100 years ago today, 11 Feb 1921

Queensland

Daily Standard (Brisbane), Friday 11 February 1921, page 8

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The usual meeting of the Corinthian Football Club was postponed this week owing to the club having a "night" at a theatre, and a large attendance of members and followers were present. The next meeting is called for Wednesday, February 16 at 8 p.m., at Mrs. Cohen's residence Paines-street Kangaroo Point, and as there is a good deal of urgent and important business on the agenda paper a full attendence is requested. 

Daily Standard (Brisbane), Saturday 12 February 1921, page 9

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A meeting of sports was held at the Kangaroo Point Hotel last Monday. at which It was decided that the Kangaroos establish a senior Soccer club. A committee, consisting of Messrs. MacKcnzie, Dillon, Clyde, and Lyle, was appointed, and they are making special efforts to have all the supporters or players present at the next meeting on Wednesday night, February 16 at the same place.

South Australia

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 11 February 1921, page 4

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DEPARTURE OF MR AND MRS A. MATON.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Maton have been resident in Murray Bridge for several years, and during that time they have taken an active interest in the town's affairs and have been most generous in giving their services in aid of patriotic and charitable causes. Mrs. Maton possesses exceptional vocal qualifications, and in this respect she has never refused her services when approached for any cause, no matter the object or the denomination which sought her assistance. Mr. Maton, who also possesses a voice above the average, has rendered similar service on numerous occasions. He is an employee of the Railways Commissioner and has set a great example to many railway men in the town who seem to live for railway affairs alone and do not take that interest in the social and general affairs of the town which is expected of all residents. Mr. and Mrs.Maton left the Bridge on Wednesday to take up their residence in Adelaide, and prior to leaving were farewelled by various bodies with which they had been connected. Mr. Maton was a bowler and was often to be seen on the local green, while he was one of the local enthusiasts who introduced the soccer game of football to Murray Bridge last football season and displayed considerable skill, as a dribbling enthusiast. Both Mrs. and Mr. Maton will be greatly missed.

Sydney

Propeller (Hurstville), Friday 11 February 1921, page 7

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SOCCER FOOTBALL. As it is intended to enter teams in the First Grade and All-age Competitions during 1921, the St. George F.C. (Soccer) will be pleased to hear from anyone who wishes to take an interest in, or play for, the teams. Write to W. DALBY, Jnr., "Nottingham," Maher Street, Hurstville. 

Newcastle 

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Saturday 12 February 1921, page 5

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FOOTBALL. SOCCER CODE. Mr. M'Lure presided at a meeting of the West Wallsend Soccer Club. The Woodpeckers were well represented, and the object of the meeting was to see if the two teams could not be brought under one managegement. It was agreed to unite forces, and to hold an annual meeting and election of officers for the combined clubs on Wednesday next. It was further agreed to appoint a committee to control the club's affairs. New players who are expected to strengthen their teams are "Dutchy" Phillips, the ex-Annandale play er, Tom Barwick, Doran, and Frank Hayes, the ex-Adamstown player, all of whom are now living in West Wallsend.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Monday 14 February 1921, page 7

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FOOTBALL. BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING. 

The annual meeting of the Northern District British Football Association took place in the Trades Hall, Newcastle, on Saturday night. Mr. J. H. Bloomfield presided. In the report it was stated that the past season had been a wonderfully successful one. The takings constituted a State record, amounting to over £1000. While the season had been prolonged, it was worth pointing out that the association were without a ground until the end of July. The balance-sheet showed the income to be £1068 7s 9d, gate receipts at the tramway ground alone being £619. The securing of the tramway ground was made a special feature of the report, and the fact that the total sum necessary to fence and prepare had been paid in onebseason was specially commented on. This proved what a wonderful asset the ground had proved. The chief items of expenditure were £105 allowance to clubs for travelling expenses, over £100 for advertising, medals £140. Over £300 was spent in fencing and preparing the tramway round. The credit balance was £158 2s 9d. The auditor (Mr. Craig) paid a tribute to the treasurer and secretary for the excellent way in which they had kept.the books. The adoption of the report and balance-sheet was moved by Mr. Stirling, supported by Mr. Crawford, and others, and enthusiastically carried. The election of officers resulted as follows:-Mr. H. J. Connell, M.P., patron; Mr. J. H. Bloomfield, president. For the position of secretary, Hamilton withdrew their nomination, and this left only one nomination in, this being for the retiring secretary, Mr. Tamlyn declined to accept the position, and the open nomination was reverted to, and Mr. W. W. Roberts was elected to the vacancy. Mr. W. Ralston was re-elected assistant secretary. Messrs. Read and Craig were re-elected auditors. It was agreed to hold the first council meeting in the Trades Hall on Saturday, March 12th, and then to consider whether club or district football should be adopted during the coming season. The meeting was an excellent one. Perfect harmony prevailed. The retiring officers all came in for eulogistic references, the retiring secretary being particularly praised for his great work. His decision to retire was greatly commented upon, but as he refused to alter his decision a successor had to be found. The chairman pointed out that, according to rule the secretary was entitled to about £53 of an honorarium. Mr. Tamlyn, however, refused to accept this, and pointed out that all the committee had worked hard to place Soccer on a better footing. He knew they had succeeded, and after their great help and work to accept honorariums was not in keeping with the object they had all worked for. Upon the motion of Mr. Crawford, supported by various mem-bers, Mr. Tamlyn was elected the first life member of the N.D.B.F.A., and it was decided to donate to him a memento of his great services to the code.

