williamstown football club past players

Our aim is to build a strong foundation that is both professional and sustainable and sets Port Melbourne Football Club up as a destination club for female and male footballers, coaches, staff and volunteers. The 2023 Carlton Football Club season will be the Carlton Football Club's 160th season of competition.. He was also elected to the committee of the Melbourne Cricket Club in 1871 and was vice-president from 1892 until his death in 1929 at the age of 92. Also, 1870 was the first year that the Club had a recorded president in Alfred Thomas Clark, local MLA for 17 years and founder of the Williamstown Advertiser, and local printer, Duncan McLeod, was the first recorded secretary since Hugh Ronald Reid in 1860. Players - Williamstown Football Club The Williamstown Chronicle reported on April 21, 1870, that so few members attended the annual meeting in respect of the 1869 season, that a club could not be formed. The first secretary-treasurer was John Christison, the first captain J. Doull and D. Dorgan vice-president. For some unknown reason, the Club did not appear to continue with the 'Third Twenty' in 1877. document.getElementById('cloak98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc').innerHTML = ''; The invitation to participate in formulating rule changes for season 1860 would not have been extended to the Williamstown Club if it did not exist or was not regarded as a bona-fide team by the Melbourne Football Club, which called the meeting. The same scoreline was registered in a game against Hawthorn, also at theGardens (Fearon) Reserve onJune 19, with Trott the only multiple goalkicker. One of the new 'junior' clubs that emerged was Cecil, which would soon become South Melbourne and would go on to win five VFA premierships, an effort only surpassed by Geelong during the pre-VFL era. 1888 VFA season - Wikipedia Statue of Alfred Thomas Clark in Williamstown Botanical Gardens, the Football Club's first recorded president in 1870 and who would serve 11 years in that role over three terms (1870-71, 1873-1875 and 1882-1887). Page 1 of 7. Again no goals were scored and the match was declared a draw. The Argus of June 23 1873 stated that 'the Williamstown ground, which is .. one of the worst that could be selected for football purposes, as independent of being almost a quagmire, it is covered in different places with large pieces of bluestone which makes it very dangerous to play upon.' Military Wiki. Bert Reitman: Played 126 games and kicked 10 goals between 1907 and 1914. SJ Fowler was one of the early secretaries and one of their first captains was Johnny Rees, a former Williamstown player. The Melbourne Herald reported on July 5, 1865, that the Williamstown Council granted the football club approval to use Market Reserve for the 1865 season. He was a cousin of Henry Harrison. Two other sons, Jack and Percy, also played for 'Town, in 1909 and 1928, respectively. He was a cousin of Tom Wills. An improved total of 19 goals were scored while 22 were kicked against the Villagers. A solid defender who joined the club from Collingwood. John Alexander Springhall senior became just the second president of the Club in 1872 for one year only, replacing Alfred Thomas Clark who had been in the role in 1870 and 1871 but Clark returned to the position in 1873. The first ground used by Williamstown was the Market Reserve, opposite St Mary's Catholic Church, and bounded by Cecil, Cole and Hanmer Streets. Mark Fotheringham (Australian footballer), Dick Harris (Australian rules footballer), Ben Kennedy (Australian rules footballer), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Williamstown_Football_Club_players&oldid=867053321, This page was last edited on 3 November 2018, at 09:17. The Captain, Bob Waycott, and vice-captain, John Charles Frederick Ulbrick, who were both re-appointed at the meeting for the 1878 season, instituted a fine of one shilling for players who failed to turn up for games without a valid excuse. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 03-03-23. Affiliation (Historical) Victorian Football Association (VFA) 1884-1995. Williamstown Chronicle, September 2, 1876. This state of affairs were not uncommon around the 1870's and, even if Williamstown played only one or two scratch matches, or none at all, it is entitled to claim a continuity of existence from a much earlier point as there were no other clubs playing in Williamstown at that time. Geelong won their first of seven VFA premierships in this season, ending the dominance of Melbourne and Carlton over Victorian football. T. Crane was appointed captain of the Second Twenty for 1878 with C. Hernan vice-captain. This club is a great organisation like many football clubs it has a great reservoir of committed people who are here only to see the club succeed. Williamstown Football Club home of the Seagulls since 1864. Pages in category "Williamstown Football Club players" The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 304 total. Shortty: My first memories of engagement with the Williamstown Football Club go back to the latter years of the Second World War, which would have been around 1945/46 when the VFA resumed after the recess for the war. Sprint Hall: Played 105 games and kicked 8 goals between 1897 and 1906. Games record holder:Ben Jolley 217 (2008-2018), Goals record holder: Ron Todd 672 (1940-1949), Most premierships as coach: Wally Carter 3 (1954-55-56), Longest-serving coach: Gerry Callahan 202 games (1958-67, 118 wins, 81 losses, 3 draws), Longest-serving captain: 6 seasons, Gerry Callahan (1954-59) and Ben Jolley (2012-17), Most premierships as player: 5 Gerry Callahan, Ray Smith & John Ramsay (1954-55-56-58-59), 4 Johnny Martin & Frank Sims(1954-55-56-58)Bob Jones,Jack Evans & Eric Bietzel(1955-56-58-59)Len Kent (1954-56-58-59), 3 Jack Curran, Max Munday, Sid Wookey, Reg Fisher & Alby Linton(1954-55-56) Neil Whittaker (1954-55-58) Colin Wilcox (1939-45-49), Longest-serving president: Trevor Monti 17 years (1999-2015), Norm Goss Medallists: Tony Pastore 1986, Barry Round 1990, Adrian Fletcher 2003, Michael Gibbons 2015, J.J. Liston Trophy winners: Charlie Stanbridge (1933*), Fred Brooks (1935**), Neville Huggins (1936** and 1937*), Arthur Cutting (1938* and 1939**), Des Fothergill (1941*), Johnny Martin (1956), Barry Round (1987), Brett McTaggart (1988), Saade Ghazi (1989), Paul Dooley (1996) and Michael Gibbons (2016 and 2018). 1888 VFA season. 1970's Mal Allen (Coach 1976-77)Great football clubs are more than successful on and off the field; they are more than a place to play and enjoy the game of . It was not unusual for the Club to have to make up the season's programme with matches against the local rowing club, bowling club or even the soldiers from Fort Gellibrand. He added that 'there are no reports about matches played by Booroondara or Williamstown'. The identities of the two players is unknown but it is the oldest photo in the Club's collection. VFLW & VFLW Practice Match Squads Announced - Williamstown Football Club Jack Litchfield then became secretary in 1874 and 1875. A total of 14 goals were kicked by the Seconds and had 8 scored against them. In 1874, the Club played 12 matches, six of which were won, three were lost and three drawn. The Williamstown Football Club held its inaugural Hall of Fame function at Crown Casinon Saturday 31st May 2014. Bob Waycott was captain and P. Conroy vice-captain. Arthur Caldwell: Played 157 games and kicked 4 goals between 1897 and 1910. In a landmark event in football's development, at a meeting on May 22, 1872, at Garton's Hotel in Swanston Street, club delegates/secretaries amended the 1866 rules including a change of ends after half-time instead of each time a goal was scored and authority for umpires to interpret the rules and call infringements and award free kicks rather than just being an arbiter in disputes between captains. The Williamstown Independent newspaper reported on 2 June 1860 (see below) that 'the members of this newly-formed Club enjoyed their first game on Saturday last.' It was the club's seventh VFA premiership, and the last won by its senior team. The following 51 players, officials and volunteers were announced as the inaugural inductees tthe Williamstown Football Club Hall of Fame. All copies of the 1859 rules were thought to be lost, presumably destroyed, until a copy was discovered in a tin trunk at the MCG in 1980. There was also a game against an East Melbourne Twenty at Williamstown on August 5 which, it was reported in The Argus of August 7, that 'resulted, after a well-contested game, in a decisive victory for the former' (East Melbourne), two goals to nil. The team finished 10th out of 17 junior teams. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP3ZLxQ_ObA&feature=related. The Official Facebook page of the Williamstown Football Club. There was an important meeting in the history of the game on May 8, 1866, at the Freemasons Hotel which was chaired by Henry Harrison, when club delegates undertook a revision of the original 'Melbourne' 1859 rules, which were refined and supplemented, the key changes relating to running and carrying the ball and bouncing it at intervals. There is anecdotal evidence that an earlier match took place at St Kilda between Melbourne Grammar and St Kilda Grammar on 5 June, 1858, but this cannot be verified. Bryant was licensee of the Parade Hotel on Wellington Parade where the original Melbourne Rules were drawn up in May 1859. Williamstown Football Club (WFC) has a history dating back to 1864 and is one of the oldest Australian Rules Clubs. 'The Footballer' publication of 1879 stated that the 'Fishing Village is strong in football, and musters three clubs, Williamstown, North Williamstown and Battery United .. although there is not much to choose between the last two. Rutley Brings Back Six Club Legends. Further evidence as to the origins of Williamstown Football Club being attributable to 1860. He returned to Williamstown in 1882 after the amalgamation with Battery United and became captain in 1883. South Melbourne also arose out of the amalgamation of Emerald Hill and Albert Park in May but reverted to the Emerald Hill name the following year and then Albert Park in 1869, while Royal Park disbanded. The Second Twenty played 11 matches of which 4 were won, 3 were lost with 4 draws. Williamstown Football Club won a premiership in each decade of the 1900's except the second 1907, 1921, 1939, 1945, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1969 (Second Division), 1976 (Second Division), 1986 and 1990, followed by two more in 2003 and 2015. It was also reported in the Williamstown Chronicle of August 12 (refer report below) 'the match, which lasted about two hours, was a well-contested one. PAST PLAYERS DAY - Williamstown Superules Football Club | Facebook Bryant also provided the ball that was used in the early games of football that were played on the Richmond Paddock from 1858 onwards. Australian Football - Williamstown Football Club - Stats They were also given the power to stop play and throw the ball in the air to clear a scrimmage and to start the second half. Henry Harrison, captain of Richmond (1861), Melbourne (1861 and 1863-1871), and Geelong (1862 & 1868), was the codifier of the revised rules of 1866. North Melbourne Kangaroos Past Players Lidge's Lounge. Ted Alley: Played 160 games and kicked 20 goals between 1905 and 1915. Richmond appeared on the scene in 1860 but originated out of the cricket club and was not related to the current AFL team and Tom Wills and Henry Harrison both moved across from Melbourne to play with them, with Wills becoming captain of his third club. Eric Beitzel Games: 113 Goals: 0 Team of the Century Position: Back pocket Honours: Premiership player 1955, 56, 58, 59, Max Munday Games: 120 Goals: 6 Team of the Century Position: Full back Honours: Premiership player 1954, 55, 56, John Ramsay Games: 125 Goals: 6 Team of the Century Position: Back pocket Honours: Premiership player 1954, 55, 56, 58, 59, Brett McTaggart Games: 184 Goals: 66 Team of the Century Position: Half back flank Honours: Premiership player 1986, 90; Liston Medal 1988, Gerry Callahan Games: 171 Goals: 75 Team of the Century Position: Centre half back Honours: Premiership player 1954, 55, 56, 58, 59; Best and Fairest 1951, 58, Colin Wilcox Games: 173 Goals: 1 Team of the Century Position: Half back flank Honours: Premiership player 1939, 45, 49; Best and Fairest 1948, Jim Cardwell Games: 70 Team of the Century Position: Wing Honours: Premiership player 1907, 21, Max Papley Games: 54 