SA Footy

Sorry if this has been done before but I was curious as to when clubs adopted their nicknames or emblems.

I always thought South Adelaide were known as the Panthers but after finding this "In 1957 the Club adopted the Panther as its emblem together with the motto "Fight On, Fight Ever". I was surprised it took so long for clubs to do this and I was wondering when other clubs adopted an identity of sorts.

Were South known as anything else before the Panthers ?

I know Westies have had a few different nicknames but if dates and reasons could be supplied it would make it more interesting reading the reasons why etc.

South 1957 - Panthers - previous The Blues
Port 1902 - Magpies - previous Cockledivers, Mudholians, Portonians, Magentas.
Sturt 1901 - Double Blues
North 1965 - Roosters - previous The O'Connell Street Clan , The Northerners, The City Men, The Reds
Norwood 1878 - 1958 Redlegs, Demons 1959 - 1965, Redlegs 1966 - present.
Central District 1959 - Bulldogs

Before becoming the Magpies in 1902 Port were also known as...

Cockledivers
Magentas
Mudholians
Portonians

Magpiespower wrote:Before becoming the Magpies in 1902 Port were also known as...

Cockledivers
Magentas
MudholiansPortonians

huh?!?!?!

smithy wrote:Were South known as anything else before the Panthers ?

While Sturt have been known as the Double Blues since their formation in 1901, it's interesting to note that the 1899 premiers, South, were referred to at the time as "The Blues".

North began life as Medindie(in 1888) and in those days were known as The Dingoes.
Once the name was changed to North (in 1893) all references to The Dingoes stopped.
Prior to WW1 they were known in the press by various names "The O'Connell Street Clan" , "The Northerners" or "The City Men" amongst them.
In the twenties and thirties The Cock of The North (+) crept into being, and they were known by this until sometime in the 60's when they officially become the Roosters.

(+)From the Footy Budget in 1938....


NB - North/Medindie have always been red and white although in the early days the "red" was more a dark scarlet.

baggy8 wrote:

smithy wrote:Were South known as anything else before the Panthers ?

While Sturt have been known as the Double Blues since their formation in 1901, it's interesting to note that the 1899 premiers, South, were referred to at the time as "The Blues".

And the North "The Reds".

LOL, obviously took a while for political correctness to take hold ...

dedja wrote:LOL, obviously took a while for political correctness to take hold ...

We in the cheer squad use to love yelling out "Come on Cocks." to outraged looks from opposition fans.

And to think Gra Gra got banned for his crow call ...

dedja wrote:And to think Gra Gra got banned for his crow call ...

I use to do that at Crows games after every goal as well. Oh, the Carlton supporters at Princes Park "loved" it.

Thanks Leaping - Have added it to the list and will edit the correct year The Roosters came into being when I find out.

EDIT - This from fullpoints footy - but in 1963 the Roosters - as they were by now popularly known - made the grand final from 3rd after finals wins over West Adelaide (by 4 goals) and West Torrens (by 2 points).

smithy wrote:Thanks Leaping - Have added it to the list and will edit the correct year The Roosters came into being when I find out.

EDIT - This from fullpoints footy - but in 1963 the Roosters - as they were by now popularly known - made the grand final from 3rd after finals wins over West Adelaide (by 4 goals) and West Torrens (by 2 points).

Cheers Smithy. I've been doing research as to when the nicknames became official. 1963 could well be the year but I'm going to dig further.
FWIW the "original" North Adelaide 1883-84(no relation) wore orange and black and were known as The Tigers.

Oh the irony.

Leaping Lindner wrote:North/Medindie have always been red and white although in the early days the "red" was more a dark scarlet.

Up until 1975 North's guernsey was a much darker red, similar to Prospect cricket club's red. I believe that North (like Fitzroy's dark maroon) had to change to a brighter red for colour TV.

Leaping Lindner wrote: I've been doing research as to when the nicknames became official. 1963 could well be the year but I'm going to dig further.

According to former North stalwart and historian the late Colin Walsh, North only officially became the roosters in 1965, when they were granted a liquor licence and operated that arm of the club as the roosters club.

I vividly remember my Dad pinning up in my bedroom the Dan Russell poster of a Rooster standing on top of a strangled demon after the 1960 Grand Final win, so North at least unofficially were the roosters in

For those who were unaware, Dan Russell was a legendary SA cartoonist who produced posters similar to the Weg posters for the Sunday Mail. Also Norwood were known as the Demons from 1959 until about 1965.

Torrens became the Eagles in the early 1950s and then commenced wearing their "clown outfit" with the big Eagle in 1955.

robranisgod wrote:Torrens became the Eagles in the early 1950s and then commenced wearing their "clown outfit" with the big Eagle in 1955.

I should know this but what were Torrens before they were the Eagles ?
Didn't West Torrens grow out of the old Port natives football club.

robranisgod wrote:

Leaping Lindner wrote: I've been doing research as to when the nicknames became official. 1963 could well be the year but I'm going to dig further.

According to former North stalwart and historian the late Colin Walsh, North only officially became the roosters in 1965, when they were granted a liquor licence and operated that arm of the club as the roosters club.

I vividly remember my Dad pinning up in my bedroom the Dan Russell poster of a Rooster standing on top of a strangled demon after the 1960 Grand Final win, so North at least unofficially were the roosters in

For those who were unaware, Dan Russell was a legendary SA cartoonist who produced posters similar to the Weg posters for the Sunday Mail. Also Norwood were known as the Demons from 1959 until about 1965.

Thanks for that robranisgod.
So if 1965 is official for the rooster nickname I'll change it to that.
Was that an official nickname/emblem change for Norwood between 1959-65 ?

robranisgod wrote:Torrens became the Eagles in the early 1950s and then commenced wearing their "clown outfit" with the big Eagle in 1955.

I reckon the eagle lace up was a brilliant looking top.
Beg to differ on that one.

robranisgod wrote:Norwood were known as the Demons from 1959 until about 1965.

Alan Killigrew brought that in when he came to coach to give Norwood a more fearsome image. And FWIW, I liked the big Eagle too

About 100 years ago, Torrens were known as the "Hindmarsh Men".