Victoria

Western Australia

Hiding Women's Football (Redux)

Greg Werner

In a year when we, "football", celebrate 100 years since the beginnings of the women's game in Australia, a wholly manufactured game, AFLW, has pushed football into the shadows with the media refusing to recognise the legitimacy of our game.
Stories in today's papers focus on AFLW and ignore the W-League. This is the front page on the ABC site, while other stories focus on AFLW players whinging about their right to be referred to as elite athletes over and above the professions that earn them the bulk of their living.
Meanwhile the W-League match from yesterday can be found somewhere in the score centre. The big story here being the continued return of Michelle Heyman who bagged another brace in the Canberra win over Western Sydney.
The media bias against football has been going on for over a century while the fawning over AFLW began on day one all of 5 years ago.
If you want to talk about equity and balance in news reporting this is probably a good place to start. The might and muscle of the AFL rules in this country to the detriment of all other legitimate international sports, its not just football who suffers.
The AFLW was concocted not out of a need for it from the natural growth of the sport from the grassroots up, but from a need to fill the AFL void between the coverage of their draft and the men's pre-season, it is an irrelevance to most in any other time. The players are complaining about their media coverage, let them run alongside the AFL as the W-League does beside the A-League and see how they cope.
To put this into some greater perspective, I am a lover of all sports and have followed AFL footy, the Swans & Hawks specifically for over 50 years, but football is my love & I am committed to it all all levels at which it is played.
If you're up for an argument, lets see what you've got.

 

Date	Event
1911
6 Sep	Messrs Dawes and Keil organising association 14 or 15 players
12 Sep	Meeting at Shire Hall 8pm
16 Sep	Report on Meeting: about 30 present Practice match selected from Meredith, Devenport, Nutall, Cohen, Leach, Stevens, Harding, Hilton, Melros, Buchecker (2), Blackburn, Ginn, Dawes, Goodman, Blackburn, Lochhead (2), Keil, Malloch, Holme, Black, Wiltshire, and others.
23 Sep	Benefit match Mildura 3 Ginn, Cohen, Meredith, Keil, Gordon, Mallock, Hart, M'Cowan (Capt.) Alex. Lockhead, Dawes and Wiltshire. Merbein 2 (inclusive of Old Mildura) Hilton, Home, Bashecker (2), Black, Loram, Hardy, Stevens, Davenport (Capt.), Leach and Nutall. Referee Clark Linesmen Keil and Urquhart Poor attendance considering it was a hospital benefit. Ended up £6 6s (suspect the players topped that up)

Australian Soccer in Turmoil 1941

South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Friday 31 January 1941, page 2

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Soccer

(By A.D.)

According to Press reports of the State Council meeting the news is most depressing, the State Assn showing a loss of £286 with only a balance of £150 left in the bank. That report in itself is bad enough but the concluding item, so far as the sport in general is concerned, was worse still. The section referred to states 'The Council also decided that for the duration of the war no financial aid would be given for Junior championships.' In present-day terms this attitude is definitely defeatist.

It shows a complete admission of failure to grasp even the most elementary principles of organisation. Can the State Council never grasp the fact that to make progress in this great game the junior bodies, the nurseries of the game, must be encouraged by every means possible instead of being completely dumped, as is evident by this latest edict. What farmer in his worst year of adversity would not make it his first thought to provide some means at any cost to make sure he could procure seed or young stock to lead him back to security or possible prosperity when the bad times were over. If he neglected to make such provision he would head straight for bankruptcy and a business crash and this is exactly where State Councillors seem destined to land their organisation by their present policy. It was only last year that State League dictated to the junior bodies the relation in which the junior players stood in regard to State League soccer. They have for years assumed the dictator attitude to all soccer in the State where they are indeed a very small minority, and now it is apparent that they cannot even dictate to their own clubs to pay their dues as the clubs have not been drawing the money to do so. 

