Attn Norwood Historians - Info on W.B Griffiths

[Leaping Lindner]

Just wondering if any Norwood historians can provide a little info on W.B Griffiths? I've been researching the introduction of electorate football in 1897 and this guy did some amazing work to get this up against much opposition.
Any info appreciated.

[Leaping Lindner]

As a matter of interest this is the original proposed District System that W.B Griffiths proposed at the meeting of S.A.F.A on August 10th 1896. This system was designed so that players who resided in a particular district played for that district’s football team. Prior to this it had basically been a free for all which allowed the senior clubs to get stronger by poaching good players from the junior clubs. The scheme also made way for the inclusion of more clubs to the Association. Seen as necessary to attract more crowds and interest to the game after a decline in a past few seasons.

This was to be the most important and drastic change to football in South Australia since the S.A.F.A had first formed on April 30th 1877, nearly twenty years prior.

1. That the football Association consist of not more than eight clubs.
2. That each club shall comprise and consist of players residing in an electoral district to be allotted to each of the said clubs.
3. That the electoral district of East Adelaide be allotted to a club to be called the East Adelaide, or other name to be decided.
4. That the electoral district of West Adelaide be allotted to a club to be called the West Adelaide, or other name.
5. That the electoral district of East Torrens be allotted to a club to be called the Norwood, or other name.
6. That the electoral district of West Torrens be allotted to a club to be called the Natives, or other name.
7. That the electoral district of North Adelaide be allotted to a club to be called the North Adelaide, or other name.
8. That the electoral district of Sturt be allotted to a club to be called the South Adelaide, or other name.
9. That the electoral district of Port Adelaide be allotted to a club to be called the Port Adelaide, or other name.
10. That the electoral district of Barossa be allotted to a club to be called the Gawler, or other name
11. That on or after May 1, 1897, each and every player (not provided for under rule 12) playing with any of the above clubs shall be only allowed to play with the club representing the electoral district in which he resides, and can only change to another club on producing proof of a bonafide change of residence to the district represented by that club, and on making personal and written application to the Association, providing that no permission be given to change clubs after June 1 in any year.
12. That each and every player at present playing with any of the above clubs shall be allowed the right to continue playing with such club irrespective of the district such player resides in, providing that should any such player wish to change to the club representing his electoral district the Association grant him permission to do so on his making written application for such permission on or before May 1, 1897, failing which application such and every player be considered to be attached to the district which the club he has been playing with represents, and can only change his club at any time by coming under the ordinary permit rules of the Association and receiving permission to make such change before June 1 in that and any succeeding year.
13. Any player (not coming under rule 12) who shall change his residence from one district to another after June 1 in any year shall be considered to be attached to his original district until the end of the current system only, and shall then, on making application before May 1 in the succeeding year, become attached to his new district.
14. That the clubs representing the districts of East Adelaide, West Adelaide, and Barossa be allowed a handicap of two men when playing against the clubs at present styled Port Adelaide, South Adelaide, and Norwood, such handicap to be abolished for each or any club at any time by a two-thirds majority of the Association .
15. That in all matches other than specified all clubs play twenty men a side.
16. That two delegates be appointed from each of the above clubs to legislate and adjudicate on all matters connected with football in South Australia
17. That at the conclusion of the present football season footballers be notified by public advertisement of the proposed changes, and invited to form clubs for the district at present un-allotted, and that such advertisement be issued once per week from February 1, 1897, until such time as the Association shall think proper.
18. That the constitution of the South Australian Football Association shall remain as at present, save and except where altered herein.
19. That any and every club coming under the control of the Association shall have equal rights with those clubs at present constituting the Association.
20. That any club wishing to play a player residing outside any of the above specified electoral districts can only do son on such player supplying to and receiving permission from the Association to play with such club.
21. Penalties for any infringement of any of the foregoing rules to be forfeiture of a match by the club playing an unauthorized player and disqualification of such player during the pleasure of the Association.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I don't know how much value this is, but I can search further into Norwood's Annual Reports if you want me to.

According to the book "80 Years of Football - Norwood Football Club 1878-1961", I see listings for W.B.Griffiths as a Committee Member from 1896 to 1913 inc. (not listed in 1901), and a delegate to the SAFA 1905, 1906 and to the SANFL 1907-1913 inc.

It appears he passed away in 1914 as the Annual Report records the following:

During the season the club lost one of its finest administrators in Mr W.B.Griffiths. He was an official for 30 years and spent a great deal of his spare time in working for the betterment of the club.

