Playing long balls into empty space since 2012.

Tuesday 28 July 2020

100 Years Ago Today 30 July 1920

Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 9 August 1920, page 4


BRITISH ASSOCIATION.
The surprise in the "Soccer" games at Middle Park on Saturday was the defeat for the first time this season of N. and D., popularly known us the "all-digger" team. A large crowd assembled, and a fast, well-contested match was witnessed. Although St. Kilda showed all-round superiority, the losers played at some disadvantage, inasmuch as they were without one back (Longthorpe), and Jackson, another back, was sent off the field for an alleged foul during the first half. The final scores were:- St.
Kilda, 2 goals; N. and D., nil;. the goal-kickers being Beavis and Lowe. For the winners, Spencer (right half), Cameron (centre balf); Church (inside left) Lamb (right back), and Beavis (outside right) were all good. Stephens, the N. and D. centre half, was in fine form.


  • Albert Park (4) beat Preston (2). Goal-kickers-Albert Park: J. Anderson (2). T. Anderson, and Clayton. Preston: Doncaster and Rust.
  • Footscray Thistle (3), St. David's (nil); Goal-kickers-Griffiths 2, Jacobs 1.
  • Windsor (3), MelbourneThistle (nil). Goal-kickers Barrett, Keating, and Grange.
  • Windsor A (2): St. Kilda A (1). Goal-kickers-Windsor A: Nicholson and Read. St. Kilda A: Blundell.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), Saturday 31 July 1920, page 8




St George Call (Kogarah, NSW : 1904 - 1957), Saturday 31 July 1920, page 3



Arrow (Sydney, NSW : 1916 - 1933), Friday 30 July 1920, page 4



And as a bonus, PAFC played its first game 150 YAT

Evening Journal (Adelaide), Monday 1 August 1870, page 2






























Saturday 25 July 2020

AFL is not the only football: a legal determination

This is paragraph 35 from a recent case in which Croc Media attempted to prevent Football Nation Radio from using the word football in its name
  1. In the SGP the Opponent stated that AFL ‘is an acronym strongly associated with football in Australia’. There are a number of codes of football played in Australia, including, association football (soccer), rugby league, rugby union, Gaelic football, American football and Australian rules football. AFL is strongly associated only with the last of those codes. Indeed, it appears that the code itself is sometimes referred to as AFL. For example, the question, ‘What is your favourite code of football?’, may well elicit the response ‘AFL’. It may be that AFL as a sign has to a greater or lesser extent become the name of a thing—in this case a code of football—in the same manner as many trade marks before it: such as a Hoover, Yo-Yo and Jeans. It is unnecessary this possibility be considered further here. Nevertheless, in my view, the term ‘football’ is not equivalent to AFL.

Wednesday 22 July 2020

100 Years Ago Today, 23 July 1920

World (Hobart), Friday 23 July 1920, page 8




Argus, Saturday 24 July 1920, page 20




Argus, Friday 23 July 1920, page 4


FOOTBALL.

.....

"Soccer" enthusiasts are delighted at the re-establishment of the annual "international" match, which is to be played at Fitzroy on Saturday. The game was played each year before the war, but when the tocsin sounded for the "greater game" there was no Englishman left to play, and so the British Association code languished. Now back from the front, the "soccer" men are at their game again, and the international England v. Scotland will be played on Saturday.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

An international British Association football match will be played at the Fitzroy cricket-ground on Saturday. The teams, which have been carefully selected, are as follows:-

English. - J. Robinson, J. Lamb, R. Longthorp, W. Barrett, P. O'Hara, J. Weldon, J. Grieve, G. Brown, G. Maxwell, W. Church, and E. Thomas.

Scotch. J. Baird, J. Ogilvy, G. Raitt, J. Sheppard, J. Cameron, T. Spencer, W. Biggart, R. Robertson, T. Lowe, L. Carr, and A. Fletcher, Reserves. - J, Russell, D. Rowett, J, Davidson, A. Acquroff, J. Walker.

The referee will be Medlicott, and the linesmen Armstrong and Butler.




