King of the Winter Games

 

by Barry Griffin

 

 

 

How It All Began   1878 - 1900

      The first official game of Australian football was played in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1858 between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar. The match was played in the park lands near the Melbourne Cricket Ground between two teams of forty a side. From this beginning the game appeared to have reached the Victorian goldfields and larger country towns within a short time. An Adelaide Football Club was formed in 1860 and for some time played matches with teams drawn from its own members. At that time there did not seem to be any one code being played in South Australia as clubs that existed in this era could not seem to agree on rules to be followed.

      South of Adelaide, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, football was not unheard of in the 1860's, although it has been difficult to discover exactly what kind of football was being played. In October, 1866, the South Australian weekly country newspaper, the 'Southern Argus', which was published in Port Elliot at that time, reported on the opening of the new extensions to the Hindmarsh Island jetty which would allow for easier crossings of the River Murray, by ferry, from Goolwa to Hindmarsh Island. It was apparently quite a festive occasion, with various sports and foot-races to entertain the crowd. The report stated that

'Archery and Le Grace was much patronized by the fair portion of the visitors, while the rougher section indulged in football, cricket, rounders, etc.'

      Later in the same year an advertisement in the 'Southern Argus' announced the 'ODDFELLOWS' AND F0RESTERS' PICNIC' to be held on New Year's Day in a paddock near Victor Harbor. Among the amusements announced for the day were 'Cricket and Football for Gentlemen, Archery for Ladies'.

      It was not until 1878 that a serious attempt was made to form a football club in the river port of Goolwa. A meeting had been advertised to take place at the Goolwa Hotel on Wednesday, 3rd July. Mine host at the Goolwa Hotel at that time was Mr. Spencer and he kindly made his premises available for the meeting. The meeting was well attended and office-bearers were elected to make the club 'official'. The following positions were filled:-

PRESIDENT: Mr. J.P. Hill                  

VICE-PRESIDENTS: Capt. Webster, Mr. C. Fergusson

TEAM CAPTAIN: Mr. Frank Fergusson  

VICE-CAPTAIN: Mr. A.C. Gill

            Mr. Gill must have been prepared to work hard for the new club as he was also elected to be treasurer and secretary. Some people at the meeting deplored the fact that the meeting had not been held earlier in the season. Nevertheless, on the following Saturday, a scratch match was played and about thirty members enjoyed themselves for a couple of hours.

            Nothing much seemed to come from the formation of the Goolwa Football Club for a few years. There did not appear to be any matches reported in the 'Southern Argus' in which Goolwa took part. By 1882, however, there was a regular football column of sorts in the weekly paper, written by someone who called himself 'SHORT MARK'. In a column written in early 1882 he wrote that he thought that it would be a good idea if each of the southern townships formed a football club. Some credence is given to the belief that the Goolwa Football Club may have lapsed because 'SHORT MARK' stated in his column that

'a challenge was sent to someone at Goolwa last season in order to stir them up on the matter, but no notice seemed to be taken, and still the club is not, although some years ago I hear there was a first-class team to be got there. Will some of our friends there now take it up and set to work for a club?'

            The plea must have been heard, for soon after this a brief report appeared stating that a team from Goolwa played a football match against Port Elliot at Port Elliot. There were fifteen in each team for this match which was won by Port Elliot, the scores being 1 goal 4 behinds to 1 goal. The report went on to say that the play of Johnston and Gordon for Goolwa was 'much admired'. A Mr. Flynn acted as field umpire and gave  general satisfaction

In those days there was no Football Association or League as there is today and it was left to club secretaries to arrange matches with teams from neighbouring towns. Soon after the above match had been played, a return match was arranged between Goolwa and Port Elliot, who each fielded a team of sixteen. The local correspondent for the 'Southern Argus' reported that

'This match was played at Goolwa on the cricket oval (kindly lent by the committee) and resulted in a draw in favour of the home team, they having 4 behinds against 2. The match was well contested throughout. For the visitors C. Glenie and G. Freeman, and for the home team J. Davidson and D. Cremer, played very well. G. Pantoni acted as umpire and gave general satisfaction. The Goolwas were captained by T.A. Johnston and the Port Elliots by J. Trigg. The weather was fine and the game was much enjoyed by both teams.'

            An interesting point to be noted from this 1882 report is that behinds did not count towards a result. Neither team scored any goals, but because Goolwa scored more behinds than Port Elliot the result was called a draw in favour of Goolwa!

      Port Elliot and Goolwa played each other again, in July of 1882 at Port Elliot. Port Elliot won again (home ground advantage seemed to count for something even then), scores being 2 goals 17 behinds to nil. T. and G. Johnston and Davidson played well for Goolwa, while 'Mr. Flynn gave general satisfaction as central umpire, and Messrs. J. Chambers and E. Abbott as goal umpires.'

      In August, 1882, junior footballers were able to display their enthusiasm for the game when the Goolwa Juniors played a twelve-a-side match against the Middleton Juniors at Middleton. The game resulted in a tie with each team scoring 13 behinds, the game apparently being closely contested throughout.

'Some good play was shown by Fairweather, Johnston, Glover, Cleggett, Wright, Hines and Tait for the Goolwa's, and for the Middleton's Chibnall, Bade and Heggaton did good service.'

            As was often the case in newspaper reports the only remark made about the umpire (Mr. E. Hains for this game) was that he 'gave general satisfaction'.

            While the juniors were playing at Middleton, Goolwa and Port Elliot were again doing battle, this time at Goolwa where the home team was successful with a score of 2 goals 3 behinds to 4 behinds. T. Johnston and G. Johnston kicked the goals for Goolwa and  'their play through  the match was greatly admired'. Mr. P.T. Hill (a local school master) acted as field umpire. This match seemed to have brought the 1882 season - short as it was - to a close, for soon after a newspaper report in the 'Southern Argus' for 31st August stated that

'Football, which has this year been a popular game in the South, is gradually giving place to cricket, several clubs having already commenced regular practice.'