It has been apparent for some time that the clubs had the job in front of them to make ends meet but it has been the representatives of the State League clubs who have been mainly responsible for killing public interest in the soccer game and driving away the public support. They have for years now placed club interests before the interests of soccer in general and have shaped their policy and laid down their laws accordingly. The most recent example of this, of course, was the banning of the 'Works' teams, killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, the goose or geese that might have helped them to draw sufficient to pay their dues. Funny legislation, isn't it, but tragic for the game. Soccer interest has not died a natural death, it has been killed — killed by bad legislation and petty squabbles. Decisions made by State Council were not adhered to, like the St. George - Wallsend points dis-pute in 1939. Referees reputations and integrity torn to shreds without justification, etc., and naturally a disgusted following showed their disgust by staying away. The visit of the English Amateur team showed the grip the soccer game had on the public, over 40,000 being present at the Sydney Test. Allowing for a certain number who would be present from curiosity alone it is evident that good soccer visitors could draw over 30,000 enthusiasts who were soccer followers. Teams such as the Indians and Palestine elevens were good for exhibition games only and could not be classed as draw-cards. Give the public the goods and the public will respond. Neglect the public and it will similarly respond by staying away. One can see from the present finances what policy has been carried out. Newcastle has withdrawn from the competition, leaving a bye each week. This will not help any from either a playing or financial aspect. It was reported in the Press some time before the general meeting that New-castle might withdraw and somo provision could have been made for such an eventuality. 

The only cheerful feature from a South Coast point of view is that our Woonona-Bulli Club can be classed as one of the financial members. It has always had its dues paid and gives a good return to all visiting teams. Steelworks were also in good financial standing when in State League, and we have no doubt that Wollongong will keep up the good record. This is a distinct pointer to soccer interest on the South Coast and if State League is not too blind to see it, we can expect still further teams in that sacred circle, providing an other big deficit does not knock it out of business completely. Even in the event of this we have good junior soccer to start building from again, but spare us from the majority of the present legislators.

Mything, the Point

Life Cycle, For Big Jim Phelan

by Bruce Dawe

When children are born in Victoria
they are wrapped in club-colours, laid in beribboned cots,
having already begun a lifetime’s barracking. 

Carn, they cry, Carn… feebly at first
while parents playfully tussle with them
possession of a rusk: Ah, he’s a little Tiger! (And they are… ) 

Hoisted shoulder-high at their first League game
they are like innocent monsters who have been years swimming
towards the daylight’s roaring empyrean 

Until, now, hearts shrapnelled with rapture,
they break surface and are forever lost,
their minds rippling out like streamers 

In the pure flood of sound, they are scarfed with light, a voice
like the voice of God booms from the stands
Ooohh you bludger! and the covenant is sealed. 

Hot pies and potato-crisps they will eat,
hey will forswear the Demons, cling to the Saints
and behold their team going up the ladder into Heaven,

And the tides of life will be the tides of the home-team’s fortunes
— the reckless proposal after the one-point win,
the wedding and honeymoon after the grand-final…

They will not grow old as those from the more northern States grow old,
for them it will always be three-quarter-time
with the scores level and the wind advantage in the final term,

That pattern persisting, like a race-memory, through the welter of seasons,
enabling old-timers by boundary fences to dream of resurgent lions
and centaur-figures from the past to replenish continually the present,

So that mythology may be perpetually renewed
and Chicken Smallhorn return like the maize-god
in a thousand shapes, the dancers changing

But the dance forever the same — the elderly still
loyally crying Carn… Carn… (if feebly) unto the very end,
having seen in the six-foot recruit from Eaglehawk their hope of salvation.

Australian Soccer has no poems like this. No poems that romance the game, mythologise it, treat it like a sacred process, see it as embedded in Australian life. Why?

Is it because soccer has never had that kind of centrality to Australian lives? Because it has been peripheral? I think no and yes.

At times and in places in Australian history soccer has been central. Think of: the image of train loads of 100s of red bedecked and noisy Wallsend supporters travelling to Sydney to take on the metropolis; the social rhythm of the game in Western Sydney and Ipswich and elsewhere; the thousand or so dead soccer ANZACS forever in some foreign field. Thousands of images and stories were developed that could demonstrate just how close to the mainstream this game has been in a cultural sense.

But in terms of cultural memory it is nowhere. At every turn Australian culture (and Australian soccer culture, more particularly) has intentionally, accidentally, incidentally, malevolently or incompetently lost track of the narrative of this game.