Argus, Monday 26 July 1920, page 5

BRITISH ASSOCIATION.
ENGLAND DEFEAT SCOTLAND.
Between 5,000 and 6,000 onlookers were at the "international" match, England v. Scotland, played under "soccer" rules at Fitzroy Cricket-ground.
The slippery nature of the ground had a great effect on the play, which otherwise would have been much faster. On the whole, the display was disappointing. In the first half Scotland showed the best organisation, the forwards proving as nippy as the ground would permit. England finished weakly in front of the opposition goal and a weak left wing made comparatively light work for the Scottish defence. Thomas being far below his usual standard. On the other hand, Scotland's right wing rarely showed great promise. However there was little to choose between the two teams in the second part of the match and England were fortunate in establishing a lead.
Scotland kicked off and their forwards were soon harassing the trainway goal. Each side scored a goal and great excitement prevailed as each team enjoyed short periods of superiority, when at half-time the scores were level-1 all.
In the second half England assumed the aggressive, making three successive and determined onslaughts to the Scotch goal, in one of which Brown, neatly heading a goal from a corner kick established the lead for England. For some minutes the Scottish goal was bombarded, but rallying Scotland made an attack, in the course of which Robison accomplished some magnificent saves. The onlookers loudly applauded, and England was again being hardly pressed when the final whistle blew.
Final scores: England 2; Scotland 1. 
For the winners, the outstanding players were Lamb, Longthorpe (backs), Church, Grieves, and Brown (forwards), Weldon (right half), and Robison (goal). 
G. Raitt (back), Carr and Fletcher (forwards), Sheppard (right back) Robertson (inside left) and Russell (goal) were the most reliable of the Scottish team.

Newcastle Sun, Friday 23 July 1920, page 3


SOCCER CODE

Tramway Ground in Use

The new association ground at Hamilton will be opened tomorrow. The weather has interfered with the work of improvement, but all fencing will be completed before Saturday. The ground is in fair condition, and in spite of all the rain not a sign of water is seen on any part of it. The drainage is perfect, and there is no likelihood of the playing area ever being wet and slippery. A fence and seats have been erected about 12 feet from the playing area. The comfort of the spectators has been considered, and from any part of the ground all the game can be seen. A word in season to would-be encroachers will not be out of place. The committee intends to stop all encroachments right from the start, and the police have been instructed to take the names of any person — other than a player or official — who gets beyond the fence, and, if it is necessary to take any names, prosecutions will follow. The charge of admission into the new ground will be 3d. The association has been put to considerable expense and will flnd themselves in debt before the final nail is driven in. Hence the decision to charge 9d (free of tax) which is not an out of the way amount.

[Games to be played

Replayed Middleton Cup final: Rovers v.West Wallsend

Gardiner Cup tie:Hamilton v Adamstown]


South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Friday 23 July 1920, page 18


FOOTBALL

Soccer.

(By S.E.C.)

The small crowd that turned out to see the Bulli v. Helensburgh Gardiner Cup game at Ball's paddock last Saturday were greatly disappointed with the display. Helensburgh was only a moderate second grade and was not capable of bringing the best out of Bulli. The game was extremely tame, far from what the spectators have been used to lately. A player who was conspicuous, in fact the only one of both teams, was T. Gibson, in centre half: his great defensive work brought many an easy kick to T. Broadhead, who never missed. The first game was between Woonona B. and Bulli B., which resulted in a win for Woonona. This gives the booby prize to Bulli, being the lowest on the list, but this is no disgrace to them as last year they were Juveniles, and had to meet Second Grade this year, which is rather a big jump for Juveniles. A great set-to was provided by Balgownie and Tarrawanna at Tarrawanna, which ended as a draw. Pt. Kembla had a forfeit from Thirroul. This leaves Port Kembla and Tarrawanna to battle out the final in the Second Division at Port Kembla to-morrow. The game that will, break all records, as far as attendance goes, will be Woonona v. Corrimal, at Woonona, tomorrow. This is a replay in the Gardiner Cup Competition. The early game is the first of the Nurse Cup between Bellambi and Balgownie B. The Juvenile Comp. games for to morrow are: Bellambi v. Balgownie at Bellambi, 2 p.m.; Corrimal v Bulli at Corrimal, 2; Coledale v. Woonona A. at Bulli, 2. Following are the drawings in the Nurse Cup: Local teams, Lithgow v. Woonona B.; Bellambi v. Balgownie B; Bulli v. Port Kembla; Coledale v. Helensburgh; Tarrawanna v. Balgownie A.; Woonona v. Corrimal. 

Entries from Maitland are Neath and Hebburn. 

