Four Williamstown men have been President of the Victorian Football Association James Hall (1901-02), J.J. Liston (1929-44, he of the Liston Medal and Liston Stakes and the second-longest serving VFA president), John Grieve (1989-1992) and Tony Hannebery (1993-94, former player, 10-year President of WFC and former All-Australian Amateur footballer). var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; On May 17, 1859, a committee of MCC members including William J. Hammersley (a sports journalist), James B. Thompson (an Argus journalist and secretary of the Melbourne FC), Thomas H.Smith (headmaster of Scotch College) and Tom W. Wills, met at the same hotel and agreed to authorise Wills' cousin, Henry Harrison, to draw up a set of rules based on rugby but modified to suit local conditions. Registration- admin@williamstownfc.com.au Sponsorship opportunities available w/prominent branding on course. Wally Carter and Terry Wheeler both coached VFL/AFL teams after success at Williamstown. Like. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. Andrew Rider, a photographer, stationer and newsagent located at 55 (now 177) Nelson Place, Williamstown, from 1863-96 took this portrait which is described on the State Library of Victoria website as being of 'twoWilliamstownfootballers, whole-length, almost full face, man on right chin curtain beard and moustache, both in blue and white uniforms of long sleeved pullovers, pants with striped socks and caps, both standing, man on right with hands on hips, image dated 1879'. In 1874, the Club played 12 matches, six of which were won, three were lost and three drawn. 1970'sGreat football clubs are more than successful on and off the field; they are more than a place to play and enjoy the game of Aussie Rules. By 1876, The Argus considered 'the Club to be in a very flourishing condition, no less than 102 members being on the books, whereas in past seasons the number has scarcely passed the half century'. The only other win for the season was over Hotham United. In total, 5 games were played in the 1871 season, 2 of which were won and 3 lost. A listing of players to have played with Williamstown in the Victorian Football League . There were no further alterations before the formation of the VFA in 1877. Professional Sports Team. (Jack) Field Medal winners: Best and Fairest in Second Division Ian Nankervis (1968) and Colin Boyd (1976), To see all williamstown premiership sides please click on the link belowPremiership Photos, To see williamstown football club team of the century click on the link belowWilliamstown team of the century. linktr.ee/Williamstownfc. The first page of the 1859 rules, showing the names of the Melbourne FC committee,William J. Hammersley (a sports journalist), James B. Thompson (an Argus journalist and secretary of the Melbourne FC), Thomas H.Smith (headmaster of Scotch College) and Tom W. Wills, as well as J. Sewell (Melbourne FC treasurer), Alex Bruce and T. Butterworth. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. A Fitzroy team also appeared in 1864 but was a different club to that which joined the Victorian Football Association (VFA)in 1884. The trophy, which had been presented to the then-president of the Club, Cr John Jobson, by members of the victorious team at a dinner in the Oddfellows Hall, had been purchased by the museum in late 1993. The Captain, Bob Waycott, and vice-captain, John Charles Frederick Ulbrick, who were both re-appointed at the meeting for the 1878 season, instituted a fine of one shilling for players who failed to turn up for games without a valid excuse. These were four of the 9 games played during the season, of which only 2 were won, 5 lost and 2 drawn. Power and B. James), Royal Park (J.E. In 1873, 9 games were played for one win, 5 draws and 3 losses while 3 goals were scored against 8 by the opposition. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. J. One of these matches was on August 1 where it was reported in The Argus two days later that the 'Williamstown Club sent a team to Hawthorn to play the local club, but the game was brought to an abrupt conclusion in consequence of the Williamstown men declining to play any longer with the umpire, who they considered was not impartial.' 10K followers. Williamstown Football Club won a premiership in each decade of the 1900's except the second 1907, 1921, 1939, 1945, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1969 (Second Division), 1976 (Second Division), 1986 and 1990, followed by two more in 2003 and 2015. Williamstown finished fourth on the list of 'leading junior clubs' at the end of 1875, winning 5 games out of the 9 played, with 3 draws and just the one loss, in the best result in the Club's brief history. In this instance, there appears to be confusion about the year the Club was re-formed with the actual year of its formation. This was before the girls school was built alongside South Williamstown State School. The Challenge Cup and the Junior Challenge Cup were discontinued with the formation of the first controlling body, the VFA. Fitzroy Football