The Australasian on October 21 named Billy Haslam, A. Murray, J. Rees, John Kilgour, J. Davidson, captain Bob Waycott, Tom Monteith and Sutton as best players for the Villagers during the season. document.getElementById('cloak411e8c6229cee0e943110ba503223fef').innerHTML = ''; By the end of the 1870's, the Victorian code of rules controlled almost all football matches in Victoria and was exported to other colonies, with compromises and amendments along the way. Posts. A half back flanker and regular VFL representative. This year also saw the demise of South Yarra, which finally disbanded after several mediocre seasons. A four time B&B winner in 1930, 31, 32 and 1933. The rules are seen as one of the most significant documents in the history of the Australian game. History Talk (0) Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Players of Williamstown Football Club. Fitzroy Football Club Fantasy Leagues. Furthermore, in the Williamstown Chronicle of Saturday, 16 June, 1860, (see below) Williamstown Alliance invited interested locals to meet at their ground, Market Reserve, for football practice. ** The award was then known as The VFA Medal. QUICK CONTACT INFO. Williamstown Chronicle, September 2, 1876. Williamstown FC Signings Hub All the Seagulls listed below have signed up and a roaring to play in season 2023 VFL In 1888, the dispute was settled and two football clubs amalgamated; and, through an organisational affiliation with the cricket club the Williamstown Cricket . #ProudlyWilliamstown. The leading goalkicker was Johnny Rees with three, while J. Monteith kicked two and D. Burke and John Charles Frederick Ulbrick one each. Groups. Back pocket player in the 1907 premiership. It was in this season that cricket clubs began courting football clubs to share their grounds and football thus began the transition from free public parks to enclosed grounds and admission fees, a move which financed improvements to the grounds and facilities and secured the future of cricket clubs. 'The Footballer' publication of 1879 stated that the 'Fishing Village is strong in football, and musters three clubs, Williamstown, North Williamstown and Battery United .. although there is not much to choose between the last two. VFLW & VFLW Practice Match Squads Announced. The Williamstown Football Club is looking to acknowledge the service of these past players. The South Yarra and St Kilda clubs (not connected to the current AFL entity) were soon formed, and occasional teams representing East Melbourne, Albert Park, Emerald Hill (South Melbourne), Prahran and University also appeared. The premiership was won by the Geelong Football Club. The first ground used by Williamstown was the Market Reserve, opposite St Mary's Catholic Church, and bounded by Cecil, Cole and Hanmer Streets. Moss and Worrell one each. Again no goals were scored and the match was declared a draw. Pennings wrote that 'representatives from Melbourne, St. Kilda, South Yarra, Richmond, Scotch College, University, Williamstown, Collingwood and Booroondara were in attendance'. Richmond appeared on the scene in 1860 but originated out of the cricket club and was not related to the current AFL team and Tom Wills and Henry Harrison both moved across from Melbourne to play with them, with Wills becoming captain of his third club. SJ Fowler was one of the early secretaries and one of their first captains was Johnny Rees, a former Williamstown player. Williamstown Football Club won a premiership in each decade of the 1900's except the second 1907, 1921, 1939, 1945, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1969 (Second Division), 1976 (Second Division), 1986 and 1990, followed by two more in 2003 and 2015. He also records that 'the first football "council" was held at the Argus Hotel (in Collins Street) on May 28 (1860).' T. Crane was appointed captain of the Second Twenty for 1878 with C. Hernan vice-captain. Royal Park also emerged in May, 1862, along with an Essendon/Flemington combination, followed by Eastern Hill (East Melbourne) in 1863. Public Events. