Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. Formed in 1871 as a junior club and as a senior club in 1873, it is headquartered at the Essendon Recreation Reserve, commonly known as Windy Hill in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon, but plays its home matches at the Telstra Dome. The club was coached by Kevin Sheedy for 27 years until it was announced that his contract would not be renewed for the 2008 season. On 27 September 2007, the club announced that ex-Richmond midfielder, captain and Bendigo Bombers coach Matthew Knights had signed a three-year contract as first team coach.