            The year 1882 seemed to have been the first regular 'season' in which Goolwa teams took part, although they evidently did not travel far to find other teams to play against, their only opponents for a couple of months being Port Elliot. As time passed, however, clubs began to travel further afield in search of matches against other teams. Football for Goolwa had well and truly commenced.

            Because there were no organised football associations, or leagues, on the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula in the 1880's, when Goolwa began playing matches on a fairly regular basis, there were no regular starts to the seasons; Goolwa's first match for 1882 was not played until June, while in the following year it appeared that Goolwa's first match, against Port Elliot, was not played until late June. Club secretaries were responsible for arranging matches with teams from other towns. It was clearly more suitable for teams if they had to travel only short distances to other towns. This may account for the number of times Goolwa and Port Elliot played each other in these early years.

           On June 30, 1883,  Goolwa once again faced a team from nearby Port Elliot when a match was played between the two teams at Goolwa. In those days Goolwa did not wearthe famous black and white uniform of later years. Reports of games in the 1880's and 1890's often referred to Goolwa as 'the Blues'. The match that was played on Saturday, June 30, resulted in some ill-feeling being generated between players, spectators and contributors to the 'Southern Argus'. A short war of words resulted. A Goolwa correspondent who contributed a somewhat biased report of the match stated that the final result of the match was:- 'Goolwa, 11 behinds; Port Elliot, 1 goal (in dispute) and 1 behind'. Because behinds did not count this meant that Port Elliot had won the match.

           The report, besides hotly disputing the final result, gave an interesting insight into how the game was played a hundred years ago. Quite possibly the playing area may have been rectangular in shape, with goal posts, 7 yards apart at each end. Two other posts, called 'kick-off posts', were usually erected at a distance of 20 yards on each side of the goal posts and in a direct line with them. If the ball, during the course of play, travelled over the line between a goal post and a 'kick-off post', a 'behind' was recorded which did not really count as part of the final score. Defenders were allowed to bring the ball back into play. A South Australian rule of 1877 stated that

'In case the ball is kicked behind the Goal, within the 'kick-off' posts, any one of the side behind whose goal it is kicked may bring it 20 yards in front of any portion of the space between the 'kick ­ off' posts, and shall kick it towards the opposite Goal.'

            The 'kick-off' posts were the forerunners of today's behind posts; but the goal square in the 1880's was much bigger than today's, being virtually 47 yards long and extending in for 20 yards.

      But, to return to the match in question: the game began, according to the rules of the day, with the Port Elliot team kicking the ball off from the centre of the ground where it was  'quickly rushed down to their goal by the Blues, and first behind for Goolwa was scored, one or two good chances for goal being missed by the Blues'. At half-time, (there were not four quarters in a match - only two halves), Goolwa had scored 7 behinds, while Port Elliot had not scored anything at all. The Goolwa correspondent wrote that the game had been played in a very friendly spirit during the first half 'but towards the finish some unpleasantness was caused by the field umpire giving an unfair decision.'  It seemed that the field umpire had over-ruled the goal umpire, and insisted that Port Elliot had scored a goal. Some of the Goolwa players thought that the decision was so unfair, continued the report, that they wanted to walk off, but were finally persuaded to continue to take part in the match. The report concluded

'After a few more behinds were added by the Blues time was called 15 minutes earlier than it should have been. I am told the umpire, who is a Port Elliot man, was heard to say it would not be his fault if the Port Elliot team did not win the game, as it would be the last time he should be their umpire, being on the eve of departure from their midst.'

      Many of the Goolwa players had had no practice and this game was the first time that some of them had seen the ball since the previous year. Under today's rules 11 behinds would have beaten 1 goal 1 behind, but not in 1883.

      A week or so later, a Port Elliot supporter who called himself 'ORANGE, RED AND BLACK', (the colours of the Port Elliot Football Club), replied, through the columns of the 'Southern Argus', saying that 'your Goolwa correspondent's tongue wags falsely'. The letter went on to say that a goal umpire had nothing to do with the work of a field umpire. A Goolwa player had run too far trying to carry the ball to safety and Port Elliot had called for a mark. From this mark a goal was scored that was disputed by Goolwa. The Port Elliot supporter maintained that the game was not stopped early - Port Elliot had stated that they would play until 5 o'clock, which they did. Any allegations made against the umpire were, he declared, 'deliberately false'. The letter concluded

'I must also remark that it reflected great discredit on the Goolwa onlookers for them to hiss, and groan, and hoot us the way they did, but we impute it to their ignorance.'

            The art of barracking was just beginning!

      A return match was eagerly anticipated by the supporters of both teams, and it took place on July 14 at Port Elliot. The 'Southern Argus' report stated that the game 'was played in a very friendly spirit'. This may have been due in some part to the field umpire being a Mr.Taylor from Port Victor - no one could accuse a neutral umpire of taking sides! Goolwa won the match easily, the score being 2 goals and 3 behinds to nil. 'The Blues were in pretty good form' (it was only a couple of weeks earlier that some of the Goolwa players were seeing the ball for the first time for the season). Their better players were G. Johnston (captain), P. Johnston, Sunman, Thacker, Fitzhenry, Blakeway, Wauchope and Hewitt. Those who showed the best form for Port Elliot were J. Trigg (captain), Glennie, Bowman and Heggaton. At the end of the game a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the umpire 'for the able and impartial manner in which he performed the duties'- no doubt to the relief of those who may have expected the worst!

      Four or five weeks later Goolwa were hosts to a team from Port Victor. The game attracted a large crowd, 'the fair sex being well represented'. The match was played on Saturday, July 21, and resulted in a win to Goolwa, 2 goals 11 behinds to 1 goal 5 behinds. A controversial event occurred during the game when Goolwa appealed (successfully) to have the Port Victor goal umpire, Mr. Goodwin, taken off because 'he did not give satisfaction'. Mr. Wylie took his place for the second half. Again, a neutral field umpire, Mr. Hussey from Port Elliot, was in charge of the match. Lack of earlier reports would seem to indicate that this may have been the first game played between Goolwa and Port Victor.