We have lots of stories. Many soccer histories have been written in Australia. Fair Play publishing is the latest press to produce and distribute soccer narratives. 

Yet do these stories take? Do they embed themselves in the consciousness of many Australians. Or does the kitchen sink of Australian stories get drained too easily when it periodically fills up with soccer tales? 

Do we have any stories that would help demonstrate a sense of soccer's historical continuity, one that most Australians cannot yet perceive? Unfortunately just about every narrative we have speaks of disconnection either by intent or effect.

So what does an 'Australian story' contain?

• loneliness
• homesickness
• distance
• sport/conflict/war
• gambling
• nature as a threat
• taciturn or emotionally stunted masculinity
• boys having fun
• beer
• A problematic reflection on aboriginality
• women cooking

Classic Australian stories contain many or most of these elements. One of my favourites Wake in Fright contains almost all of them. 

CLANCY OF THE OVERFLOW - A.B. "Banjo" Paterson

I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better

Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago,
He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him,
Just "on spec", addressed as follows: "Clancy, of The Overflow".

And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected,
(And I think the same was written in a thumbnail dipped in tar)
'Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it:
"Clancy's gone to Queensland droving, and we don't know where he are."

I can think of nothing in soccer literature that emulates the mood or content of this poem. Our writers are, generally, reluctant to adopt the confidence (if not arrogance) needed to claim a central place for this sport. (I think that Paul Nicholls is an exception here and as he demonstrates, we do have the material for soccer stories to become legend.) Think of Indigenous man Casey Wehrmann growing up in Cloncurry becoming a socceroo. What kind of impossibility is this? Think of the Mount Isa team in the 1950s travelling 2000 km to play one game and Ingham returning the favour the following year. The loneliness of the long distance soccer players, indeed. Think of Perkins, Moriarty and Briscoe growing up together in a boys home in Adelaide and the magnificent careers that blossomed from that most unlikely of situations. Think of war hero Coppock getting struck dead by lightning on Weston's home ground shorthy after surviving the rigours of WW1. Think of the two women's teams who 101 years ago played in front of 10,000 at the Gabba (the then Brisbane home of soccer).Think of Sam Kerr.

As you can probably guess, this absence depresses me somewhat. So imagine the extent to which the following story cheered me when I found it a few weeks ago. It meets many of the criteria I outlined before.

The Homesick Miner

Daily Telegraph (Sydney), Monday 22 September 1941, page 8

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Backstages Of Sport

By HUGH DASH, SPORTING EDITOR

A Sydney newspaper was flung from a train window near Mount Isa, Queensland mining town, two weeks ago. A fettler picked it up, read it, and passed it on. The paper finally came into the hands of Theo Love, 42-year-old mining prospector. In the sport page he read that after 28 years Leichhardt had won their way to the State Cup Soccer final. Thirteen years ago Love played as a forward with Leichhardt. In years of gold quarrying around Mount Morgan and other fields he got his first taste of homesickness. He inspected his bank balance, found he was comfortably off, and looked up train timetables. He reached Sydney on Saturday after a 2000-mile trip by train and coach. Leichhardt were beaten in a premiership game, and he nearly wept when the final whistle blew. A home-coming party given him by 100 Leichhardt supporters at Croydon Park on Saturday night made him feel better. He will stay "to see Leichhardt win the Cup final against Granville next Saturday and to see High Caste win the Epsom." Love has money to back Leichhardt. But as for High Caste— he says betting on races is just gambling. 

Just where did this ethos go?

100 Years Ago Today, 10 December 1920

South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Friday 10 December 1920, page 14

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Soccer.

(By H.M.)

Last Saturday Cessnock came to Bulli to do battle against Balgownie in the final of the Nurse Cup. During the first half it was a splendid game, the ball travelling first to one end and then the other, the play being very fast, and neither side scoring. The second half had not been in progress long when Cessnock scored, this being only score in the game. When the game was close up towards the finish a breach was made, the spectators rushing the playing area and refusing to leave the ground. This is one thing that the committee will have to deal with if we want clean sport; we have asked the public to keep outside the line, but they do not try to assist the committee in any way to give the players a chance. There will be a good game next Saturday in Ball's Paddock between Woo nona and Corrimal, the gate receipts to be donated towards the ambulance; These men have given their services free all the season, so roll up and give them a helping hand! This game will be worth going a long way to see. Mr. C. Baker will referee the game. Admission, gents. 6d, ladies 6d.

Propeller (Hurstville), Friday 10 December 1920, page 3

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SOCCER FOOTBALL.