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. There was also a return match at Gardens (Fearon) Reserve against St Kilda on July 19 which was won two goals to NIL but, as the Williamstown Chronicle of July 26 reported, the Saints 'had a very weak team, several of their best players not turning up.' document.getElementById('cloakbb0b214de571d490efda32391d5e6ef9').innerHTML = ''; Arthur Caldwell: Played 157 games and kicked 4 goals between 1897 and 1910. The loss against South Melbourne on the Gardens Reserve was the first ever sustained there by the Club. The first page of the 1859 rules, showing the names of the Melbourne FC committee,William J. Hammersley (a sports journalist), James B. Thompson (an Argus journalist and secretary of the Melbourne FC), Thomas H.Smith (headmaster of Scotch College) and Tom W. Wills, as well as J. Sewell (Melbourne FC treasurer), Alex Bruce and T. Butterworth. We are also a proud member of Football . Williamstown's last encounter for the season was on September 23 at Fawkner Park against a combined Southern and Wesley team 'which resulted in a decided victory for the united clubs', according to The Age of September 25. After Carlton's Jim Williams kicked the opening goal, Rigall, who had agreed to play for Williamstown as an emergency, broke his leg after being thrown into the picket fence by Carlton's Frank Hillsden and the game was abandoned. PAST PLAYERS DAY TOMORROW Featuring the '93 Premiership Reunion - 25th Anniversary 12:00pm kick-off in Coccha's Marquee @ Crofts Reserve. There was also a game against an East Melbourne Twenty at Williamstown on August 5 which, it was reported in The Argus of August 7, that 'resulted, after a well-contested game, in a decisive victory for the former' (East Melbourne), two goals to nil. var addy_text98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc = 'admin' + '@' + 'williamstownfc' + '.' + 'com' + '.' + 'au';document.getElementById('cloak98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc').innerHTML += ''+addy_text98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc+'<\/a>'; 2015 Williamstown Footbal Club - Site design by AdTorque Edge. The Williamstown Football Club held its inaugural Hall of Fame function at Crown Casinon Saturday 31st May 2014. By 1876, The Argus considered 'the Club to be in a very flourishing condition, no less than 102 members being on the books, whereas in past seasons the number has scarcely passed the half century'. Registration- admin@williamstownfc.com.au Sponsorship opportunities available w/prominent branding on course. However, secretaries of football clubs often had to rely on information that was not always accurate. He returned to Williamstown in 1882 after the amalgamation with Battery United and became captain in 1883. Sprint Hall: Played 105 games and kicked 8 goals between 1897 and 1906. See what Nick Rutley is doing for the group. The Cup itself was long-lost until discovered in 1995 in the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum (now the Australian Sports Museum) at the MCG by James Grzonek, son of Club historian, Ray Grzonek, during a casual visit to the museum. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; The trophy, which had been presented to the then-president of the Club, Cr John Jobson, by members of the victorious team at a dinner in the Oddfellows Hall, had been purchased by the museum in late 1993. Captain and back pocket player in the 1907 premiership win over West Melbourne. The defeats were at the hands of North Melbourne (twice), Studley Park and Hawthorn. Reels. A rover in the Seagulls 1921 premiership win over Footscray. document.getElementById('cloak98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc').innerHTML = ''; William Riggall, pictured here in the Melbourne Leader of August 15 1908, played for 'Town in a game at Williamstown on July 2 1866 against Carlton when he was actually a Blues player. Captain of the past three seasons, Bob Waycott, departed for Sydney at the end of the year and was replaced by D. Burke with P. Conroy vice-captain. In 1886, players wishing to play on the cricket ground ultimately established a rival senior club, the South Williamstown Football Club, which also contested the VFA for two seasons. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 304 total. The Australasian newspaper, when reviewing the senior and more important junior clubs at the end of the 1870 season, listed Williamstown amongst 'Other Clubs' and gratuitously added that the brief reference was 'just to show that the existence of the club was not entirely forgotten'. He was the first vice-president of the VFA in 1877 and was president of Melbourne from 1897 to 1906. 'The Footballer' commented that 'St Kilda, having won on its own ground, sent a ridiculous team to The Vliiage, and there bit the dust for her stupidity.' The premiership was won by the South Melbourne Football Club. Richmond disappeared in 1862 while St Kilda disbanded in 1863 due to insufficient numbers to field a side but re-emerged in 1873. Also, 1870 was the first year that the Club had a recorded president in Alfred Thomas Clark, local MLA for 17 years and founder of the Williamstown Advertiser, and local printer, Duncan McLeod, was the first recorded secretary since Hugh Ronald Reid in 1860. Williamstown Football Club | 1 034 fljare p LinkedIn. Essendon, Hawthorn and St Kilda (in its second reincarnation) emerged as junior clubs in 1873, but it was only the 'Dons that would go on to become on of the great clubs in football. The opposition kicked 15. 