      Other towns such as Strathalbyn, Mount Barker, and Milang seemed to be playing football on a more regular basis. Perhaps the fact that they were closer to Adelaide may have been part of the reason for playing a longer 'season' of matches. Matches were sometimes arranged with clubs from the Adelaide area. The more closely settled Adelaide Hills area, with its number of small villages, offered opportunities for more clubs to become established. The weather, however, was not always kind. On August 25, Mount Barker and Hahndorf played a match at the ground of the latter club after it had been postponed for four Saturdays 'on account of the unfavourable weather'. Today, bad weather is taken as being part of the game.

      Goolwa's first match of the 1884 season was played on Saturday, June 28, against - guess who? Once more Goolwa and Port Elliot faced each other at Port Elliot. It was obvious to the spectators that it was the first game of the 'season' for Goolwa, for the comment was made that despite it being their first game everyone did their best. Goals seemed hard to come by in these early years, the scores for this match being Goolwa, 1 goal and 10 behinds; Port Elliot, 3 behinds. Goolwa's best players were Johnston, Sunman, Smith, Bray, Davidson, Keer (Kerr?), Cremer, Sandy, Henly and Gordon (the goalkicker). Port Elliot's best players were Basham, Hamlyn, Freeman, Bebee, Baaner, Shanks and Trigg. A further comment was made that 'the winners should have scored four or five goals, and they would do well to turn out for practice more than they do'.

      About a month later the following report appeared in the July 31 edition of the 'Southern Argus':

'The SS Pilot being placed at the disposal of the Goolwa Football Club (by the kindness of Capt. Wolters) they took a team to Milang on Saturday last, July 26, to try conclusions with the Milang Players, and the match resulted in a win for the visitors.'

            Play began at 2 pm, with Milang kicking against a light wind. Davidson, one of Goolwa's better players, secured a mark and goaled. At half-time Goolwa led 1 goal 9 behinds to 2 behinds. The report continued:

'After the usual time for a drink, the ball was bounced and carried all over the ground until F.Sandy got a mark right in front of the blue and white's goal, and scored goal No. 2 for the blues.'

            At the end of the game Goolwa's score stood at 2 goals 13 behinds to Milang's 4 behinds. After the customary round of cheers and back-slapping, the Goolwa contingent trooped back on board the 'Pilot' and arrived home at half-past eight. The field umpire for the match was a Goolwa person, Mr. P.T. Hill. This match appeared to bring to an end another short 'season' for the Goolwa Football Club.

      In 1885 football matches began much earlier for Goolwa. The 'Southern Argus', on April 30 reported that a match had been played between Goolwa and Strathalbyn at Strathalbyn. The game resulted in a draw in favour of the home side. Some of the game was described in the report and readers were told that Strathalbyn had won the toss and that Goolwa captain Johnston had kicked off against a light breeze. Halliday notched the first behind for Strathalbyn. Davidson took the ball around the wing for Goolwa₉ but it was returned by Headland and passed on to Donnithorne who kicked the first goal for Strathalbyn. At half-time Strathalbyn had scored 1 goal 2 behinds while Goolwa had not registered a score. After a spell of about a quarter of an hour the ball was bounced to re-start the game. Johnston scored a behind for Goolwa; Donnithorne had another shot for Strathalbyn, but missed the sticks. Goolwa took the ball to the other end of the ground where Sandy marked and goaled with 'the best kick of the day'. The final scores were: Strathalbyn 1 goal 4 behinds; Goolwa 1 goal 2 behinds. Mr. A. Johnston 'gave every satisfaction as field umpire'. It was arranged that a return match would be played at Goolwa on May 25, Queen's Birthday.

            The two teams met, as arranged, at Goolwa on the holiday for Queen Victoria's birthday. Goolwa was captained by one of the Johnstons of riverboat fame, while Strath were led by Mr. McRae. McRae kicked off from centre, this being the accepted way to begin a match, and the ball was swept towards Goolwa's goals. The attack was stopped by 'the blues' and 'play became rather warm in the centre', a description that probably had nothing whatever to do with the weather conditions at the time. During these early years Goolwa had some fine players who appeared each season to play for the town's team. Some of the Johnston boys, the Sandy brothers and Davidson were often prominent names in match reports.

       As the game against the red and whites progressed towards half-time it was re­ported that

'some very rough play was indulged in for some time, when the blues prevailed, and by some tidy play Sandy kicked a neat goal.'

            This roused the Strathalbyn players who began to play in a more determined manner.

'The leather was kept mainly in the centre, but the blues again pressed hard on the Strath backs.'

      A. Johnson and Foster defended gamely for the red and whites. Just before half-time Strath players ran the ball towards 'the blues' goals where Halliday marked and 'kicked a capital goal for the reds'.

       After half-time 'the blues now began to play a very unpleasantly rough game, several of the reds being crippled severely'. As if this were not bad enough the Straths were handicapped 'by the unfair decisions of the umpire^t and they had to work hard to avoid defeat. It was not to be, however, the final scores being 4 goals to 1 goal in favour of Goolwa whose best players were the two Johnstons, Gill, Haseltine, Sandy and Davidson. Headland, Harley, Raggatt, E. Johnston, W. Johnson and Foster 'worked hard for the visitors'. (After commenting about rough play and unfair umpiring it is not surprising that the reporter, who signed himself 'GOAL-SNEAK', did not complete his report with the standard expression 'the umpire gave general satisfaction'!)

      An interesting feature of conditions under which football was played in Adelaide at the time can be found in a short 'Southern Argus' report that stated

'An electric light football match was played on the Adelaide Oval last night (July 1) between the South Adelaide and the Adelaide Clubs.'

            Football under lights is certainly not new!