Club Fantasy Leagues. The Melbourne Football Club was re-formed on May 14, 1859, at the Parade Hotel, East Melbourne, (later named the MCG Hotel) after a scratch match against South Yarra on Richmond Paddock (now known as Yarra Park). var addybb0b214de571d490efda32391d5e6ef9 = 'admin' + '@'; He also records that 'the first football "council" was held at the Argus Hotel (in Collins Street) on May 28 (1860).' Affiliation (Current) Victorian Football League (VFL) 1996-2023. It is more than likely that the Club would have played a few unrecorded matches during the period 1867-69 around the district against other local teams that were not worthy of reporting because it was often difficult to organise matches in the metropolitan competitions, due to the distance and the poor condition of Market Reserve. C. Sluse was elected skipper of the Seconds with R. Dalton his deputy. He added that 'there are no reports about matches played by Booroondara or Williamstown'. We think Waycott, the Williamstown captain, should have stopped the match at a very early stage.' By the end of the 1870's, the Victorian code of rules controlled almost all football matches in Victoria and was exported to other colonies, with compromises and amendments along the way. The Williamstown Chronicle also reported on 30 June, 1860, (see below) that the football club was to play a 'friendly' scratch match on Market Reserve that day at 10.30 am. A total of 17 goals were scored by the Seconds with only 9 kicked against them. Trevor Monti wrote the first official summary of the Kelly trial which was published in 1981 and he has maintained an intense interest in the bushranger ever since. The 1888 Victorian Football Association season was the 12th season of the Australian rules football competition. A letter to the editor of the Williamstown Chronicle in the edition dated August 12, 1871 (refer above), stated that 'some years ago a site was granted to the borough council of Williamstown for market purposes, but instead . it was let to some private person for grazing their cattle and horses on. 1888 VFA season. Arthur Caldwell: Played 157 games and kicked 4 goals between 1897 and 1910. The first record of Williamstown winning a game was reported in the Chronicle on August 5, 1871, when it defeated Wesley College three goals to nil a week earlier (refer report below). This email address is being protected from spambots. The identities of the two players is unknown but it is the oldest photo in the Club's collection. Pennings wrote that 'representatives from Melbourne, St. Kilda, South Yarra, Richmond, Scotch College, University, Williamstown, Collingwood and Booroondara were in attendance'. There was also an issue of players simply failing to turn up for games. The 2023 Carlton Football Club season will be the Carlton Football Club's 160th season of competition.. Furthermore, the publication entitled 'The Footballer' of 1875 noted that 'at the beginning of 1864, football, which had been growing in favour, received additional impetus from the advent of Emerald Hill, Royal Park and Carlton. Wills also captained Melbourne in a game against St Kilda on July 7, while Harrison also played for Melbourne against Geelong later in the year. We have a strengthening relationship with the Williamstown Junior Football Club with our junior teams providing a stepping stone for Williamstown's footballers to continue playing in the gold and blue colours of Williamstown. The annual report of the football club for 1914 refers to it being a 'jubilee' year, meaning the 50th year of existence, which puts its formation as 1864. Jack Litchfield then became secretary in 1874 and 1875. He returned to Williamstown in 1882 after the amalgamation with Battery United and became captain in 1883. This club is a great organisation like many football clubs it has a great reservoir of committed people who are here only to see the club succeed. Clark and McLeod held those posts for two seasons until replaced by John Alexander Springhall snr (president) and Charles Piper (secretary) for the 1872 season before Clark and McLeod resumed their roles in 1873. Williamstown's newly-reformedSecond Twenty also did well in this season with 5 wins and 2 draws from its 10 matches. SJ Fowler was one of the early secretaries and one of their first captains was Johnny Rees, a former Williamstown player. B&F winner 1963, Member of the Seagulls' 1960's Team of the Decade. Harold Johns: Played 125 games and kicked 47 goals between 1925 and 1934. Page 1 of 7. 