What specific things are you looking for LL? I'll see if I can find out for you.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Here's something you probably knew LL, but I'll post it anyway.

The first Norwood-North Adelaide game of the 1899 season was the centre of a storm. The result of the match was Norwood 7-9, North Adelaide 7-8. With little or no facts to go on, it is apparent that there was some confusion regarding the length of the match as the Norwood timekeeper, Mr George Fisher, was asked to appear before the S.A.F.A.

No facts concerning the enquiry are available, but the upshot was that the S.A.F.A. declared the match a draw at 7 goals 9 behinds each.

[Leaping Lindner]

I don't know how much value this is, but I can search further into Norwood's Annual Reports if you want me to.

According to the book "80 Years of Football - Norwood Football Club 1878-1961", I see listings for W.B.Griffiths as a Committee Member from 1896 to 1913 inc. (not listed in 1901), and a delegate to the SAFA 1905, 1906 and to the SANFL 1907-1913 inc.

It appears he passed away in 1914 as the Annual Report records the following:

During the season the club lost one of its finest administrators in Mr W.B.Griffiths. He was an official for 30 years and spent a great deal of his spare time in working for the betterment of the club.

What specific things are you looking for LL? I'll see if I can find out for you.

That's a great start Hawk. Believe it or not I don't know his first name!!! Every article I have seen that references him refers to him as W.B.
His death is 1914 is a good lead I may be able to find an obit in The Register.

[Adelaide Hawk]

LL, I have the answer.

His name is William Blanchard Griffiths, and he passed away 29th November 1914.

Here is the story I located in the Observer, 5 December 1914, Page 42.

Regret will be felt at the announcement of the death of Mr W.B.Griffiths, which occurred at his residence at Close Street, Rose Park on Sunday evening. The deceased gentleman was for many years a highly respected officer of the Telegraph Department, and at the time of his death held the office of supervisor.

He was a notable football enthusiast, and originator of the electorate football system in this state. For many years he was associated with the Norwood Football Club as delegate to the Football League, and it is rather a pathetic circumstance that when, a few days ago, he was elected a life member of the league, his health would not permit him to attend the meeting to receive the certificate of the membership.

The officials of the league paid him a delicate compliment by waiting on him at his home, and there presenting him with the certificate.

Apparently his obituary also appears in the Register, 30th November 1914 on Page 4.

Speaking with Norwood Historian Chris Lane, it appears there will be a push for his inclusion in Norwood's Hall of Fame.

[Leaping Lindner]

LL, I have the answer.

His name is William Blanchard Griffiths, and he passed away 29th November 1914.

Here is the story I located in the Observer, 5 December 1914, Page 42.

Regret will be felt at the announcement of the death of Mr W.B.Griffiths, which occurred at his residence at Close Street, Rose Park on Sunday evening. The deceased gentleman was for many years a highly respected officer of the Telegraph Department, and at the time of his death held the office of supervisor.

He was a notable football enthusiast, and originator of the electorate football system in this state. For many years he was associated with the Norwood Football Club as delegate to the Football League, and it is rather a pathetic circumstance that when, a few days ago, he was elected a life member of the league, his health would not permit him to attend the meeting to receive the certificate of the membership.

The officials of the league paid him a delicate compliment by waiting on him at his home, and there presenting him with the certificate.

Apparently his obituary also appears in the Register, 30th November 1914 on Page 4.

Speaking with Norwood Historian Chris Lane, it appears there will be a push for his inclusion in Norwood's Hall of Fame.

Thanks Hawk. That's a huge help!!! The more I read about him the more impressed I am. He genuinely had the good of football at heart and was quite an adversary of the South and Port delegates. A definite worthy HOF inclusion IMO.

[am Bays]

If W.B.Griffith is teh primary architect of what we now know as the zoning system he should be a candidate for the SANFL Hall of Fame not just the Norwood one.

8. That the electoral district of Sturt be allotted to a club to be called the South Adelaide, or other name.

Maybe the Sturt/South merger mentioned on the SANFL main board has some historical merit....

[Leaping Lindner]

If W.B.Griffith is teh primary architect of what we now know as the zoning system he should be a candidate for the SANFL Hall of Fame not just the Norwood one.

8. That the electoral district of Sturt be allotted to a club to be called the South Adelaide, or other name.

Maybe the Sturt/South merger mentioned on the SANFL main board has some historical merit....

It seems strange that he hasn't even been considered but then again he had the mis-fortune to be involved in SA Footy prior to world war two
Looking back on the history of league footy in SA it probably still remains the biggest change ever (apart from the Crows and Port entering the AFL).