      The 1885 season continued for Goolwa with a match against old rivals, Port Elliot, played on Saturday, July 4, at Port Elliot. This was another of the games described as a 'draw in favour of', scores being Goolwa, 1 goal 8 behinds; Port Elliot, 1 goal 6 behinds. For this match F. Perry was Goolwa's captain, and when the game began good play saw the ball travelling up and down the ground. By half-time Port Elliot was leading, 1 goal 3 behinds to 5 behinds.

'After the usual spell the ball was bounced, and the blues warmed up to their proper form and kept the ball up to the Ports' goal, and Perry by a good kick scored the first goal for the blues.'

            Although both teams had several shots for goal after this only behinds resulted, hence the draw in favour of Goolwa.

      Two weeks later the two teams met once more, this time at Goolwa. Both clubs fielded strong teams for this match and, as the weather was  eminently suitable' for that time of the year, a large crowd was expected to view the contest, 'but the attendance was small, reflecting discredit on the sporting part of the community'.

      Goolwa having won the toss, Sandy kicked off for them and play got underway. Sandy apparently dominated during the early part of the game, marking well and kicking several behinds before notching the first goal of the match. This match, reported in the July 23 edition of the 'Southern Argus', appeared to be the first game in which Port Elliot players were described according to the colours they wore.

'Shortly after being rushed on the top wing by the Tigers, he tried for goal at a most difficult angle over his head, which proved true, making goal No. 2, and the Blues back feathers rising.'

            As hard as 'the Tigers' tried they could not get the ball past Perry, G. Ritchie and Smith on the centre and wings, 'all three playing a sterling game throughout'.

      Goolwa dominated play for most of the game. The 'Tigers' managed two behinds and  'that was the only show they had'. When time was called, the scores were 3 goals 15 behinds  to 2 behinds in Goolwa's favour. The reporter said of the umpire:

'F. Rouse was a fairly successful field umpire and will make a good man, but is at present new to the game. However the teams were satisfied with his decisions.'

      In 1885 Goolwa and Strathalbyn met three times, the third match between them being played on Saturday, August 1, at Strathalbyn. The Strath captain won the toss and elected to kick with the aid of a slight breeze. The game started very late by today's standards, due no doubt to the fact that it was not easy to travel to a place even as close as Strathalbyn in those days. Sandy kicked the ball off at 3:45 pm., 'and it was rushed from one end of the ground to the other'. The match was finally won by Strathalbyn, 2 goals 7 behinds to 3 behinds. Apparently the umpire was either elderly or not as fit as the players, the comment in the report being  'Mr. C.E. Sewell made a thoroughly impartial umpire, his only short-coming being his want of pace'.

            The 1885 season for Goolwa seemed to last longer than in previous years, as they again played Port Elliot away on August 22. Goolwa were quite inaccurate with their kicking in this game and the result was announced as a draw in favour of Goolwa, the scores being 1 goal 13 behinds to 1 goal 3 behinds. The Blues (Goolwa) captain for this match was J.T. Ferguson (Perry had been captain for an earlier match). During the first half of this match the ball was kept  'right in front of the Ports' sticks, but one behind after another only came, and no goals, till out of a scrimmage G. Ritchie kicked goal No. 1 for the blues'.  Ports tried to rush the ball up the hill but the wind was too strong. The half-time score favoured Goolwa, 1 goal 12 behinds to nil. Ports played a much better second half but could not notch a win. Their only goal was kicked by A. Colman, 'a promising young player'. Goolwa's best players were A. Tait, T. Johnston, Cremer, Perry and C. Smith.

      Goolwa's season came to a close with the football club arranging a concert which played to 'a fair house. Misses Gibbons, Clark, Wauchope, Sumner and Waugh performed their parts to the satisfaction of the audience, also Messrs. J. Ritchie, G. Johnston, Thos. Johnston, Cave, G. Ritchie, Fisher, Sunman, all narrowly escaping encores - in one or two instances an encore had to be given. The Footballers gave an original chorus, in costume. The programme wound up with a negro burlesque, in which the smart boy caused roars of laughter, and closed with God Save the Queen¹.

            And so the 1885 season came to a close for Goolwa and most of the other teams against whom they played. There was no finals series in those days; football stopped and cricket began.

      The first match for 1886 saw the Goolwa Football Club, along with a large party of holiday-makers, taking an excursion steamer to Milang to play against a team from the lake-side town. The visitors were far too good for the lake-siders, the scores being 5 Goals 10 behinds to 2 behinds.  'The game excited a good deal of interest despite the result, and some very good play was shown. The excursionists returned to Goolwa late the same afternoon'. This match was played on a Monday and the steamer had probably been made available for an excursion to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday. The following Saturday a match was to be played between Goolwa and Strathalbyn on Mr. Cheriton's grounds near Strathalbyn, that club having no ground of its own. It was thought that the match would prove very interesting as the previous year the two teams had been 'very warm opponents'. In the same report in the ¹Southern Argus' it was noted that in the game against Milang, played on May 24,

'The game for the first quarter was rather rough, owing to the Milangs trying to do a little rough and tumble, which was soon stopped by the Goolwa boys rushing into their midst.'

      The game against Strathalbyn duly took place on Saturday, May 29, in front of a large number of supporters.  'The play was a little rough at times, but a friendly feeling existed'.  Travel between towns was possible in those days, but they were not times of rapid transport systems, so that,  'owing to the visitors coming by train, which does not reach here until twenty minutes past three, play commenced rather late, and the last quarter of hour was played in comparative darkness, the players at times hardly able to see the ball'.

      Goolwa kicked off and soon had the first score, a behind, followed soon after by a behind for Strathalbyn. By half-time, S. Hooper had kicked the first (and only) goal for Strathalbyn. The blues attacked strongly in the second half through good play by G. Johnston but could not score goals. Play see-sawed up and down the ground, first one team scoring a behind, then the other.  'The Goolwas rallied in and worked like lions to make the pegging level, but they only succeeded in scoring another behind'. The final scores were Strathalbyn, 1 goal 2 behinds; Goolwa, 5 behinds. Davidson, the Sandy brothers, Lackington, G. Johnston and Tait worked hard for Goolwa to try to avert defeat.

