SA Footy

Riverland Weekly - July 31, 2008

Years of research leads to book release
Country football encyclopaedia

By ROB McLEAN

THE Encyclopedia of South Australian Country Football History is set to be released; and it has been written by a former Riverlander.
Former East Murray, Brown’s Well, Loxton North and Wunkar footballer Peter Lines has spent years researching his project and believes he has completed what will soon be regarded as the Bible of country football history in this state.
The book itself is in the final stages of printing and has taken over five years to get to this point.
However, it is a book that has been in the making since Peter’s Mallee childhood.
“I think it’s something in the blood,” he said.
“No matter what you were doing in that time there was footy.”
Through the brief history of every club that has ever played in a country football competition, Peter’s book provides a look at the changing landscape of the sport.
Reading through each of the brief histories of footy clubs from across the state, you can see the mergers and amalgamations that have been forced as a result of population shifts and the downsizing of the rural workforce.
In itself it tells of the ebbs and flows of rural communities.
Reflecting on local football deliberations, it is a trend Peter sadly can see no end to.
“It’s not the same anymore as there’s so many other things people can do,” Peter said.
“East Murray, Wunkar, Brown’s Well and Wunkar are all struggling and Perponda have fallen.”
Testament to Peter’s devotion to football, he has self published the 330 page book through Allbiz Suppliers.
Now it’s just a matter of getting it out there.
“It’s sort of something that’s been in my head and I wanted to share it with everyone; everything that I’ve found,” Peter said.
“I don’t think I’m the only one interested in that sort of thing.”
If you would like to order one of 500 copies of Peter’s soon to be released book, ring him on 0438 819 391 or email bplines@bigpond.com

I'm looking forward to getting a copy of it - it sounds like it is a good read.

Then again, anything that gives publicity to real grassroots sport in urban and rural areas is worth reading ... just look at the books on my bookshelf. 90% are sporting books and there are more local sporting histories than any other category!

Yep, should be a great read.
I've ordered a copy and the cost is $35.00 with an additional $8.00 for postage - $43.00 Total.

My cheque is in the mail, too!

cant wait for it to be released hopefully the author can sign me a copy. does anyone have a brief history on the author good, bad or funny.

Sounds great, does anyone know if this is the first of its kind?

Peter's a champion bloke and a very hard worker for whichever club he has been involved with over his time in the game.
He was the integral force behind the Wunkar football carnival, which went for about 10 years before the club decided it could run it no longer (it is now organised by the Loxton Football Club).
Friendly bloke who is obviously very passionate about the game and loyal to his many friends.
Nicknamed Plussy (as in Peter Plus) at Wunkar (his son has copped the nickname Minus), while I believe at his new location, he is known as Pistol.

Is that enough?

For those wondering on the progress, I have been told that the author will be receiving the books next Tuesday and sending them out from next Wednesday morning.

That means that if you order one now if you haven't already done so, then you should receive it before Father's Day (if you are thinking buying one as a gift).

Only a few days now ...

Benchwarmer wrote:For those wondering on the progress, I have been told that the author will be receiving the books next Tuesday and sending them out from next Wednesday morning.

That means that if you order one now if you haven't already done so, then you should receive it before Father's Day (if you are thinking buying one as a gift).

Only a few days now ...

I received an e-mail saying the same early this week, cant wait!

so this book has a write up about every club is that right??
what other things does it have??

GOOD LUCK with the Sale mate, im thinking about buying one..

Does anyone have a copy yet.

I've got mine. It's fantastic. Well done to the author.

I've actually got to buy another one. I got John Platten to sign mine last night and donated it to the Loxton Primary School for a fundraiser!

Hopefully, my copy is heading along the Nullabor on the way to my post office box so that it is there ready to digest on Monday morning.

yep got mine the other day, great book, hav'nt put it down yet! Well done Peter!

Got it about an hour ago in the mail - looks impressive.

The book looks to be a well-researched labour of love and I do hope that Peter sells his full quota of books.

I like the fact that the clubs are listed A-Z is handy (easier to reference) and it's good to see detail such as colours and grounds recorded, as well as team photos and some quirky facts added.

DW - all those pictures are of you in the foreword, aren't they!
If so, you'd have a very long wardrobe for all those jumpers.
Which clubs have you played for?

There ain't one photo of me BW, sorry mate....

As for how many clubs I've played for? Three senior wise - Elizabeth, Loxton, Moorook-Kingston.

I had doubts about it being you but I wasn't certain. I was pretty sure you hadn't mentioned playing at Cowell.

The book is a bottler. Flicking through the pages, it was impossible to go one page at a time without making a wild variation down the alphabet to look at a team that I had all but forgotten about. It also answered one or two questions about where some teams went (merged, recess, folded, etc.).

One query I do have is what was the Hills FL setup like in the 1960s? From what I can work out there were three divsions and maybe even regional zones below that. Is that right? How many teams were under the HFL banner in the mid to late 60s?

Benchwarmer wrote:
One query I do have is what was the Hills FL setup like in the 1960s? From what I can work out there were three divsions and maybe even regional zones below that. Is that right? How many teams were under the HFL banner in the mid to late 60s?

there were many different setup's during the early 60's which involved 3 leagues, hills central, torrens valley and hills football.
in 1967 they were all almagamated under the one hills football league. how ever in the early 70's it was split into competitions under the one league eg: division 1 (central zone), division 2 (northern zone), division 3 (southern zone) and later a division 4

in 1967 this is approx. how the hills was divided

div 1 consisted of the following teams Central to the hills:
Mount Barker, Lobethal, Onkaparinga Valley, Heathfield/Aldgate, Stirling, Hahndorf, Bridgewater, Birdwood and Uraidla

div 2 consisted of Northern Towns:
Gumeracha, Ashton, Williamstown, Palmer, Lenswood, Sedan/Cambri, Woodside Army, and Pleasant Valley

div 3 consisted of Sounthern Towns:
Bremer, Echunga, Meadows, Kangarilla, Macclesfield, Nairne , Milang and Langhornes Creek

even though this link hasn't been updated since 2002 it does give you some reasonable information on the hills league in its earlier years

Many clubs have come and gone (folded or almagamated) through out the years, even left the association


http://www.footypedia.com/00002257.htm

if you have any querys or questions im sure the auther would be happy to answer them. get in contact with him via email.