Centrals early history

[oldfella]

While Centrals show due recognition (and quite rightly) to the first league team and it is unquestionable that this is when the Central District Football Club commenced in the SANFL senior competition.

I find it sad that there is no recognition of those who played for the two years prior in the reserves competition where all the basics of the club was set in place ---- These people (officials, players & vol) are the start of Centrals IMO.

Anyone have any information on these beginning years of early Central Districts (officials, players & vol) as I cannot find any record & my Uncle was involved (family History thing).

[spell_check]

Five years actually, 1959 was the first year for both Woodville and Central in the other grades.

They opposed each other in the first Round of that year, the results being:
Reserves:
Woodville 0.3 7.11 10.13 13.18 (96)
Central 2.2 3.2 5.8 5.8 (38)

The Senior Colts drew with 7.5 each, and Central won the Junior Colts, 10.15 to 7.9.

Central had the following positions in the Reserves between 1959 and 1963: 10th, 10th, 3rd, 10th and 8th.
They defeated Glenelg in the 1st Semi of 1961, 11.15 to 8.13, then went down to Norwood in the Preliminary 15.14 to 9.9.

[Adelaide Hawk]

According to "South Australian Football 1860-1965", the first Patron of Central District in 1959 was the Footscray FC (VFL). I would be interested to know what role (if any) Footscray took in that season.

[Leaping Lindner]

According to "South Australian Football 1860-1965", the first Patron of Central District in 1959 was the Footscray FC (VFL). I would be interested to know what role (if any) Footscray took in that season.

I know they provided them with jumpers but beyond that......

[smac]

There was also some very good moral support from the FFC but that was it.

[Sojourner]

Here is a small piece that I found on the CDFC website, amazing what a rich history the Doggies have when you go looking!

THE BIRTH OF CENTRALS
Robert Laidlaw and Peter Broelman

Football in the Northern Suburbs during the 1950's was dominated by the Gawler Football League (Salisbury, Salisbury North, Gawler South, Willaston, Gawler Central and Virginia/Two Wells). This league had A and B grades but no junior structure or development.

In 1956 a junior football competition was founded by local football identities based at Salisbury Oval. This new structure soon became a successful sporting activity and was quickly affiliated with the SANFL.

Fred Rogers, Secretary of the Gawler League and heavily involved with the junior competition, made an unofficial approach to SANFL President Thomas Seymour-Hill regarding an admission of a League club from the growing Northern suburbs. Fred Rogers was to be instrumental in forming the network that was to ultimately lead to the formation of the SANFL Club while those associated with the Junior League were to serve in the new entity's administration. Rogers was told that the SANFL would not entertain a single application. It was known that a consortium from Woodville were also considering an application. After several meetings in 1958 both the Gawler League/Junior Competition and Woodville agreed to make a joint submission to the SANFL.

Officials then faced the difficult task of designing the new entity with delegates from Salisbury, Salisbury North, Elizabeth and Gawler failing to reach consensus on issues such as the Club name and home ground. Eventually the new identity was reached - Central District (derived from the agricultural and meterological definition of the Northern area) was to play its games at Elizabeth Oval (a neutral venue as far as the delegates were concerned). The name Central District was already synonymous with a Queen's Birthday Holiday Football Carnival contested by the Gawler, Barossa, Adelaide Plains and Mid-North Leagues.

The colours of red, white and blue of Footscray in the VFL were suggested by Rogers. Centrals very first guernseys were hand-made by Mrs Rogers.

Not all SANFL Clubs were in favour of the submission. After strong lobbying from Thomas Seymour-Hill and Jack Forrester from North Adelaide the Central District and Woodville submissions were accepted only on the proviso that they serve a 5 year probationary period (1959 to 1963) in B-grade before being admitted into the SANFL competition in 1964.

Central District, with no team, no money, no supporters and no experience in League football, gladly accepted these terms. John Delo was Centrals first Captain and Charlie Pyatt Coach. During this period the team was place third in 1961, won a local "night" Premiership in 1962 and Gary Window won the reserves Magarey Medal in 1963. The Club also formed the Central District Football Association with local football clubs.

In 1960 the committee of Footscray (in the VFL) accepted an invitation to dine with the new Central District committee. Footscray became the first Patron of the Central District Football Club, donating 30 long sleeve woollen jumpers and 30 pairs of socks to assist the new club.

http://cdfc.com.au/history.htm

[Adelaide Hawk]

Well, there you go. I always suspected they chose those colours because they played at Elizabeth and adopted the sporting colours of the UK.

[oldfella]

Thanks guys

[JamesH]

I also note with interest that there is a club crest from 1959 in the CDFC clubrooms where the club is called 'Central Districts'

[Adelaide Hawk]

I also note with interest that there is a club crest from 1959 in the CDFC clubrooms where the club is called 'Central Districts'

Yes, I find that interesting as well. As a kid I recall when Central and Woodville came into the league in 1964, and a number of times they were refered to as Central Districts. Even the 1964 Coca Cola bottle tops listed the players under Central Districts.

There seemed to be some confusion for awhile as to the correct spelling of their name, but I never understood how that confusion could have occured. Possibly the team in WAFL Swan Districts caused the confusion.

Maybe at some time pre-1964 they actually called themselves Central Districts but then decided on a more unified name? Who knows, it would be interesting if anyone has any knowledge of this.