Where it all began....
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:02 amThe following is an article from "The Register" May 1st 1877, describing the meeting that formed the South Australian Football Association (S.A.F.A), and the adoption of 'Victorian' rules.
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
On Monday Evening, April 30, a largely attended meeting of delegates from most of the Football Clubs of the colony was held in the Prince Alfred Hotel, Mr. Kennedy presiding.
The following Football Clubs were represented by two delegates each : - South Park, Willunga, Port Adelaide, Adelaide, North Adelaide, Prince Alfred College, Gawler, Kapunda, Bankers, Woodville, South Adelaide, Kensington, and Victorian.
Mr. Twopeny produced the By-laws of the Sydney Football Association, and the meeting proceeded to consider the principles of these By-laws with a view to adopting them or a modification of them. The rules were considered and adopted with modifications, it being further resolved to admit School Clubs into the Association. It was then decided to have one President and ten Vice-Presidents.
The Victorian playing rules were considered, and amongst others it was decided to have posts of unlimited height ; also, that each Club joining the Association should send five representatives to a special annual meeting. A discussion arose upon the question of running with the ball or bouncing it every five or six yards. Mr. Twopeny spoke very warmly in favour running with the ball, urging that it was a sine qua non of genuine football, and that, from English experience, he could vouch for there being no disputes when this rule was played ; whereas bouncing the ball had lead to endless rows here, and left a great deal too much to umpire. Mr. Kingston on the other hand, said that experienced Victorian players bore witness to there being no disputes with the bouncing rules, and he opposed Mr. Twopeny’s view. He thought that the Melbourne rules should as far as possible be adopted, and this rule was an essential to an intercolonial match.
The meeting finally adopted the Victorian rule as it stood, which allows of bouncing. The oval ball was adopted, and several other matters decided, the result of the meeting being that the Victorian playing rules were adopted almost in toto, though pushing behind was, after considerable discussion, forbidden.
Mr. Nowell Twopeny was unanimously elected Honorary Secretary, and Mr. J.R. Osborne Honorary Secretary. A Match Committee consisting of Messrs. Rudall, Edwards, Osborne, Atkinson, Sinclair, Kingston, Harris, Whitfield, Mouldes, Wells, and Twopeny, was appointed. Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman and Mr. Moulden, who acted as Secretary for the evening ; and all further proceedings were adjourned to a general meeting, which will have to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of delegates.
(From “The Register” May 1st 1877)
The first results I can find are from Saturday May 12th were Adelaide beat Bankers 4 goals to 1 on the "Old Adelaide Ground" , and Port Adelaide beat Kensington 3 goals to nil on Kensington Oval.
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
On Monday Evening, April 30, a largely attended meeting of delegates from most of the Football Clubs of the colony was held in the Prince Alfred Hotel, Mr. Kennedy presiding.
The following Football Clubs were represented by two delegates each : - South Park, Willunga, Port Adelaide, Adelaide, North Adelaide, Prince Alfred College, Gawler, Kapunda, Bankers, Woodville, South Adelaide, Kensington, and Victorian.
Mr. Twopeny produced the By-laws of the Sydney Football Association, and the meeting proceeded to consider the principles of these By-laws with a view to adopting them or a modification of them. The rules were considered and adopted with modifications, it being further resolved to admit School Clubs into the Association. It was then decided to have one President and ten Vice-Presidents.
The Victorian playing rules were considered, and amongst others it was decided to have posts of unlimited height ; also, that each Club joining the Association should send five representatives to a special annual meeting. A discussion arose upon the question of running with the ball or bouncing it every five or six yards. Mr. Twopeny spoke very warmly in favour running with the ball, urging that it was a sine qua non of genuine football, and that, from English experience, he could vouch for there being no disputes when this rule was played ; whereas bouncing the ball had lead to endless rows here, and left a great deal too much to umpire. Mr. Kingston on the other hand, said that experienced Victorian players bore witness to there being no disputes with the bouncing rules, and he opposed Mr. Twopeny’s view. He thought that the Melbourne rules should as far as possible be adopted, and this rule was an essential to an intercolonial match.
The meeting finally adopted the Victorian rule as it stood, which allows of bouncing. The oval ball was adopted, and several other matters decided, the result of the meeting being that the Victorian playing rules were adopted almost in toto, though pushing behind was, after considerable discussion, forbidden.
Mr. Nowell Twopeny was unanimously elected Honorary Secretary, and Mr. J.R. Osborne Honorary Secretary. A Match Committee consisting of Messrs. Rudall, Edwards, Osborne, Atkinson, Sinclair, Kingston, Harris, Whitfield, Mouldes, Wells, and Twopeny, was appointed. Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman and Mr. Moulden, who acted as Secretary for the evening ; and all further proceedings were adjourned to a general meeting, which will have to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of delegates.
(From “The Register” May 1st 1877)
The first results I can find are from Saturday May 12th were Adelaide beat Bankers 4 goals to 1 on the "Old Adelaide Ground" , and Port Adelaide beat Kensington 3 goals to nil on Kensington Oval.