The St. George District Soccer Football Club, which did so well in the metropolitan competitions last year, has decided to enter two teams in the Second League and All-age Competitions for next season. The club had between 20 and 30 members last year, so the formation of two teams will over come the difficulty caused by an excess number of players. A meeting will be held in Colvin's Hall, Hurstville, on Thursday next to arrange details.

Maitland Daily Mercury, Tuesday 21 December 1920, page 4

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The December 'Windsor.'

We have received from Mr. H. Pankhurst a copy of the December number of the ''Windsor Magazine.' The country, called Bashan as it is to-day, is described in one of the articles, while another discants on the charm for the crowd of that popular game of football which is known as 'Soccer.' There is the usual good supply of complete stories by favourite authors, and much to give amusement in the 'Editor's Scrap Book.'

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Friday 17 December 1920, page 3

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SPORTING. 

SOCCER FOOTBALL 

THE S.M.B.F.A. will play the Final of Hunter Cup, TOMORROW, SATURDAY, 18th DEC., at Homestead (Weston). Cessnock v. West Wallsend (Woodpeckers) at 3.30. Referee, J. Earp. Woodpeckers have won the State Junior Competition. also the Newcastle District 3rd Grade Competition. Cessnock have won the Nurse Cup Competition, also the Maitland District 3rd Grade Competition. 

FA Trophy: Who Owns It?

While this might seem a rather puerile attempt to create historical conflict, the argument needs to be had out. 

Who owns this trophy?

1. The last carnival was won by Victoria in 1960
2. The last state championship was won by NSW in 1964.

Check out Mark Boric's blog for more details.

Mark suggests that the trophy is for carnivals 

Whereas Paul Nicholls thinks that it belongs to NSW as the most recent champions.

Illawarra Daily Mercury, Tuesday 8 June 1954, page 12

The trophy resides at Football Victoria on account of Victoria winning in 1960. Maybe we should just cancel the A League and resurrect the national championships and play for the possession of the beautiful trophy (value equiv to $25,000 today).

A New Twist on the Soccer Controversy

Thanks again to Garry McKenzie

Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette , Thursday 25 July 1929, page 6

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SOCCER OR SOCKER?

An English educational journal asks why the word "soccer'' is used as a contraction of "association," instead of the legitimate "socker." The paper contends that "soccer" is a hideous affront, as much to the intelligence as to the eye, and points out that, whenever C precedes an E, an I, or a, V it has a sibilant S sound, as in civil, centre, cylinder. To this rule there are only two exceptions, in the word sceptic (which the more logical American spells with a K) and the word Celt— often spelt Kelt. In all other portions in a word the letter C has a K sound, as in record and crime. When two C's occur together, both these rules apply; thus we have a K sound only in such words as account, and succulent, where the second C is followed by A, O, or U; but in such words as accent, flaccid and succinct, the second C with a K value. It is contended that it is into this class that the word "soccer" must necessarily be placed. 

The interesting thing to draw from this is that maybe soccer should be pronounced "soxer" or "sosher". 

I love it when the grammar nazi comes in conflict with sokkahtwitter (should I say soxatwitter?) -- my loyalties are utterly divided. Be interested in what you think.

The Homesick Miner

Daily Telegraph (Sydney), Monday 22 September 1941, page 8

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Backstages Of Sport

By HUGH DASH, SPORTING EDITOR

A Sydney newspaper was flung from a train window near Mount Isa, Queensland mining town, two weeks ago. A fettler picked it up, read it, and passed it on. The paper finally came into the hands of Theo Love, 42-year-old mining prospector. In the sport page he read that after 28 years Leichhardt had won their way to the State Cup Soccer final. Thirteen years ago Love played as a forward with Leichhardt. In years of gold quarrying around Mount Morgan and other fields he got his first taste of homesickness He inspected his bank balance, found he was comfortably off, and looked up train timetables. He reached Sydney on Saturday after a 2000-mile trip by train and coach. Leichhardt were beaten in a premiership game, and he nearly wept when the final whistle blew. A home-coming party given him by 100 Leichhardt supporters at Croydon Park on Saturday night made him feel better. He will stay "to see Leichhardt win the Cup final against Granville next Saturday and to see High Caste win the Epsom." Love has money to back Leichhardt. But as for High Caste— he says betting on races is just gambling. 

100 Years Ago Today, 4 December 1920

West Australian, Thursday 2 December 1920, page 8

South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Friday 3 December 1920, page 15

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Thursday 2 December 1920, page 6

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WESTON. The South Maitland Soccer Association has arranged for Hamilton and West Wallsend to meet at the Homestead on Saturday, in the semi-final of the Hunter Cup competition.