Victoria University is sending this press release out to all Victorian sports journos today. I don't know about 'leading sports historian' but that's spin for you. Do I expect some interest? Do I . . . .
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
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It appears you are correct that Victoria should be celebrating the 130 years of the first recorded game in 2013.
ReplyDeleteIm not convinced FFV should celebrate 130 years in 2014 for a few reasons; The break in play in the late 1890s and early 1900s (where did soccer go?), there have been many controlling bodies in Victoria due to splits and the fact the game tends to stuff any milestone up.
Regardless we will never know when soccer first hit Melbourne.... especially with the Cambridge influence on Australian Football.
James H
James
ReplyDeleteI think we're on the same wavelength on this stuff. I'll email you a section of the book that speaks to your final point.
Where did soccer go between 1896 and 1908: Mildura, Bendigo, Renmark, Western Australia. There's almost a pattern of concentric impacts as the socceristas leave Melbourne during the depression
ReplyDeleteI just noticed that the SA reference is 10 May 1873...
ReplyDeletemaybe the 130 years game should be celebrated by the AFL: Richmond v Port Adelaide!
James H
I've been looking at South Australia using through your lens and believe that the first association game in Adelaide may be:
ReplyDelete5/7/1873 Kensington 1 d Port Adelaide 0 at Granville
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/39306088?searchTerm=Kensington rulesfootball&searchLimits=sortby=dateAsc
It must be remembered that a) I am an amateur historian and b) I am not able to use triangulation as I am yet to uncover any other documents. This obviously increases my chances of being a 'crackpot'.
What is now known is that on 10/5/1873 the Adelaide club had a meeting to consider rules before a more formalised meeting on the 14/5/1873 including Port Adelaide and Kensington to considered the British Association Rules (reference on 'First Kicks'). The Adelaide club then placed a newspaper advert for a scratch match. The Kensington club also placed an advert stating it would not play at this stage due to the new rules. The above match report clearly indicates that the new rules had been adopted as had a goal with a crossbar.
James H