'The Footballer' commented that 'St Kilda, having won on its own ground, sent a ridiculous team to The Vliiage, and there bit the dust for her stupidity.' Williamstown Football Club | 1 034 fljare p LinkedIn. Buchanan' referred to in the article is John Buchanan, who would later die by drowning along with five colleagues in the Spotswood sewerage tunnel disaster on Good Friday, 1895, aged 38. Bryant also provided the ball that was used in the early games of football that were played on the Richmond Paddock from 1858 onwards. Main Page . The following 51 players, officials and volunteers were announced as the inaugural inductees tthe Williamstown Football Club Hall of Fame. ', Williamstown Chronicle, September 8, 1877. ETU Stadium, 541 Williamstown Road, Port . A solid defender who joined the club from Collingwood. Williamstown High School Superior Cotton Twill Low Profile Style Caps clothing and apparel! (Later, in 1873, Reid was one of the founders and chairman for 27 years of the Melbourne Steamship Company and passed away in March 1910 aged 70). The Villagers kicked 16 goals during the previous season, and the decrease in performance was put down to the retirement of several of the Club's better players, including Tommy Beeching (1875-77) and R. Murray (1871-76),and the superiority of competing senior clubs such as Carlton and Melbourne. QUICK CONTACT INFO. 1970's - Max Papley (Coach of the Decade)Great football clubs are more than successful on and off the field; they are more than a place to play and enjoy the. In the Williamstown Chronicle of 19 July 1879, in respect of the game played the previous weekend on 12 July against Sandridge (later renamed Port Melbourne), it was reported that 'the Sandridge team were accompanied by a great many supporters, the greater portion of them belonging to that objectionable class termed larrikins who encroached upon the playing ground thereby greatly impeding the game. Williamstown has proved a great training ground for coaches as well. Affiliation (Historical) Victorian Football Association (VFA) 1884-1995. Football, Cricket, Netball and Darts, plus a fantastic Oval and Function Venue for Hire, with fully. One of the new 'junior' clubs that emerged was Cecil, which would soon become South Melbourne and would go on to win five VFA premierships, an effort only surpassed by Geelong during the pre-VFL era. Williamstown played 15 matches in 1879, winning 4, losing 8 and drawing 3. In this article, it was also stated that Jack Litchfield was 'one of the most brainy players that perhaps Williamstown has ever produced. A half back flanker and regular VFL representative. The Williamstown Football Club is looking to acknowledge the service of these past players. The same scoreline was registered in a game against Hawthorn, also at the. 'The Footballer' publication of 1879 stated that the 'Fishing Village is strong in football, and musters three clubs, Williamstown, North Williamstown and Battery United .. although there is not much to choose between the last two. Williamstown Chronicle, May 13, 1876 - the 'Cup campaign' referred to in the article is the Junior Challenge Cup which is explained below. Norman McDonald: Played 106 games and kicked 148 goals between 1919 and 1930. At the annual meeting held in respect of the 1879 season at the Mechanics Institute on April 7, 1880, E.G. 1959 Premiership player, represented VFA in 1960, played in 1961 and 64. In April 1879, The Argus reported that the Williamstown Council 'resolved to give the local football club permission to play their matches for the coming season in the Gardens Reserve', then regarded as one of the best grounds in the Colony, but not on a permanent basis because the oval was still subject to casual lettings by the Council. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Below is Shortty's recollections of his involvement with the Gulls Coterie and the Football Club in general, over the journey. . Thompson was also a long-serving member of the Williamstown Cricket Club, and was its secretary in 1888 when he drew up the agreement by which the football club finally agreed to utilise the present cricket ground for all their home games after the merger with South Williamstown. 'Town suffered their first and only defeat for the season on July 8 at Albert Park against South Park, in a match described by the Williamstown Chronicle of July 15 as 'since the origin of football in Williamstown, a twenty had never to contend with such despicable and unfair players as represented the South Park on Saturday last. An extract from page 56 of the book entitled 'Australia's Game, The History of Australian Football' by Matthew Nicholson, Bob Stewart, Greg de Moore and Rob Hess. What's new. Williamstown played a number of other junior teams in 1865, including games against H.M. Customs, captained by Henry Harrison, on August 5 (result unknown) and a team from the Richmond district called Union, but its first recorded match took place against Carlton at Royal Park on July 15 which resulted in a 2-0 loss (only goals were recorded and the best of three goals decided the winner). This email address is being protected from spambots. Buchanan captained the team for one game in September 1872 against South Yarra Seconds when the regular skipper, Horace Norman, was unavailable. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 304 total. Richmond appeared on the scene in 1860 but originated out of the cricket club and was not related to the current AFL team and Tom Wills and Henry Harrison both moved across from Melbourne to play with them, with Wills becoming captain of his third club. Battery United's colours were blue and white, and it may have been at this stage that Williamstown, whose original colours were dark blue knickerbockers, guernsey and hose with a blue cap with a white stripe down the centre, adopted black and yellow in 1884 when Williamstown entered the VFA due to Geelong already having a dark blue and white uniform. I am informed that a deputation from the local football club waited on Mr. Withers, the lessee, asking for the use of the ground to play a match on, which request was refused.' Second Twenty also did well in this season with 5 wins and 2 draws from its 10 matches. James Mark 'Jerry' Bryant (left) and Tom Wills in 1859 when teammates in the Victorian cricket team. It has been argued by some that an indigenous form of football called marn-grook influenced Tom Wills, who incorporated its elements into the 'Melbourne' rules. These colours were retained until 1888, and also featured a black cap with a yellow Maltese cross. Williamstown Football Club (WFC) has a history dating back to 1864 and is one of the oldest Australian Rules Clubs. 1864 (merged with South Williamstown 1888) Colours Royal blue and yellow. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. Eventually in 1883, at the first intercolonial football convention, a revised version renamed 'The Laws of the Australian Game of Football' was adopted by delegates from South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria. Wardill), Carlton (T.P. James Arthur Thompson, a native of London, arrived in Williamstown in 1864 and immediately engaged in local sports activities, mainly cricket and Australian Rules football. Riggall had also played for Royal Park in 1865 and Carlton in 1866. This state of affairs were not uncommon around the 1870's and, even if Williamstown played only one or two scratch matches, or none at all, it is entitled to claim a continuity of existence from a much earlier point as there were no other clubs playing in Williamstown at that time. T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweat pants, hats, mugs and more. Club Captain in 1903 and 1904 was lured to Footscray and led that club to the 1908 premiership. West Melbourne visited Williamstown on September 1, 1877, and The Argus reported two days later that 'West Melbourne complained of the partiality of the crowd, and stated that the team was hooted all the way to the railway station because it beat the local players.' VFLW & VFLW Practice Match Squads Announced. Leo Maloney: Played 107 games and kicked 115 goals between 1959 and 1964. Since 1886 our Club has enjoyed senior success winning 15 premierships. Associated clubs Williamstown Reserves; Williamstown WFC. VFL Premierships 2003, 2015 (2 . At the annual meeting in respect of the 1876 season, held at the Mechanics Institute on Electra Street on April 19, 1877, John Jobson was re-elected president, Charles Scott replaced Duncan McLeod as secretary/treasurer, Bob Waycott was re-appointed captain with Billy Haslam as vice-captain for the 1877 season. History Talk (0) Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Players of Williamstown Football Club. The 'J. Mr James Arthur Thompson, who played for the Club in the 1860's & 1870's, was instrumental in affecting the reorganisation of the football club once again in 1870, and it was reported in The Argus on May 23 that 'a meeting of the club will be held at the Mechanics Institute on Tuesday next for the purpose of thoroughly organising the club'. They were also given the power to stop play and throw the ball in the air to clear a scrimmage and to start the second half. Tom Wills umpired the game, which had no marked boundary line and the goals were approximately a mile apart. By Paddy Farley. The Argus newspaper confirmed on 29 May, 1860, (see below) that a Williamstown delegate was invited along with eight fellow delegates to the meeting. There was also another game at Williamstown on September 2 against the Southern Club which, according to The Argus on the following Monday, 'the Williamstown men won, obtaining a goal kicked by A. There was also a 1 goal (kicked by Will Outen) to NIL victory over senior team, Richmond, at Royal Park on September 4. 396 talking about this. Whether from defections from its ranks or indifference, the elder club (Williamstown) has not shown the spirit .. that characterised its doings when the Junior Challenge Cup was carried off in 1876.'