      Another Monday game on June 21 saw Goolwa playing at home against Port Elliot. (Places a little further away, such as Port Victor, did not appear to figure much in the Goolwa Football Club's programme). It also appeared that games were begun in those far-off days by the team losing the toss, kicking off. Goolwa's captain, Davidson, won the toss, and the Ports kicked off.  'After a little rough play the blues ran the leather up to the Ports' goal, and Ritchie, out of a scrimmage, scored first goal for the blues'. Goolwa seemed to have most of the play in this game as one of the Sandy brothers 'placed the ball nicely through the sticks, scoring second goal for the blues'. Although Goolwa had a lot of the play they did not kick very accurately, the half-time score being 2 goals 10 behinds to the Ports nil. There was a fifteen minute recess, after which the umpire bounced the ball to re-start the game. Ports rallied late in the game but could not overcome Goolwa's lead. When the game ended, the scores stood at Goolwa 3 goals 18 behinds, Port Elliot 1 goal 1 behind. This was a good win for Goolwa as they played with two men short. Players that stood out were again Davidson, the Johnston brothers, the Sandy brothers, Tait and S. Glover.

            The 'Southern Argus' of July 1 reported that

'The Committee of the local club (Strathalbyn) are trying to get up a team to visit Goolwa on Saturday week, July 10, to play the return match, and it is to be hoped that they will be successful in getting a representative team together.'

            There were no reports of this match being played, so it may not have come off. The only other mention of Goolwa playing a football match during 1886 was a terse note that appeared in a column headed  'ODDS AND ENDS', that said  - 'The Goolwa footballers beat the Natives on Saturday'. This seemed to bring to an end football for Goolwa for that year.

      March 24, 1887, was the date fixed for the annual meeting of the Goolwa Football Club; it was held at Taylor's Hotel and about 20 members were present. The meeting was reported in the 'Southern Argus' of March 31 and it was noted that:

'The Secretary read the balance sheet for the year which showed a balance of £5  2s.  6d. The officers for the season were then appointed and are as follows:-

Patrons, Dr. O'Leary, C.H. Hussey and H.E. Downer, M.P.'s;     President, Mr. W. Colebatch; 

Vice-Presidents, F. Wright, S. Chrystal;

Secretary and Treasurer, W.H. Sumner; 

Committee, Messrs. C. Smith, J. Ritchie, A. Dowland,                            T.Wright, W. Lackington, J. Davidson.'

            Mr. F. Wright also received a vote of thanks for lending poles, etc., -  a reference, perhaps, to the posts that were used for goals and behinds.

      The year 1887 also saw the emergence of a columnist who called himself 'GOAL SNEAK', who wrote football reports for the 'Southern Argus'.  In his column for the April 21 edition, he previewed teams for the coming season, mentioning Strathalbyn, Mount Barker, Milang, Goolwa and Macclesfield  - almost the nucleus of a small association. 'GOAL SNEAK' had this to say about Goolwa:

'The Goolwas held their meeting a few weeks back, and had a substantial credit balance to start with. At the beginning of last season the club had a first-class team, but later on the boats took most of the best men away. A lot of them have now returned, and the blue-and-whites should again be a shining light on the football field.'

            The information given in this report would help to account for Goolwa's lean season in 1886, most of the best footballers obviously being riverboat men and having to spend long periods up-river in their employment. Another interesting point to emerge from the above report is the fact that Goolwa were described as the 'blue-and-whites', whereas in previous years they had been simply called 'the blues'. In this era Milang were also described by newspaper correspondents as the 'blue-and-whites'.

      The first match that Goolwa played in 1887 may possibly have been against Milang. There were, in fact, two matches played at Milang on May 24     - Goolwa and Goolwa juniors. Milang had been given a hiding the year before, and were determined to turn the tables. The report of the day's events went on to say:

'Before they commenced it was found that Goolwa had five aboriginals, and the local players objected to play against their coloured brethren, not relishing a hug from them. It was eventually decided to allow them to play, and instead of it being called Milang v. Goolwa, it should be Milang v. Goolwa, Port Elliot, and Point McLeay combined.'

      Milang must have played with more determination, for they had the better of the match and were leading when at three-quarter time  'the game was discontinued owing to the visitors having to leave early' !  At that point Milang led 3 goals 4 behinds to 3 behinds. The Goolwa juniors also lost - 1 goal 8 behinds to 1 behind. It is possible that the departure of a steamer may have saved Goolwa from an even bigger defeat if the game had been played right out - or Goolwa may have rallied and won. We will never know.

            Many Aborigines in the Fleurieu and Lakes area had taken to football with skill and enthusiasm. A team from Point McLeay often pitted itself against other teams from nearby. Sometimes they were accepted, sometimes they were not. A somewhat patronising attitude was evident towards the Aborigines, particularly when a whole team of them played a match. Even newspaper references to them adopted a tone of the wise white man condescending to praise the uncivilised (by European standards) for their attempts at good sportsmanship. From the 'Southern Argus' correspondent at Point McLeay came the following gem:

'The Aboriginal Athletic Club I hear have set a good example to their white brethren by ejecting one of their members, Alfred Spender, for rough play at football and bad language. Well done lads.^'

      The game played against Milang on May 24 seemed to be the first time that Goolwa had Aboriginals playing for them. It apparently did not concern the Goolwa Football Club that they were not white men; the club would have been more interested in their football prowess than in the colour of their skin. More will be said about their reception by other teams a little later.