Entries from Newcastle are West Wallsend, Wallsend, Adamstown (holders), Weston, Granville. 

Metropolitan entries to come. 

Each affiliated association where there are more than one entry will control the competition in their district until there is one team left. Such team will play its final fixtures on the South Coast. An opportunity will be given to supporters of Soccer to hear the scheme of the N.S.W. Soccer Association outlined at the match tomorrow. See advt. The committee is determined to remove persons who encroach upon the playing area to-morrow at Woonona.

TARRAWANNA v. BALGOWNIE. Sir — I noticed in the last issue of your valuable paper a letter which, by the way it read, was by some Tarrawanna sympathiser. He mentioned a protest being lodged by a Balgownie representative on account of the game not being terminated. I might mention here that there was no Balgownie Soccer player or representative present at the Delegates' meeting. It was on the referee's report of no game that the replay resulted. And, further, he mentions the unsportmanship indulged in by Balgownie players; well, considering matters and balancing them evenly in a clean sportsmanlike mind, the Tarrawanna team on Saturday gave a very spectacular display of how to deprive sport of all the fine qualities it possesses. The Tarrawanna spectators even attacked the linesmen while executing his duties, under the most unfair conditions possible. Here we see again what Tarrawannar calls sport! There were fights; spectators were about to interlock themselves in a melee. They also went so far as to protest against Balgownie using their own ball at the interval, which, if they liked, could have done so according to the rules. I might state the ball they were playing with was not fit to play a match with. They had a new one there, but their feeling towards fair sport was again in prominence; they carried it under their arm as if it were bullion for spectators to look at. I suppose glass is too dear to purchase now, or they would, have a case for it. The whole secret of the bitterness that is prevailing between these two teams is because Tarrawanna expected Bal gownie to forfeit the two points to them outright and let them try con clusions again with the Port on more equal terms, but failing on this point and having to play them again, they meantt to win either by fair or foul means and failed at both. Only for the referee - being a bit lenient towards them the original scores of the game would have terminated at 2 to 1 at least in Balgownie's favour. Now, Tarra, wake up and play the game and write the truth concerning a team which have shown you you can't win and have taught you to in dulge in fairness, as that is the only way the winning end is reached. The tactics you are so inclined to at pre -sent will never gain for you that most cherished honor, "true sports.'' — Yours. etc.— "TRUE SPORT." 

TARRAWANNA v. BALGOWNlE. The deferred Soccer game between Tarrawanna and Balgownie was play ed on Saturday last on the Tarra wanna. ground. A fair number of spec tators put in an appearance, amongst whom was a fair percentage of ladies. The game started on time, Tarrawanna winning the toss defended the southern goal. The game was fast, and it was easily seen Balgownie were out to lower Tarrawanua's colors, who have, so far not been beaten this season. There was a great deal of rough play, and the referee warned both teams he would stop the game if it was not discontinued. Play was of a fairly even nature in the first half, which ended in no score. A few minutes after play was resumed, Vic Williamson secured and sent in a hard shot, Adie (Balgownie's goalie) cleared. C. Johnston se cured and scored for Tarrawanna. Bal gownie now began to force the pace, keeping Tarrawanna continually on the defensive. Some nice passing rushes on the part of Balgownic's forwards were rewarded with Jack Harris (centre for ward), scoring for Balgownie, making the score 1 goal each. Balgownie kept up the attack and had Tarrawanna on the defensive most of the time. The full-time whistle sounded with no fur ther score, the result being a draw. Tarrawanna are now one point behind Port Kembla in the competition. Port Kembla and Tarrawanna have to play their deferred game now and whoever wins will have to play Coledale in the final. Team to represent Tarrawanna versus Port Kembla at Port Kembla on Saturday, July 24th: Goal, J. Shipton; backs, P. Skerritt, J. Maxwell; halves, J. Wiley, W. Harrigan, W. Freeman; forwards, C. Johnston, H. Kerr, V. Williamson, J. Collier, A. Wheeler; re-serves, F. Williamson (forwards), H. Jenkins (backs).