300 copies of the Victorian Rules were printed and distributed amongst the various clubs. The West Melbourne secretary even wrote to the Williamstown Chronicle (see below) to complain about the behaviour of the 'Town players and supporters, and stated that 'during the whole of the game the Williamstown team played very roughly, and at times very unfairly, 2 or 3 of them being very conspicuous in this part of the game. This state of affairs were not uncommon around the 1870's and, even if Williamstown played only one or two scratch matches, or none at all, it is entitled to claim a continuity of existence from a much earlier point as there were no other clubs playing in Williamstown at that time. Wills committed suicide on May 2, 1880, aged just 44. The founding committee were of the belief that football was not only a good way for cricketers to stay fit over winter but that organised sport helped instil British values, imported from English public schools, of self-sacrifice for a greater cause (for the team and, by extension, the country), that a healthy mind went hand-in-hand with a healthy body, and that such qualities helped make an athlete a role model that others in society could emulate. Mr W.J. It was the third premiership in the club's history, and the first out of a sequence of three consecutive premierships won from 1888 to 1890. FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF THE FABULOUS HISTORY OF THE WILLIAMSTOWN FOOTBALL CLUB FROM 1880 TO THE PRESENT DAY, PLEASE REFER TO THE RESPECTIVE DECADES UNDER THE 'HISTORY' TAB. *The award was then known as The Recorder Cup. var addybb0b214de571d490efda32391d5e6ef9 = 'admin' + '@'; Williamstown Chronicle, May 15, 1875 - at a meeting held at the Mechanics' Institute in Electra Street on Monday, May 10, 1875, it was resolved to adopt a 'knickerbocker uniform of blue and white.'. Charles George 'Charlie' Outen, pictured here in 1914 aged in his 50's, played for Williamstown from 1874 until 1877 and played all those years with his brother, Will. 03-03-23. A total of 17 goals were scored by the Seconds with only 9 kicked against them. ETU Stadium, 541 Williamstown Road, Port . History [ edit] The Williamstown Football Club was formed in 1864, making it one of the oldest football clubs in Australia. In country Victoria, the major clubs were now Geelong, Ballarat, Sandhurst and Kyneton. Henry Harrison, captain of Richmond (1861), Melbourne (1861 and 1863-1871), and Geelong (1862 & 1868), was the codifier of the revised rules of 1866. The Second Twenty had a more successful season, playing 9 matches of which five were won, two lost with two draws. The Melbourne Football Club was re-formed on May 14, 1859, at the Parade Hotel, East Melbourne, (later named the MCG Hotel) after a scratch match against South Yarra on Richmond Paddock (now known as Yarra Park). Although odd matches had been played there in the past, including a game against Carlton on 17 August, 1878, that attracted more than 5,000 spectators, most fixtures were played on the Market Reserve. On a more positive note, it was reported that 'the number of members obtained during the season reached the large number of 109, which is the largest number yet obtained since the formation of the club'. Games record holder:Ben Jolley 217 (2008-2018), Goals record holder: Ron Todd 672 (1940-1949), Most premierships as coach: Wally Carter 3 (1954-55-56), Longest-serving coach: Gerry Callahan 202 games (1958-67, 118 wins, 81 losses, 3 draws), Longest-serving captain: 6 seasons, Gerry Callahan (1954-59) and Ben Jolley (2012-17), Most premierships as player: 5 Gerry Callahan, Ray Smith & John Ramsay (1954-55-56-58-59), 4 Johnny Martin & Frank Sims(1954-55-56-58)Bob Jones,Jack Evans & Eric Bietzel(1955-56-58-59)Len Kent (1954-56-58-59), 3 Jack Curran, Max Munday, Sid Wookey, Reg Fisher & Alby Linton(1954-55-56) Neil Whittaker (1954-55-58) Colin Wilcox (1939-45-49), Longest-serving president: Trevor Monti 17 years (1999-2015), Norm Goss Medallists: Tony Pastore 1986, Barry Round 1990, Adrian Fletcher 2003, Michael Gibbons 2015, J.J. Liston Trophy winners: Charlie Stanbridge (1933*), Fred Brooks (1935**), Neville Huggins (1936** and 1937*), Arthur Cutting (1938* and 1939**), Des Fothergill (1941*), Johnny Martin (1956), Barry Round (1987), Brett McTaggart (1988), Saade Ghazi (1989), Paul Dooley (1996) and Michael Gibbons (2016 and 2018). Stimulated by the example of these latter, Brunswick, Collingwood (notthe current AFL team, which was formed in 1892) andWilliamstown followed suit'. Weatherall.' The Williamstown Independent newspaper reported on 2 June 1860 (see below) that 'the members of this newly-formed Club enjoyed their first game on Saturday last.' The Villagers kicked 16 goals during the previous season, and the decrease in performance was put down to the retirement of several of the Club's better players, including Tommy Beeching (1875-77) and R. Murray (1871-76),and the superiority of competing senior clubs such as Carlton and Melbourne. In 1872, the Chronicle reported that, of the ten matches played by the Club that season, four games were won, three were lost and three were drawn. The 'J. What we now call Australian Rules football was played in Victoria and the other colonies from the 1840's, but in 1858 it came into greater prominence when some cricketers, football enthusiasts and schoolboys played a number of scratch matches on the Richmond Paddock in Melbourne. Associated clubs Williamstown Reserves; Williamstown WFC. Norman McDonald: Played 106 games and kicked 148 goals between 1919 and 1930. Played as a follower for Williamstown and represented the VFA against the VFL at the MCG in 1931. The identities of the two players is unknown but it is the oldest photo in the Club's collection. From this point in time, the Williamstown Football Club would continue uninterrupted until today except for the recesses in 1916-18, inclusive, in respect of World War One and 1942-44, inclusive, in respect of World War Two and 2020/2021 as a result of the Coronavirus/COVID 19 epidemic. Geelong was not present as it went into recess shortly after its inception, until being revived in a gathering at the British Hotel in Corio Street, Geelong, on May 21, 1860, and played its first senior match against Melbourne at Argyle Paddock in Geelong on September 1. Leo Maloney: Played 107 games and kicked 115 goals between 1959 and 1964. Horace Norman was re-appointed captain for the third consecutive season at the meeting but resigned before the first practice match on April 26. About 100 clubs were now playing in Victoria, including 70 junior and school teams in Melbourne and about 10 junior clubs in Geelong. On May 17, 1859, a committee of MCC members including William J. Hammersley (a sports journalist), James B. Thompson (an Argus journalist and secretary of the Melbourne FC), Thomas H.Smith (headmaster of Scotch College) and Tom W. Wills, met at the same hotel and agreed to authorise Wills' cousin, Henry Harrison, to draw up a set of rules based on rugby but modified to suit local conditions. St Kilda claimed 'that the surface was covered with lumps of rock' and, following a nil-all draw against 'senior' team Albert Park on June 21, 1873, the South Melbourne Record of the same day described the ground as 'bounded on all sides by dangerous fences, and firmly embedded all over the ground were huge boulders of stone; then the rain that had fallen during the past week has converted it into a perfect swamp, in fact, there were not 10 yards of dry ground in the whole enclosure.' Thomas McKinley: Played 107 games and kicked 27 goals between 1897 and 1908. He coached 'Town in 1994. Membership totalled 64 in this season. His son was one of the early players. Williamstown Chronicle, September 2, 1871. The same scoreline was registered in a game against Hawthorn, also at theGardens (Fearon) Reserve onJune 19, with Trott the only multiple goalkicker. One of the draws was against senior club, Melbourne, the premier team of 1876, on July 28, while there was also a one-goal defeat at the hands of another senior team at St Kilda on June 9. The club was initially considered a junior club, before being granted senior status in 1884. This is confirmed in a report in the Chronicle of May 15 1874 that 'it was resolved to adopt a knickerbocker uniform of blue and white'. It also enhanced recruitment. D. Rogers was leading goalscorer for the Seconds with 6, while Bobby Weatherhead, A. Murray, Wilson, Singleton and J. Davidson each kicked one. The next attempt to reform the football club appears to have been in 1864, although there are no records in existence or newspaper articles to testify to that fact, although Pennings wrote in his book that 'Williamstown reappeared after an absence of some years (in 1865)'. In effect, this meant that