      On Saturday, June 18, Goolwa and Port Elliot once again faced each other on the Goolwa oval. Football match descriptions written for the newspapers were totally unlike the reports of today. The following complete report, as it appeared in the 'Southern Argus' for June 23 gives some idea of what readers could expect:

'The Ports made their first appearance on the Goolwa oval on Saturday where they met the Goolwas for the first time this season. At 2.35 the ball was started toward the southern goal. After some play the Goolwas took possession of the ball, but the Ports with a sudden rush secured first goal; kicked by Lee. The play was then forced by the Goolwas, and enabled Creamer to kick number one goal for Goolwa. The ports here played up well, and another goal was kicked by Swift. At half-time the scores stood, Ports 2 goals 3 behinds, Goolwas 1 goal 2 behinds. When play was resumed the Goolwas began to play well, Raggatt marking to Glover and the latter secured the second goal for Goolwa. The play now became faster than ever, Swift adding another behind for the Ports. The Goolwas were now playing the better game, and carried the ball up to the other end, where Wright secured a mark but failed to kick a goal. Time was nearly up and the Ports came on with a timely rush and carried the ball forward, but the Goolwa backmen defended successfully for some time, several scrimmages taking place right in front of the goal. The final result was Ports 2 goals 4 behinds, Goolwas 2 goals 5 behinds. Glover worked hard for Goolwa, and Raggat, Johnston (2), Creamer, Lackin, and Wright (2), played a good game, and Trigg, Swift, and Bebee were most conspicuous for the Ports.'

            The quaint, but exact, language typified the kind of report found in newspapers of the day.

            In those far off days the 'Southern Argus' published every Thursday, and in the July 7 edition there appeared a notice in the 'GENERAL NEWS' section to the effect that Strathalbyn would be travelling to Goolwa on the following Saturday to play a team from that town. This was, in effect, a preview of a forthcoming match. Every time the two clubs met  'a very interesting game has been witnessed', and  'no doubt a large number of spectators will assemble on the Goolwa oval to witness the first contest between these clubs this season'. Goolwa had  'a heavy team, and will play four aboriginals'.  Strath, not to be outdone, would be taking a much heavier team, although several of their players were new to the game.

            After this build-up, it was surprising that the match was not written up in the usual manner.  In the following week's paper a short note appeared in the 'ODDS and ENDS' column to say that 'On Saturday the Goolwas put the Straths through easily - 3 goals 19 behinds to 1 goal 3 behinds'. No full report of the match prompted a Strathalbyn citizen to write a letter to the Editor of the paper:

'Sir - I was surprised to find that no report of the football match between the Goolwa and the Strathalbyn clubs appeared in your issue, its non-appearance being the means of circulating some ugly rumours respecting the Straths. I may state that the Straths fully expected the victors to report the match, as they had won, this being the general course of action adopted by country clubs. However, this was not done, and a good many people round this district, who never throw away an opportunity to have a fling at the the local club, accused the Straths of cowardice for not putting their defeat in print - hence the above short explanation.'

            The writer then went on to give a report of the game from memory so that football enthusiasts might have some idea of what the match had been like. It had been, apparently, a very windy day because 'the ball was continually blown out of bounds, the wind being so strong that in many instances the ball fell behind the player who kicked it'. Goolwa were too strong for Strathalbyn and ran out easy winners, 3 goals 19 behinds to 1 goal 3 behinds. 'The winners played a capital game and were altogether too good for the reds'  was the generous declaration made by their supporter. Of the umpire, Mr. A. Raggat, it was stated that he 'fulfilled the arduous duties (of umpire) in a manner which stamps him 18-carat in this department'. The best players for Goolwa were Ephriam, an aboriginal, J. Johnston, Hewitt (possibly another aboriginal), Perry and G. Johnston, W. Johnson, Foster, Harley, Jarvis, Wylie, Halliday and Spoors 'strove hard to gain the victory' for Strathalbyn.

            A return match was arranged for July 30, and was to be played at Strathalbyn, on Mr. J. Cheriton's paddock 'which is now in capital order for football purposes'.  It was thought that it would be an even game as  'the blues (Goolwa) will also have about their best team out, and it is expected will bring four natives with them.' For perhaps the first time the newspaper preview of this match contained a list of players for both teams. Goolwa's squad for this match consisted of G., P., and J. Johnston, Hewitt, Rankine, McLean, Gollan, Godfrey, S. Glover, J. and G. Ritchie,  A. Cremer, T. Glover, A. Wright, F. Merritt, D. Cremer, W. Lackington, W. Wright, T. Wright. Emergencies - Orr, Dingley, W. and C. Estick.

      In the July 28 issue of the 'Southern Argus' a Goolwa supporter saw fit to respond to the letter from the Strathalbyn supporter in the issue of the previous week. He wrote that he didn't know why Goolwa had omitted to send in a written report of the match  'unless it was that having recently appointed a new secretary he may not have been aware that it was usual for the victors to do so'. The same letter began a somewhat bitter debate between Goolwa and Port Elliot to do with Goolwa's decision to have aboriginal team members. Goolwa had arranged to play a match against Port Elliot at Port Elliot, after an unsuccessful attempt to get the 'Ports' to play at Goolwa. The Goolwa supporter continued:

On arriving after a disagreeable drive the Ports declined to play on account of the blues including in their team four of the native members of the club. A little wordy way ensued, during which it leaked out that the real objection lay in the fact that the native element was too good. They (Port Elliot) offered to proceed with the match if they were excluded, which offer was promptly rejected by the blues. The Ports then kindly invited them to join in a scratch match (natives excluded), but the blues resenting their conduct declined to unite with them in any way. After remaining on the ground for some time they returned home, and have, I believe, registered the affair as a win against the Ports, they having no just grounds for refusing play. I may remark in the first match against the Ports the blues gave way to them in the matter referred to, and no doubt they confidently expected a soft thing on in this instance, and were disappointed by the blues maintaining their rights.'

