Timeline of Australian Football 1901

Timeline of Australian Football 1901 - 1950

Sunday, 28 June 2009 21:49

1901

1902

The NSW Referee's Union was formed.

Competition begins in SA - three clubs Woodville, North Adelaide, South Adelaide

1903

English cricketer Gilbert Jessop requests a £3000 guarantee to bring out to Australia and New Zealand, an English Association football team. Games would be played in NSW, Western Australia, Wellington and Dunedin.

1904

NSW travels to New Zealand.

1905

New Zealand tours NSW.

1906

100 Clubs registered in NSW

1908
Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association formed.

1909
Victorian competition re-organised. Dockerty Cup begins.

1912
Granville Team and Association Annual Dinner

1913

Interstate game between NSW and Victoria reinstated after 25 years.

1914

Commonwealth Referee's Association Formed

1915

1916
Over 1000 recognised football players serving in the AIF

8th August : The South Hobart Club present the Fater of Tasmanian Football, JB Honeysett with a gold smoking pipe as a small token of their appreciation for him introducing 'the beautiful and clever game of association football to them'. Honeysett's son JH, would later travel to France and fight in WWI where he was wounded.

1917
First AIF teams plays in France

James (Judy) Masters (1898-1955) was born in Balgownie, Southern NSW, into a football family and captained his school team at the age of 12. He joined Balgownie in 1901 and was selected for the senior team at the age of 15 in 1904. Masters went on to captain Balgownie, South Coast, NSW and Australia, playing 22 times for the national team, including 13 full Internationals, scoring 12 goals and captaining from 1923 to 1925. Know as the 'Little Master', he was recognised in his centre forward role as one of Australia's best players before and during his time. He joined the Army in World War One and led an AIF team which was formed in France when peace came in 1918. During his career, Masters was never cautioned by a referee in more than 400 club and representative games.

1919
Returned servicemen boost ranks - ASA back on the agenda

8 teams in Victoria.

1920

23 July (Melbourne) : Soccer enthusiasts are delighted at the re-establishment of the annual "international" match, which is to be played at Fitzroy on Saturday. The game was played each year before the war, but when the tocain sounded for the "greater game'* there was no Englishman left to play, and so the British Association code languished. Now back from the front the "soccer" men are at their game again, and the international England v. Scotland will be played on Saturday.

The teams are as follows :

English.-J. Robinson, J Lamb, R Longthorp, W Barrett, P, O'Hara, J Grieve, G. Brown, G. Maxwell. W Church, and E. Thomas.

Scotch : J Baird, J. Ogilvy, G. Raitt, J. Sheppard, J. Cameron, T. Spencer, W. Biggart, R Robertson, T. Lowe, L. Carr, and A. Fletcher.

One thousand spectators turn up to Middle Park to see Melbourne Thistle take on Osborne House (Geelong Submarine Base). There were 16 teams competing in Victoria.

1921

The conference of the Commonwealth Football Association, which has been proceeding for the last three days in the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association rooms, came to an end yesterday, when the visiting delegates left for Sydney.

The delegates reported rapid progress of the game in their States. In Sydney 104 schools are competing in different grades, Victoria being the only State in which the game is not being played in the schools. In discussing the possibility of bringing out an English Association team it was found that, owing to the inability of the association to raise funds, the project would lie abandoned for a time.

Meanwhile steps are being taken in New Zealand, Queensland, and New South Wales to raise the necessary money. Other States will also be called upon to contribute amounts to be fixed.

The following office-bearers were elected;- President Mr. H. Dockerty (Victoria); vice-presidents, Messrs. W. A. Cumming (Victoria), A. McDowell (WA), C. F Barlow (NSW), M. T. Thompson (SA), Major Cottreil-Dormer (Tasmania), J. W Kendall (Queensland); secretary, Mr EH Lukeman (NSW)

1922

First International tour by an Australian National team - to New Zealand

1923

At the Amateur Sports Club yesterday the annual conference of the Commonwealth Football Association (Soccer) was commenced.

The delegates discussed the question of arranging a series of interstate matches to be played against a New Zealand team which will tour Australia this year. Another important matter before the Conference was the bringing out this year of an English team, the cost of which is estimated at £12,000.

The English Association had not yet been able to arrange the tour. It was hopeful of doing so, and had referred the question again to the international selection committee. If a tour in 1923 could not be arranged, a visit in 1924 is certain.

One method of financing the tour considered by the delegates was the issuing of non-interest bearing debentures, the amount to be taken up by the States and New Zealand, being as follows: New Zealand and New South Wales, £3,000, Queensland, £2,000; and £750 by the four other States.

Hong Kong "Chinese" University team tours.

Australia and New Zealand compete for the 'Anzac Ashes' - The Secretary of the Queensland Football Association donated a Razor Case he had with him at Gallipoli during WW1. The two captains, Gibb (Australia) and Campbell (New Zealand) smoked cigars at two dinners arranged on the tour. The cigar ashes were then put into the mounted razor case (please see image).

1924

Canadian team visits - plays 6 games.

See the Canadian tour gallery HERE

The Argus Newspaper reports that in 1923 40 gross of soccer balls were manufactured. In 1924 that figure rose to 144. This was of concern to the Victorian Football Association (Aussie Rules)

The Commonwealth Football Association receives a telegram from London confirming that an English FA tour will take place next year beginning in May. £6,500 was initially raised to fund the tour and it was estimated by the CFA, that £8,000 to £9,000 would eventually be needed. An appeal was made to the various State Associations, including teams and supporters to help raise the funds.

1925

4th April (London) : The English FA team leave Tilbury, travelling to Australia by the steamer Orsova. The FA team manager was 70 year old John Lewis.