Thursday 16 July 2020

100 Years Ago Today 16 July 1920

Great Southern Leader, Friday 16 July 1920, page 3

British Association Football.
(By "Soccerite").
Owing to the absence of several players in Perth during the visit of the Prince, nothing has been doing in the local Soccer circles, but next Saturday it is hoped that there will be a full attendance of players. Country week will be held in Perth between Saturdays, August 28th and September 4th, and it is hoped Narrogin will be able to send a representative team. All players who think they will be able to make the trip are asked to advise the local secretary. About fourteen players will at least be necessary and there should be no difficulty in getting that number of good players by that date; There is plenty of time for practice and if a probable team can be got together now, they should be placed in their positions and well trained by that time. A trophy will he presented to the champion country team, and there is no reason why Narrogin should not win it. The Combined Country Team beat H.M.A.S Sydney in Perth by 7 goals to I, and the Narrogin representatives were instrumental in bringing about such a decisive result. The Sydney half backs could do nothing with the combination of Johnson and Primrose on the right wing, and it was mostly from their good work and accurate centring that the majority of goals were obtained.
Gnowangerup has challenged Narrogin to a match, but owing to their isolated position and the train service, a definite arrangement has not yet been agreed to. Albany has promised to visit us early next month, and hope to be ready for them. So let us have some good practice on the next few Saturdays. There are plenty of players about to provide a good game every week. I have also been asked to make an appeal for subscriptions. The jerseys have not yet been paid off and members who have not yet come to light with a "sub." are earnestly requested to do so as early as possible and so assist the club to keep free from debt and give it a proper start. A donation from any sympathisers of the game would be gratefully accepted by the secretary, Mr. J. GIunas, or by Messrs Johnson and Primrose, captain and vice-captain respectively.
Now then, you Pommies, wake up.

Daily News (Perth), Friday 16 July 1920, page 5

GENERAL NOTES.
An English soccer team is at present touring South Africa, and drawing big crowds. It is a good second class side, and is apparently playing ideal football. Indeed, the men were picked with a due recognition of the function of the team, viz., to show socceras she should be played.

Westralian Worker, Friday 16 July 1920, page 7


Local poker players will be interested to learn that last month five youths in Hobart (Tasmania) were charged with, "that on May 23,1920, in an open place at Hobart, in Tasmania, to wit, in the paddock of James A. Crisp, in Elphinstone-road, they did unlawfully gamble." The defence was that while it was true that the five had played poker at the place and on the date mentioned in the charge, they were not in "an open place" because the paddock was fenced and was surrounded by a hedge. The prosecution admitted that the paddock was fenced and surrounded by a hedge, but they still claimed it as an open place. - In giving judgment, it was set out, and precedents existed, that an open place for the sale of goods meant open to the public, not to the sky, and certainly meant a place to which the public had access, thus a privately-owned, fenced paddock (in the absence of special conditions) was not an open place, and the charge was dismissed.
Bert Richards, a one-time crack pedestrian and footballer in Johannesburg, called in during last week. Being a foreman printer by trade he was anxious to have a look over the "Worker's" new home. He has been away soldiering since 1914, and passed through on the transport Kigoma. According to Bert English racecourses cannot compare with Australian in the matter of appointments; also he reports that Rugby football is not taken much notice of, the popular game being soccer. 

Toowoomba Chronicle, Friday 16 July 1920, page 8
















Recorder (Port Pirie), Saturday 17 July 1920, page 4

































Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Saturday 17 July 1920, page 2



Saturday 11 July 2020

Australian Soccer History: A Sedimental Journey?