Goals: 108 Team of the Century Position: Centre Honours: Premiership player 1969, John Martin Games: 133 Goals: 15 Team of the Century Position: Wing Honours: Premiership player 1954, 55, 56, 58; Best and Fairest 1956, 58; Liston Medal -1956, Ray Smith Games: 205 Goals: 161 Team of the Century Position: half forward flank Honours: Premiership Player 1954, 55, 56, 58, 59; best and fairest 1959, 60, 61, Ron Todd Games: 141 Goals: 672 Team of the Century Position: centre half forward Honours: Premiership Player 1945, 49, Ian Rickman Games: 146 Goals: 516 Team of the Century Position: half forward flank Honours: Premiership Player 1986, 90, Harry Simpson Games: 75 Goals: 82 Team of the Century Position: forward pocket Honours: Premiership Player 1954, 55; best and fairest 1954, Mark Fotheringham Games: 101 Goals: 571 Team of the Century Position: full forward Honours: Premiership Player 1986; best and fairest 1982, Saade Ghazi Games: 204 Goals: 291 Team of the Century Position: forward pocket honours: best and fairest 1997; liston medal 1989, Barry Round Games: 110 Goals: 103 Team of the Century Position: ruck Honours: Premiership Player 1986, 90; best and fairest 1987, 88, 89; liston medal 1987, Eric Glass Games: 82 Goals: 54 Team of the Century Position: ruck rover Honours: Premiership Player 1939, 45, Alby Linton Games: 87 Goals: 226 Team of the Century Position: rover Honours: Premiership Player 1954, 55, 56; best and fairest 1955, Reg Harley Games: 117 Goals: 19 HonoursPremiership Player 1945, 54; best and fairest 1946, 47, Bob Jones Games: 130 Goals: 24 Honours: Premiership Player 1955, 56, 58, 59, Len Kent Games: 117 Goals: 15 Honours: Premiership Player 1954, 56, 58, 59, Kim Kershaw Games: 81 Goals: 10 Honours: Premiership Player 1986; best and fairest 1983, 84, 85, 86, Tony Pastore Games: 189 Goals: 150 Honours: Premiership Player 1986, 90, Tom Russell Games: 200 Honours: Premiership Player 1969; best and fairest 1965, Wally Carter 1954-1957 Games: 91 (76 wins 83.5%) Honours: Premiership Coach 1954, 55, 56. In 1886, players wishing to play on the cricket ground ultimately established a rival senior club, the South Williamstown Football Club, which also contested the VFA for two seasons. Thompson was also a long-serving member of the Williamstown Cricket Club, and was its secretary in 1888 when he drew up the agreement by which the football club finally agreed to utilise the present cricket ground for all their home games after the merger with South Williamstown. 471 following. Although odd matches had been played there in the past, including a game against Carlton on 17 August, 1878, that attracted more than 5,000 spectators, most fixtures were played on the Market Reserve. Click to see who will be lining up this weekend for Williamstown, Ben Andrews will be at DSV Stadium in 2023, Click here to find out who has came back to the nest, Powered by ChronoForms - ChronoEngine.com, Admin Office Address: Seagulls Nest, Level 1, 1 Mason Street, Newport 3015, Ground Address:Williamstown Football Ground, Morris Street, Williamstown 3016. It also enhanced recruitment. Moss and Worrell one each. Andrew Rider, a photographer, stationer and newsagent located at 55 (now 177) Nelson Place, Williamstown, from 1863-96 took this portrait which is described on the State Library of Victoria website as being of 'twoWilliamstownfootballers, whole-length, almost full face, man on right chin curtain beard and moustache, both in blue and white uniforms of long sleeved pullovers, pants with striped socks and caps, both standing, man on right with hands on hips, image dated 1879'. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. There was also a 1 goal (kicked by Will Outen) to NIL victory over senior team, Richmond, at Royal Park on September 4. var addy_text98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc = 'admin' + '@' + 'williamstownfc' + '.' + 'com' + '.' + 'au';document.getElementById('cloak98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc').innerHTML += ''+addy_text98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc+'<\/a>'; 2015 Williamstown Footbal Club - Site design by AdTorque Edge. QUICK CONTACT INFO. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; This email address is being protected from spambots. By 1876, The Argus considered 'the Club to be in a very flourishing condition, no less than 102 members being on the books, whereas in past seasons the number has scarcely passed the half century'. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The Williamstown Football Club sends its deepest condolences to the Round . Category:Williamstown Football Club players - Wikipedia var addy_text411e8c6229cee0e943110ba503223fef = 'admin' + '@' + 'williamstownfc' + '.' + 'com' + '.' + 'au';document.getElementById('cloak411e8c6229cee0e943110ba503223fef').innerHTML += ''+addy_text411e8c6229cee0e943110ba503223fef+'<\/a>'; 2015 Williamstown Footbal Club - Site design by AdTorque Edge. The leading goalkickers were C. Percy, F. Raymer and D. Burke with 2 each. Former player of the 1980's, Glen Holder's depiction of the great Ned Kelly during the 1873 season. The Chronicle stated on May 28 that 'thanks to the exertions of Mr Thompson, a sufficient amount was collected last week to purchase a ball and on Saturday afternoon about a dozen players had a friendly game'. Perhaps due to the ground being also used to graze livestock, it was not a good surface for football and was often criticized by visitors. Kelly was just 17yo when he was imprisoned from June 1873 to January 1874 on the floating prison hulk, Sacramento, which was docked at Pt Gellibrand. The Williamstown Football Club is looking to acknowledge the service of these past players. Essendon and West Melbourne were new senior clubs in the VFA in 1878, while the organisation of fixtures continued to be a problem and only nine games of the 16 proposed by Williamstown in 1878 were played. Our Major Partners. The Club was formed in 1864 and has won 15 Premierships in the history of the VFA/VFL competition, including 13 in Division 1, and 2 in . Brunswick and West Melbourne were also on the field by 1865, whereas Geelong almost disbanded in this year due to lack of interest and numbers. Williamstown Football Club - 1976 Preliminary Final - YouTube A 'Third Twenty' was also formed in this season and took to the field for the first time against Battery United at Market Reserve on July 8, winning 4 goals to 2. Williamstown has proved a great training ground for coaches as well. Captain of the past three seasons, Bob Waycott, departed for Sydney at the end of the year and was replaced by D. Burke with P. Conroy vice-captain. Professional Sports Team. Wally Carter and Terry Wheeler both coached VFL/AFL teams after success at Williamstown. Amazingly, 21 goals were kicked during the season with just one major scored against the Villagers. The player welfare and development scene has completely changed over the past decade in Australian Rules Football and Williamstown is taking the steps to ensure the best for their players in and outside the four walls of DSV Stadium. Minnesota school moves into first place past Hinsdale Central (Ill.), Jesuit (Ore.). Furthermore, he was on track to winning the Club best & fairest before being reported for head-butting the emergency umpire in his last game and was subsequently suspended for six matches. On a more positive note, it was reported that 'the number of members obtained during the season reached the large number of 109, which is the largest number yet obtained since the formation of the club'. Williamstown's original colours were black and yellow. Players Profile VFL. The Williamstown Chronicle also reported on 30 June, 1860, (see below) that the football club was to play a 'friendly' scratch match on Market Reserve that day at 10.30 am. By 1875, there were 96 Australian Rules football clubs in Melbourne and its suburbs and 42 clubs in regional areas. As scores were tied at one goal each, the game was resumed two weeks later and, when no goals were scored, the game was adjourned until September 4. var addy98c4d7b017a5593e90d954012576f9fc = 'admin' + '@'; The Age reported on Tuesday, 29 May, 1860, (see below) that the Williamstown Football Club was formed on 18 May, 1860, at the first annual general meeting of the Williamstown Alliance Cricket Club, held at the Mechanics Institute in Electra Street. var