clubs could control promotion to, and relegation from, the senior grade by the simple process of including a strong junior team in the senior fixtures, and little progress was made over the next few years due to the selfish club interests which prevented such things as paid umpires, points for wins and draws, boundary umpires, independent tribunals for reported players and a properly drawn-up fixture. Another grandson, Reg (pictured here being held by his grandmother, Bridget), was emergency in 'Town's 1939 premiership team in his only season with the Club. People who participate in a great football club, form deep and lasting relationships that nurture and shape who they become as human beings. footballers, whole-length, almost full face, man on right chin curtain beard and moustache, both in blue and white uniforms of long sleeved pullovers, pants with striped socks and caps, both standing, man on right with hands on hips, image dated 1879'. Home Ground Williamstown Cricket Ground. 1970's - Max Papley (Coach of the Decade)Great football clubs are more than successful on and off the field; they are more than a place to play and enjoy the. Watch this highlight video of the Williamstown (WV) football team in its game Recap: Williamstown vs. Clay-Battelle 2022 on Nov 12, 2022. A notable change to the game occurred in 1879 when behinds were registered for the first time although they still weren't counted in the result and the winner was still the side that kicked the most goals. The team finished second on the ladder of 'other juniors'. 'Town finished 7th out of a competition of 15 teams. Official Instagram page of the Williamstown Football Club. Eric Beitzel Games: 113 Goals: 0 Team of the Century Position: Back pocket Honours: Premiership player 1955, 56, 58, 59, Max Munday Games: 120 Goals: 6 Team of the Century Position: Full back Honours: Premiership player 1954, 55, 56, John Ramsay Games: 125 Goals: 6 Team of the Century Position: Back pocket Honours: Premiership player 1954, 55, 56, 58, 59, Brett McTaggart Games: 184 Goals: 66 Team of the Century Position: Half back flank Honours: Premiership player 1986, 90; Liston Medal 1988, Gerry Callahan Games: 171 Goals: 75 Team of the Century Position: Centre half back Honours: Premiership player 1954, 55, 56, 58, 59; Best and Fairest 1951, 58, Colin Wilcox Games: 173 Goals: 1 Team of the Century Position: Half back flank Honours: Premiership player 1939, 45, 49; Best and Fairest 1948, Jim Cardwell Games: 70 Team of the Century Position: Wing Honours: Premiership player 1907, 21, Max Papley Games: 54 Goals: 108 Team of the Century Position: Centre Honours: Premiership player 1969, John Martin Games: 133 Goals: 15 Team of the Century Position: Wing Honours: Premiership player 1954, 55, 56, 58; Best and Fairest 1956, 58; Liston Medal -1956, Ray Smith Games: 205 Goals: 161 Team of the Century Position: half forward flank Honours: Premiership Player 1954, 55, 56, 58, 59; best and fairest 1959, 60, 61, Ron Todd Games: 141 Goals: 672 Team of the Century Position: centre half forward Honours: Premiership Player 1945, 49, Ian Rickman Games: 146 Goals: 516 Team of the Century Position: half forward flank Honours: Premiership Player 1986, 90, Harry Simpson Games: 75 Goals: 82 Team of the Century Position: forward pocket Honours: Premiership Player 1954, 55; best and fairest 1954, Mark Fotheringham Games: 101 Goals: 571 Team of the Century Position: full forward Honours: Premiership Player 1986; best and fairest 1982, Saade Ghazi Games: 204 Goals: 291 Team of the Century Position: forward pocket honours: best and fairest 1997; liston medal 1989, Barry Round Games: 110 Goals: 103 Team of the Century Position: ruck Honours: Premiership Player 1986, 90; best and fairest 1987, 88, 89; liston medal 1987, Eric Glass Games: 82 Goals: 54 Team of the Century Position: ruck rover Honours: Premiership Player 1939, 45, Alby Linton Games: 87 Goals: 226 Team of the Century Position: rover Honours: Premiership Player 1954, 55, 56; best and fairest 1955, Reg Harley Games: 117 Goals: 19 HonoursPremiership Player 1945, 54; best and fairest 1946, 47, Bob Jones Games: 130 Goals: 24 Honours: Premiership Player 1955, 56, 58, 59, Len Kent Games: 117 Goals: 15 Honours: Premiership Player 1954, 56, 58, 59, Kim Kershaw Games: 81 Goals: 10 Honours: Premiership Player 1986; best and fairest 1983, 84, 85, 86, Tony Pastore Games: 189 Goals: 150 Honours: Premiership Player 1986, 90, Tom Russell Games: 200 Honours: Premiership Player 1969; best and fairest 1965, Wally Carter 1954-1957 Games: 91 (76 wins 83.5%) Honours: Premiership Coach 1954, 55, 56.