. One of the new 'junior' clubs that emerged was Cecil, which would soon become South Melbourne and would go on to win five VFA premierships, an effort only surpassed by Geelong during the pre-VFL era. Arthur 'Porky' Sykes: Played 124 games and kicked 4 goals between 1926 and 1934. Click to see who will be lining up this weekend for Williamstown. The Age reported on Tuesday, 29 May, 1860, (see below) that the Williamstown Football Club was formed on 18 May, 1860, at the first annual general meeting of the Williamstown Alliance Cricket Club, held at the Mechanics Institute in Electra Street. Captain, John Wigmore, Hunter and Sutton were best for 'Town, while future president of Williamstown, the local MLA for 17 years and founder of the Williamstown Advertiser, Alfred Thomas Clark, represented the Customs team. Lack of a controlling body meant that the more powerful clubs such as Melbourne and Carlton tended to concentrate their fixtures against each other and were under no obligation to spread their roster of games. The Club had a total of 86 members in this season. Some 500 of the Parkites' usual spectators, consisting of the real larrikin element of Emerald Hill, mustered upon this occasion to obstruct in every possible way the Williamstown players. Testekill With the demise of the Williamstown Alliance Cricket Club, which amalgamated with the older Williamstown Cricket Club in 1861, it is possible that the football club merely went into recess until 1864 or that any matches that did occur in this period were simply not reported on by the newspapers of the day. Max Munday Games: 120 Goals: 6 Team of the Century Position: Full back Honours: Premiership player - 1954, 55, 56. PAST PLAYERS DAY TOMORROW Featuring the '93 Premiership Reunion - 25th Anniversary 12:00pm kick-off in Coccha's Marquee @ Crofts Reserve. The Argus of April 6, 1872, reported that, at the annual meeting held in respect of the 1871 season, that 'the colours of the club were also settled, light blue with a white stripe'. North Melbourne and St Kilda entered the 'senior' ranks of football in 1874, competing with Carlton, Melbourne, Geelong and Albert Park. The same scoreline was registered in a game against Hawthorn, also at theGardens (Fearon) Reserve onJune 19, with Trott the only multiple goalkicker. There are also references to the fact that Williamstown Football Club was formed in 1870, which is known to be incorrect as the club was reorganised for a second time in that year. Litchfield was at home when kicking the ball either left or right foot and he often puzzled his opponents when they thought they had him in a corner by the dexterity in which he would get rid of the leather.'. Rees was leading goalkicker in 1878 (3 goals) and equal leading goalscorer with Jimmy MacKrell in 1883 with 8 majors. Williamstown finished fourth on the list of 'leading junior clubs' at the end of 1875, winning 5 games out of the 9 played, with 3 draws and just the one loss, in the best result in the Club's brief history. Amazingly, 21 goals were kicked during the season with just one major scored against the Villagers. So, although there is documented proof that a Williamstown team existed in 1860, there appeared to be a period of inactivity which was not uncommon in those early days of our game, where clubs would form one year, go into recess the next and then reappear again at a later stage. The Club was formed in 1864 and has won 15 Premierships in the history of the VFA/VFL competition, including 13 in Division 1, and 2 in . The Williamstown Football Club held its inaugural Hall of Fame function at Crown Casinon Saturday 31st May 2014. See what Nick Rutley is doing for the group. In 1872, the Chronicle reported that, of the ten matches played by the Club that season, four games were won, three were lost and three were drawn. About 100 clubs were now playing in Victoria, including 70 junior and school teams in Melbourne and about 10 junior clubs in Geelong. The premiership was won by the Geelong Football Club. Williamstown's comparative slow advancement in the football world was not in keeping with its importance to Melbourne as a port, but communication and transport were difficult and militated against regular visits by the clubs of the inner suburbs. Real Madrid Football School, The Yards, Joo Chiat, 406 Joo Chiat Place Level 1, Singapore and The Rainforest Sports Hub, Turf City, 2 Turf Club Road, Singapore, +65 91761870, info@frmsingapore.com, www.frmsingapore.com. The Official Facebook page of the Williamstown Football Club. The founding committee were of the belief that football was not only a good way for cricketers to stay fit over winter but that organised sport helped instil British values, imported from English public schools, of self-sacrifice for a greater cause (for the team and, by extension, the country), that a healthy mind went hand-in-hand with a healthy body, and that such qualities helped make an athlete a role model that others in society could emulate. Payne (1870), Horace Norman (1871-73) and D. McCallum (1874-75). Click to see who will be lining up this weekend for Williamstown, Ben Andrews will be at DSV Stadium in 2023, Click here to find out who has came back to the nest, Powered by ChronoForms - ChronoEngine.com, Admin Office Address: Seagulls Nest, Level 1, 1 Mason Street, Newport 3015, Ground Address:Williamstown Football Ground, Morris Street, Williamstown 3016. J.K. Ogilvie Smith and R. Murray both kicked 3 goals. var addy98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc = 'admin' + '@'; Ajax was promoted to the top Dutch league, the Eredivisie, for the first time in 1911. For some unknown reason, the Club did not appear to continue with the 'Third Twenty' in 1877. Another brother, Jack, played in 1880.