Playing long balls into empty space since 2012.

Thursday, 10 September 2020

COP THAT! The Mysterious case of Police Soccer in Australia

Trawling Trove for references to 'police' and 'soccer' in Australia, it soon became apparent that the results were one of two kinds. First the endless references to police intervening in disputes/brawls on the soccer field and second, the less common but nonetheless frequent references to police playing soccer, as individuals or in teams organised by police.

What a search for "police soccer" reveals:

  1. police intervening in soccer violence as early as 1895 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108096420 no doubt there will be earlier incidents
  2. police teams/police boys club teams
  3. individual police playing the game
  4. migrant police joining clubs
  5. curiosities
  6. articles with no connection between police and soccer



1870

Police play Melbourne FC in a modified game in which "home rules" apply.

NSW 

1912 1914

Newcastle

1948 toured Qld

Qld

tours of police teams from NSW 1946 and 1948

SA

1930

TAS

1948 Police boys club

Vic

1949

ACT

1950s

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