            Besides this letter that tried to give the real reason behind Port Elliot's refusal to play against Goolwa, there was a match report in the same issue of the 'Southern Argus' that related the same events. The Goolwa captain had won the toss and had placed his men in position but  'the Ports assembled together and held a meeting, during which a show of hands was taken re: allowing the visitors the four natives they had brought with them'.  The Goolwa team was then informed by the Secretary of Port Elliot that they would not play against the natives, but could not reply when asked what objection they had. The 'Ports' then invited Goolwa to take part in a scratch match, without the natives.  'Of course the Goolwas declined, whereupon the Ports told them they could go home as quick as possible. This matter should be brought before all the clubs in the South. At six o'clock the Goolwas made a start for home, and going by the rules registered the match between Goolwa and Port Elliot as won by Goolwa, owing to the Ports refusing to play at the specified time'.

            If this was thought to be the end of the matter readers of the local paper were mistaken. The following Thursday, August 4, found another letter in the paper from a Port Elliot supporter who signed himself 'ORANGE-RED-AND-BLUE' and who took up the battle on behalf of the Port Elliot club. He said that as a club 'we only claimed our rights'. He maintained that the orange-red-and-blacks had refused to play against natives for the past three years and that whenever there had been a challenge between their club and Goolwa that stipulation had been made. The writer then went on to say about Goolwa:

On arriving at Port Elliot at about 3.15, 45 minutes late, both teams stripped for the field, four natives doing like-wise. The Ports, at once, through the secretary, informed them that they would not go on with the match till the natives were excluded. The Goolwas claim not to know the reason why the Ports object to natives. Well, we have re­peatedly told them the reason, and they have heard of the Ports leaving the field and washing themselves to get rid of the disgusting tinge of the red-hot nigger. It is no joke to those who do not desire to make such acquaintance to have them forced into their company, to be folded in the sweetest embrace. This might not be so objectionable to those who are used to it, but we firmly object to it. Do the Goolwas want this thrown in their faces every time we

                        meet? Out of respect we would rather not. It is not as the blues              say that the blacks are too good, but too disgusting.'

            Racial discrimination obviously was not an issue in Victorian times! While the aboriginals could demand no respect from the Port Elliot Football Club there was, at the same time, an anxiety that the white players from Goolwa ought not to be offended by Port Elliot's stand on whether or not natives should play football against white men. The writer ended his letter with the assertion that  'the Ports are not the only team who have refused to play against natives, as Willunga, Strathalbyn, and Port Victor have done likewise'. The Editor of the 'Southern Argus' thought it necessary to add a footnote to this letter to say that  'Our correspondent is in error with regard to Strathalbyn club, who have played several matches against purely aboriginal teams'.

            It was unlikely that Goolwa football supporters would surrender meekly and say no more on the matter. Right on cue, in the paper for August 11, appeared another letter signed, simply, 'Goolwa'. The real reason, he stated, why Ports would not play against natives was because they knew they stood 'no chance of scoring a win', something that Port Elliot had been reminded of on a number of occasions. Goolwa did not play natives indiscriminately. 'Those received as members this season (four in number) are a respectable class of young men whose example might be followed in more ways than one with advantage to themselves, by some who are loudest in their outcries against them, it may be cleanliness included.'  Strathalbyn had never refused to play against Goolwa if there were natives in the team, and Willunga had never been challenged to a match. If, at any time, a match were to be played against Willunga, wrote 'GOOLWA', he hoped that  'they will not be influenced by representations contained in a tirade of insulting abuse which a  “disgusting nigger" would scarce be guilty of'.

      Strong words, but the Port Elliot correspondent was determined to have the last word on at least part of the argument and in the same issue of August 11 there appeared a short letter from that worthy person which stated:

'With reference to your footnote to my letter in last week's issue of the Argus in which you say I am in error with regard to the Strathalbyn Club. That club when challenging us last season mentioned they would not play against natives - that is my authority for using their name'.

            The Editor of the 'Southern Argus' had the last word, however, by adding a footnote to the above letter to say that the Strathalbyn secretary stated that no such conditions were attached in any challenge from their club. The Straths, the Editor said, 'prefer not to play against aboriginals when a full team of whites is obtainable'.

      During all of this wordy by-play Goolwa had played another football match - on July 30 at Strathalbyn. This was a return match after the first meeting of the two teams that year, when Goolwa had won, but this time the match was a draw with the Straths kicking 1 goal 8 behinds to Goolwas 1 goal 2 behinds. It is also noted that the match was played over four quarters and not two halves, This change in playing time may have been introduced into southern football during the 1887 season.

            The report of the match stated that  'the ground was not at all fit to play on, being so slippery, and busters during the afternoon were numerous'. There were two aboriginals - Ephriam and Hewitt - playing for Goolwa but there was no mention whether or not Strathalbyn objected to their presence.

            The report of this match also revealed a couple of other hitherto unmentioned facets of the game. During the match Halliday, for Strathalbyn, marked in front and  'from a neat little place kick piloted it through the sticks'. Another part of the game was known as the 'little mark'. The match report stated that 'The Goolwas with a series of little marks (Hewitt being very prominent) managed to get away from the reds'. Geoffrey Blainey in his book 'A Game of Our Own', wrote that:

'The little kick was also coming into favour in the 1870s. The rules allowed a player who marked the ball to take his time and, unimpeded, kick with deliberation. The rule, however, did not stipulate how far the ball had to travel before it could be marked. Ingenious forwards soon realised that if their team had possession of the ball near the goal but on an impossible angle they could work it around to the front of the goal by a succession of short kicks, each of which was marked. This strategem was known as 'The Little Mark' but was really a little kick. Its impact on the game resembled that of the incessant handball of the 1980s, rewarding to an attacking team and its loyal barrackers but boring to many neutral spectators.'

            Despite exploiting these sorts of loopholes in the rules neither Goolwa nor Straths could gain an ascendancy in the match, and thus it ended as a draw, probably in favour of Strathalbyn. The players who did well for Straths were Jarvis, Donnithorne, Wilson, Foster, Wylie and Halliday, while Hewitt, Ephriam, J. Johnston and Lackington worked hard for Goolwa. The report noted, laconically, that Mr. A.E. Raggatt  'made a fast umpire'.