Greg Stock

It was fantastic to watch the recent Rale Rasic interview. Andy Paschalidis did a wonderful job in teasing out some of the myriad
great stories from his long and highly distinguished football career. I for one was spellbound for the entire two hours and hope we see more of this style of show in the months and years ahead.
In light of this interview it was interesting to read “XI Principles for the Future of Australian Football,” the new discussion paper provided by the Football Federation of Australia. It is abjectly clear in its intention stating that it represents a “fresh start” for football. It also uses terms like “new vision” and “strong culture” alongside Principle II “to develop a new narrative for football.”
But isn’t that the whole issue we have been wrestling with as a game?
Australian football has had way too many “fresh starts.” If we go right back to the 1920s we saw a state league in New South Wales breakaway from the then ‘establishment’ to take club football in a new direction. In the early 00s we saw a new political regime come in and tip out the old National Soccer League or as it was referred, ‘old soccer’ and start ‘new football.’ And in between all that we have seen the rise and fall of successive state and national organisations with almost monotonous regularity. The biggest being the Federation era of 1957. Yet the dialogue for each of those was the same – it was portrayed as a “new era in soccer.”
But can our game breed culture if all we seem to want to do is create something new?
This constant dislocation in our game is what separates us from the other sports in Australia. Cricket is a game that builds on the foundation of their history. Fred “the Demon” Spofforth is as important as Shane Warne or Tim Paine – that each season of their game is another layer on top of a sedimentary rock of history forged in the 1800s. AFL is the same – the Tigers won a flag in 2019 yet that victory is as important as Carlton winning in 1906. They didn’t draw a line through their game in 1982 when the Swans moved to Sydney or when Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears – they have embraced their games history at every turn and built yet another layer on the rock of history forged generations prior. Their legends and clubs are household names because the dialogue reminds their fans of how strong their game is. It is what encourages parents to drive their child to a cold wet field on a Saturday morning that their son or daughter is walking in the footsteps of Ron Barassi or Roy Cazaly.
Yet in football we haven’t learnt that lesson. We are still talking about new directions and fresh starts in the same way we did in 1928. Our new CEO James Johnson should know this. He played the game at the highest level domestically and thus understands that the game is about the grass-roots clubs as much as it is about Melbourne Victory. His vision should be about embracing Judy Masters and Reg Date in the same way Rale was yesterday and having the name Joe Marston etched
Reg Date in NSW strip
alongside Tim Cahill in the minds of those that play the game.
He should understand our games “strong new culture” already exists. It lies in the clubrooms of Balgownie Rangers, Adamstown Rosebud, South Hobart and South Melbourne. It sits on the sidelines at every grassroots club in this wide brown land every Saturday.
There doesn’t need to be new visions requiring formal documents to embrace history. It should already be etched into our beings. It is however time to put resources into this thing. To start documenting the statistical and narrative history of our game. Aside from a few hearty souls we know little of anything. Andrew Howe has been fantastic to put together the details on the National Teams and the competitions but its just the tip of a massive iceberg. We need more. We need the information burnt into our footballing consciousness the same way Barassi is burnt into Aussie Rules.
Whether it includes the four walls of a museum or not is the key issue for if we don’t know the narrative of our past how can we go forward. Or do we just draw yet another new line in the sand? Do we put out another discussion paper call it “new soccer” and again fail to learn the lessons from the past.
Rale and his ’74 team were great footballing pioneers. They deserve all the praise we can muster for their tremendous achievements. Their legacy should be the fostering of our home grown football culture, the one that they helped create. 

Tuesday 7 July 2020

100 Years Ago Today 9 July 1920

Darling Downs Gazette (Qld. : 1881 - 1922), Wednesday 7 July 1920, page 4




Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Friday 9 July 1920, page 3







Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1923), Friday 9 July 1920, page 1








Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Monday 12 July 1920, page 11





Wednesday 1 July 2020

100 Years Ago Today, 2 July 1920

Age, Saturday 3 July 1920, page 5

MISS JEAN THOMAS desires to THANK, her many kind friends, especially fellow players Preston British Football Club, N. and D. Football Club and Amateur British Football Association for floral tributes, cards and letters, through the loss of her dear friend; Walter Williams.
25 Drummond-street, Carlton.


Age, Tuesday 29 June 1920, page 6




Herald, Friday 2 July 1920, page 2


Tomorrow's Fixtures

British Association: St. Kilda v. Burns, at Middle Park; Melbourne Thistle v. N. and D., at Middle Park; Welsh United v. Albert Park, at Middle Park: St. David's v. Footscray Thistle at Middle Park. Rcserve Teams: Preston v. Melbourne Thistle; Windsor v. Spotswood. 



Glen Innes Examiner, Thursday 1 July 1920, page 2



Newcastle Sun , Saturday 3 July 1920, page 5


SOCCER GAMES I

Wallsend v. Westy j

The principal Soccer match to day was at Wnllsond Park, between Wallsend and West Wallsend. There was a good attendance. At half-time the score was one goal to nil in favor of Wallsend, for whom See scored. The home team had much the better of the play. Owen missed a penally.


Brisbane Courier, Wednesday 14 July 1920, page 7


MEN FROM THE RENOWN.

TOOWOOMBA, July 13.

The Mayor of Toowoomba has been advised that two officers and 35 men from the Renown will visit Toowoomba on August 6, and will play a "soccer" football match against a Toowoomba team