addy411e8c6229cee0e943110ba503223fef = 'admin' + '@'; One of the draws was with a strong junior team from Hotham, while they defeated East Melbourne Seconds (twice), South Yarra Seconds and Southern. Reels. Mr W.J. document.getElementById('cloak411e8c6229cee0e943110ba503223fef').innerHTML = ''; Official Instagram page of the Williamstown Football Club. He was a Williamstown resident for 45 years and was president of both the Williamstown Cricket Club and Baseball Club when he passed away suddenly on December 22 1909, aged 62. He also records that 'the first football "council" was held at the Argus Hotel (in Collins Street) on May 28 (1860).' Played as a follower for Williamstown and represented the VFA against the VFL at the MCG in 1931. Williamstown Football Club. It is more than likely that the Club would have played a few unrecorded matches during the period 1867-69 around the district against other local teams that were not worthy of reporting because it was often difficult to organise matches in the metropolitan competitions, due to the distance and the poor condition of Market Reserve. Footscray Bulldogs, Williamstown 38 minutes ago #157 You can't blow the whistle and then call advantage when everyone stops. The Melbourne Football Club was re-formed on May 14, 1859, at the Parade Hotel, East Melbourne, (later named the MCG Hotel) after a scratch match against South Yarra on Richmond Paddock (now known as Yarra Park). Click to see who will be lining up this weekend for Williamstown. After 1866 there again appears to be another period of inactivity or temporary recess by Williamstown with no records of any games played, although in Pennings' book Williamstown is still listed as a minor/junior club for the 1869 season. FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF THE FABULOUS HISTORY OF THE WILLIAMSTOWN FOOTBALL CLUB FROM 1880 TO THE PRESENT DAY, PLEASE REFER TO THE RESPECTIVE DECADES UNDER THE 'HISTORY' TAB. Martin Joseph "Tottie" Fitzpatrick It was decided at a meeting of junior clubs held at Hansen's Hotel on Bourke Street in April of 1876, that the winner of the Junior Challenge Cup, to be contested by Fawkner, Sandridge Alma, St Kilda Alma, South Park, South Melbourne, Windsor and Williamstown, would be decided by the awarding of points for wins (2 points) and draws (1 point), a system that would beeventually adopted by the VFA in the late 1880's. A Fitzroy team also appeared in 1864 but was a different club to that which joined the Victorian Football Association (VFA)in 1884. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 304 total. Williamstown's stats have been entered for the 52-20 win @ James Monroe on 12/3/2022 . Williamstown Chronicle, August 5, 1871 - a report of the game against Wesley College on July 29 which resulting in the Villagers' first recorded victory, 3 goals to NIL. Ajax was promoted to the top Dutch league, the Eredivisie, for the first time in 1911. Affiliation (Current) Victorian Football League (VFL) 1996-2023. As Cricket Club secretary in 1888, Thompson was responsible for drawing up the agreement under which the Football Club agreed to use the cricket ground for home games following the merger with South Williamstown. Main Page . Williamstown Chronicle, May 13, 1876 - the 'Cup campaign' referred to in the article is the Junior Challenge Cup which is explained below. Whether from defections from its ranks or indifference, the elder club (Williamstown) has not shown the spirit .. that characterised its doings when the Junior Challenge Cup was carried off in 1876.'. Appealing to the central umpire was useless, that responsible functionary filling his post so unsatisfactorily that is was compulsory to relieve him of his duties, but his successor did not in the slightest degree remedy matters. The Argus newspaper confirmed on 29 May, 1860, (see below) that a Williamstown delegate was invited along with eight fellow delegates to the meeting. 3,008 were here. Wills was captain of Melbourne in 1858-1859, Richmond in 1860 and Geelong in 1867-1868 and 1872-1873. Trevor Monti wrote the first official summary of the Kelly trial which was published in 1981 and he has maintained an intense interest in the bushranger ever since. Proud, passionate and humorous stories tall and true from the men who played in that decade. 