A list of Melbourne soccer names 1883

Prompted by Garry McKenzie's discovery of this article in Trove about the formation of organised soccer in Melbourne I did a little digging. Reveals a tension between the Scottish and English strands of the game.


Leader, Saturday 24 March 1883, page 21

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FOOTBALL.

PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF SCOTTISH RULES.

BY FOLLOWER

A few days ago a correspondent wrote to The Age calling attention to the difference existing between the Victorian game of football and the game as played under the rules of the Scottish Football Association, which rules have been very generally adopted throughout England and Scotland, the annual match between the two countries being played under them. The letter above alluded to evidently struck a key note, for communications flowed in from various quarters, all agreeing with "Dumbarton" that the Scottish Association game only wanted an introduction to become eventually much more popular with the players and the public than the Victorian game. One writer suggested that those players who had experience in the matter and would like to set the ball rolling should send in their names to the Sporting Editor of The Leader at once. The suggestion has been taken up with considerable spirit, and already the following gentlemen have written expressing their desire to see a club formed whose members will play the association game only : — 

1. Messrs. Robert Law, 
2. C, Kerr, 
3. W. Riddell, 
4. H. Playfair, 
5. P. M. Laird, 
6. J. C. Teare, 
7. W. Hopson, 
8. W. H. Neil, 
9. H. Ackinson, 
10. P. M'Larne, 
11. J. Brough, 
12. G. Brough, jun., 
13. G. W, Ellison, 
14. E. D. Hornby, 
15. John Miller, 
16. Thos. A. Cheadle, 
17. Wm. Church, 
18. Stephen Newton, 
19. G. M. Buchanan. 

One of the abovenamed informs me that he can name three or four others who are willing to join in any movement having for its object the intro duction of the association rules. Whether the game will be so popular as most of the abovenamed suppose of course remains to be seen, but it has been decided to give the public an opportunity of forming an opinion by playing a scratch match under the association rules at an early date. The votaries of the proposed game argue in its favor — 1. That it is far and away more scientific than the Victorian game ; (2) that the chances of sovere accident are reduced to a minimum by the excellence of the rules ; and (3) that it is most desirable that the association rules be adopted all over Australia if only with the view of sending (at no remote date) a team of footballers to the old country, where, it is affirmed, no hope could be entertained of getting the clubs or players to compete under our present rules. The last certainly seems to me to be a very strong argument in favor of the game if it can be proved to be based on fact. However, amongst those named above are some extremely energetic spirits, who have determined to push on to a culmination the suggestions already made. It has accordingly been arranged that they meet at Young and Jackson's Hotel, Swanston-street, on Friday, the 30th instant, at 3 o'clock p.m. sharp, to arrange the formation of a club, and to discuss the best and speediest means of introducing the game of football as played under the Scottish National Association Rules to the public notice. I am requested to invite the attendance of any gentlemen favorable to the introduction of the game who would like to see a club started at once. Messrs. Boyle and Scott have copies of the association rules for sale.

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Victorian team August 1883 [the 6 in bold are in the original list of 19]

Backs : Kier (captain) and M'Laren.
Half backs : Law and M'Causlan.
Forwards: Almond and Ware on the right wing, Spence and Teare in the centre, Riddel and Laird on the left wing;
Keefe, goal keeper.

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By the time the following report by Peter Pindar is written, the game has lost its Scottish moniker and has become British then English Association football. Garry McKenzie pointed out the intriguing sentence at the end of the paragraph


Australasian, Saturday 25 August 1883, page 14

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FOOTBALL GOSSIP.

PETER PINDAR.

"And some, with many a merry shout,
Mid riot, revelry and rout.
Pursue the football play."—SCOTT.

The intercolonial match between New Smith Wales and Victoria, on the South Melbourne cricket-ground under the British Association rules was but poorly patronised by the public, who evidently preferred the more congenial contest at East Melbourne. I regret that more people did not avail themselves of this excellent opportunity of witnessing the British game, so that they might knowingly and conscientiously decide on the relative merits of Victorian and English (Association) football. However, regret will not alter the matter, and it is very apparent that a radical change will have to come over the public here before any great patronage will be extended to the Britisher, whose devotees are certainly of the most zealous kind to have existed here so long on so little encouragement. For what other game would have lived so long on a line and a half on Saturdays and Mondays?