See the English FA Tour Gallery HERE

At the MCG 10,600 spectators turned up to see the match between Australia and England. It is reported that at 2.30pm the crowd was small but in the last half hour, the crowd came very thickly. A ticket to the stand cost 3/6, whilst a general admission ticket was 2/. The MCG authorities were extremely pleased at the 995 pounds that were taken in gate receipts.

8th March (Melbourne) : A 5-a-side tournament is held at Newport's ground. Twenty four teams entered the knockout competition, with teams from Geelong, Lincoln Mills, Preston, Footscray Thistle, Brunswick, Spotswood and Albert Park taking part.

26th May (Melbourne) : The English FA team travel to Olinda for a bush lunch before heading to Sydney.

6th June (Melbourne) : A dispute between the Referee's Association and the Victorian Amateur British Football League resulted in the referees refusing to to take the field. Volunteers stood in, and the round was played.

1926

Colac defeat Fords in the final of Western District Soccer Football Association, Madden Cup 2-0. Fords lsot player Allen early in the match after a collision with Colac halfback Lees. He was transported to hosital with concussion.

William George Madden was a Geelong real estate agent, President of the WDSFA as well as Vice-President of the Victorian Soccer Association. He passed away 2 years later, and in his will, left 25 pounds to the WDSFA.

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Nearly 70 teams, including junior sides, compete in the 1st round of the Victorian Soccer season.

22 January (Melbourne) : The council of the Victorian Amateur British Football Association and members of the Victorian League, the Victorian Referees' Association, and the Junior Association, met at the Amateur Sports Club last night to bid farewell to Mr. A.E Gibbs, who has been on a health tour of this country.

He introduced the English game to Victoria in 1884. In 1885 he conducted and captained a team to play New South Wales in Sydney, and a year later he took a team to New Zealand. Mr. Gibbs was treasurer of the New Zealand Association for 19 years, after which he took up his present duties in London as the Commonwealth representative of the English Football Association.

1927

Major dispute in NSW over sham-amateurism of State Officials

13 December : A sensation has been caused in Association Football circles by the announcement of the formation of a new body under the name of the New South Wales State Soccer League. This development is the outcome of differences between a number of clubs and the New South Wales Football Association, which has existed for a very long time. Meetings of the two bodies have been held with a view to entering into a satisfactory arrangement, but these have proved fruitless. Ten clubs, including most of the strongest in the State, have linked up with the league, and it is considered possible that others will join. A circular has been sent to the various clubs by the association asking them to be loyal and to stand by the old management.

Accompanying the circular is another pointing out that by associating themselves with the new movement players automatically disqualify themselves from any chance of a trip to New Zealand next season, or from taking part in Interstate games, and the association intends to form teams in districts that may go over to the new body. This has had no effect on the 10 clubs referred to, which pointed out that they have the best players in their teams and that the Association's field for selection will be extremely limited and the quality will be poor. Application will be made for the affiliation of the State League with the New South Wales Soccer Football Association, and in the event of failure a further application will be made for afliliatlon with the Commonwealth Association.

Bohemia (Czech) tour

Hong Kong Chinese team tour

1928

Tour of Dutch East Indies. (23 matches)

13 February (Melbourne) : A message from Sydney states that the Australian Soccer Association is unlikely to entertain offers from Spain and Jugoslavia to send teams to Australia this year. An incitation from Java however for an Australian team to be sent there in August will be referred to all State Associations for their comments. The proposal that married and single players be paid 10/ and 5/ a day respectively while touring New Zealand is unlikely to be favourably received.

11th September : Considerable discussion is taking place in soccer circles concerning a proposal that a European team, probably from Germany, should visit Australia next season, and that an Australian side should visit the United States and British Columbia to play matches against teams in those countries at the end of the 1929 season in Australia. Mr. S. A. D. Storey, president of the Australian Soccer Football Association is in Adelaide to meet the council of the State Association to discuss the proposed tours. It is suggested by the United States that the tour of an Australian side should be of 6 months duration, and that touring players should be native born.

1929

Victorian team heads to South Australian for the 1st round of the States competition for the British Football Association trophy, which is held by Victoria. The first game takes place on 20th July.

1930

1931
Tour of Dutch East Indies (13 matches)

5th May (Sydney) : The Australian Soccer Association has decided to oppose the proposed visit of a Soviet soccer team to Australia. THe Soviet Government is reported to be behind an application for permission to send a team to Australia. THe application was made to the State Leagues of NSW and Queensland but it was pointed out that Australia association had sole control of international fixtures and if any attempt is made to override it's authority, local players will be prevented from taking part in future international matches.

1932
NSW State league granted affiliation with Australian Soccer Association, after a break of 4 years. NSW hosts All-Australian State Carnival in Sydney. 5 States compete.

In the Queensland Vs Victoria game at Wallsend, Victoria were leading 3-1 at halftime before the Queenslanders fought back to take the lead 4-3 with 2 goals each for Kitching and Worrell. Forest saved Victoria's blushes with an equaliser just before the end of the game.

1933
Australian team tours New Caledonia for three tests.

1934
First paid secretary and a central office established in Sydney.

1935

1937
Herbert Chapman's legacy was finally revealed to Australians on the 1937 tour by an English Amateur XI. Although Australia registered an
historic series win, local officials began to take notice of the need for qualified coaching personnel.

1938

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1939
In 1939 the Gladesville-Ryde club appointed the first professional soccer coach in Australia, Bobby Walker, who had played professionally for Scotland's Motherwell FC and Falkirk FC and had attended FA coaching courses before becoming player-coach at the Hibernians club in Malta.

1940