10K followers. TRAILBLAZERS: 1864 - 1900. Alfred Thomas Clark resumed as president in 1873 and would remain in that role until 1875. The early captains of the team were John Wigmore (1866), C.F. Football, Cricket, Netball and Darts, plus a fantastic Oval and Function Venue for Hire, with fully. Public Events. These colours were retained until 1888, and also featured a black cap with a yellow Maltese cross. The win was against South Yarra, while the draws were against an Albert Park 15, Essendon, Abbotsford and St. Kilda. D. Rogers was leading goalscorer for the Seconds with 6, while Bobby Weatherhead, A. Murray, Wilson, Singleton and J. Davidson each kicked one. Andrew Rider, a photographer, stationer and newsagent located at 55 (now 177) Nelson Place, Williamstown, from 1863-96 took this portrait which is described on the State Library of Victoria website as being of 't. Dec 19, 2022. The premiership was won by the South Melbourne Football Club. The only other recorded game in 1866 was on June 9 when Williamstown played H. M. Customs, or the Melbourne Customs Club, at Market Reserve and the match was a nil-all draw 'after two hours hard work and many severe spills on either side', as reported by The Argus on June 11. Captain and back pocket player in the 1907 premiership win over West Melbourne. The inaugural VFA premier team, Carlton, also paid a visit to The Village for the first time on August 17, drew a crowd of 5,000 to the Gardens Reserve and won by a single goal, 2-1. However, secretaries of football clubs often had to rely on information that was not always accurate. St Kilda claimed 'that the surface was covered with lumps of rock' and, following a nil-all draw against 'senior' team Albert Park on June 21, 1873, the South Melbourne Record of the same day described the ground as 'bounded on all sides by dangerous fences, and firmly embedded all over the ground were huge boulders of stone; then the rain that had fallen during the past week has converted it into a perfect swamp, in fact, there were not 10 yards of dry ground in the whole enclosure.' One of these matches was on August 1 where it was reported in The Argus two days later that the 'Williamstown Club sent a team to Hawthorn to play the local club, but the game was brought to an abrupt conclusion in consequence of the Williamstown men declining to play any longer with the umpire, who they considered was not impartial.' This year also saw the demise of South Yarra, which finally disbanded after several mediocre seasons. Williamstown Chronicle, September 2, 1871. Riggall had also played for Royal Park in 1865 and Carlton in 1866. In the Williamstown Chronicle of 19 July 1879, in respect of the game played the previous weekend on 12 July against Sandridge (later renamed Port Melbourne), it was reported that 'the Sandridge team were accompanied by a great many supporters, the greater portion of them belonging to that objectionable class termed larrikins who encroached upon the playing ground thereby greatly impeding the game. The famous Carlton club was formed in July 1864 but did not play a game until 1865, while Emerald Hill became a formalised club in 1864 and later became Albert Park. Williamstown's newly-reformedSecond Twenty also did well in this season with 5 wins and 2 draws from its 10 matches. 'Town defeated a St Kilda team of only 13 players two goals to nil at Williamstown on June 23. The opposition kicked 15. From this point in time, the Williamstown Football Club would continue uninterrupted until today except for the recesses in 1916-18, inclusive, in respect of World War One and 1942-44, inclusive, in respect of World War Two and 2020/2021 as a result of the Coronavirus/COVID 19 epidemic. At the annual meeting held in respect of the 1879 season at the Mechanics Institute on April 7, 1880, E.G. Clubs also began to appear in regional areas, with Sandhurst forming in 1861 (captained by James Thompson, who was one of the MCC committee who drew up the 1859 Melbourne rules) and a Ballarat side in 1862, together with Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat and Maryborough.