s Well clubs. The Wunkar club from the East Murray Football League along with a club from the Gerard Mission had both applied to join Upper Murray B grade in 1971.
The Upper Murray Football League were eager to have Wunkar and Gerard join them but a 15 team competition with a bye would prove cumbersome and difficult to draw up a fair and even program. It was therefore decided to move those clubs in the Upper Murray B grade without an A grade club into a separate independent league. Although termed independent it has always been administered by the Upper Murray/Riverland Football League.