            If the 'Southern Argus' Editor thought that the controversy surrounding the playing of aboriginals in predominantly white teams had died down, he was in error. In the August 18 issue there appeared a further letter from the Port Elliot supporter, who signed himself 'ORANGE-RED-AND-BLACK'. The letter began with an apology to the Strathalbyn Football Club who, as it turned out, had previously played matches against teams of natives. The writer then attacked the Goolwa Football Club, saying that the remarks of their club and their supporters were  'unfair and unjust......we have never refused to play either black or white for being too good. I further say we have always allowed Goolwa to the present day any man between the Murray Mouth and New South Wales and as many travellers as they can get but not natives'. These veiled aspersions that were cast upon the composition of the Goolwa team would not have pleased supporters from that town. It would appear that, at the time, Port Elliot players were prejudiced against aboriginals purely because of their colour, for the writer himself stated that  'Of the respectable and clean natives I am pleased to hear, but if they were as clean as the driven snow, since we first refused natives, we are prepared to play whites only'.

            It is evident from the exchange of letters that aboriginals were held in some contempt by sections of the local communities at the time. Such reactions to them were in direct contrast to attempts being made to treat them in a more civilised manner at Point McLeay, which produced some oustanding people, both in the sporting and public context.

            The football 'season' for Goolwa appeared over with the match against Strathalbyn. A notice to the effect that the Goolwa Cricket Club would be playing their first match on September 1. Ephriam, an aboriginal who played football for Goolwa, also played cricket for them. Results of a match played against Currency Creek on October 1 revealed that Ephriam made 33 runs in a game won by Goolwa. Like their white counterparts some of these people excelled at more than one sport.

            Southern football clubs did not all commence playing at the same time. In 1888 Strathalbyn was to begin its season on April 14 with a 'colour match' with two teams being chosen from among their own players by the captain and vice-captain. The Goolwa Football Club did not hold its annual meeting until Monday, April 16, when a reasonably strong group assembled at McNamara's hotel. The meeting was presided over by Mr. T. Johnston, jun., and those present heard that receipts and expenditure were equal at £9  19s.  9d. It was reported that the club had played six matches in 1887, winning two, drawing two and losing two.

            In the 'Southern Argus' of May 17, 1888, it was announced that Strathalbyn would play a match at Goolwa on Thursday, May 24, this being a holiday in recognition of Queen Victoria's birthday.  'The journey is to be made by means of conveyances which will leave the Victoria Hotel at 8 a.m.'   This makes it sound like a long trip, as in those days it undoubtedly seemed to be.

            The match was duly written up in the paper of May 31 by a Goolwa correspondent who said  'There was a large attendance of spectators, about 300'.  Raggatt, Goolwa's captain, won the toss and Strathalbyn kicked off against the wind. The play was very even and stayed around the centre for a time. Adams, a Strathalbyn player, scored their first goal when he picked the ball up from a scrimmage and kicked truly. Just before half-time 'Hyde put his foot to the ball and rolled it through the goal while tussling with a Strath man'. Scores were level. Hyde later kicked Goolwa's second goal, scoring on the run from an angle. The final scores saw a win to Goolwa, 2 goals 6 behinds to 1 goal. 'There was a dispute as to the Goolwa's first goal, but the Goolwas claim it as the umpire distinctly gave it a goal first, but was talked into saying he was not certain, all others near the goal say it was a goal fair enough'.

            Goolwa's next match was played at Port Victor against that team on June 30. Goolwa was without their captain, Raggatt, and a couple of other good players in Armfield and Lackington and had to fill in with juniors. Port Victor had a strong team, 'but much time was lost in starting the game, looking for a field umpire. At last Gollan was secured'.

            For most of the game play was very even, and at half-time Goolwa had scored 6 behinds to Port Victor's 4 behinds. Soon after play re-commenced, Glover kicked a goal for Goolwa.  'The Ports here disputed the goal, on the grounds of the umpire calling a behind. The umpire being asked by the Captain distinctly said, I called a goal from the first. As there were only a few more minutes to play, it was decided to call time'.  Goolwa's best in this game were Burden (Capt.), Glover, Merritt, Heggaton, Boult, Eletlien and Woodard. Mr. Gollan was said to have been 'a fair umpire'.

            Whenever there seemed to be a dispute in a match the paper allowed both sides to have their say. A Port Victor correspondent, referring to the above match, wrote that a Goolwa player gave a flying kick and sent the ball 'sailing over the goal posts'. The goal umpire at that end was a Goolwa man who 'first distinctly called behind, and then after being barracked by some of his side turned round and cried goal'. The Port Victors strongly objected to 'this unusual procedure of an umpire' and wanted it to be a behind. Goolwa would not play on unless it was declared a goal  'and the squabbling caused by it consumed nearly all the playing time, consequently the game was drawn unfinished'.

            Another Port Victor supporter wrote to the paper and claimed that Glover's kick for goal was caught by the wind and the ball was carried over the post. The umpire clearly called behind, he wrote, and this was attested to by about a dozen players near him at the time. When the ball was kicked off, 'as from behind', the Goolwa players refused to follow the ball, and this refusal, coupled with complete time, caused the game to be a draw. What a sight that would make in a game today - to see players sticking to their belief and standing around with folded arms while the ball was being whisked away up the ground!  It is also interesting to note that goal umpires apparently had to call out what the score was when the ball was kicked towards goal - either "goal" or "behind". One can imagine how difficult it must have been on some occasions to hear what was called out, especially if the day were windy or a noisy lot of players were scrimmaging near the goals.

            The return match was to be played against Port Victor on July 21 at Goolwa. The paper listed Goolwa's team as Raggat (Capt.), Burden (Vice), Merritt, Glover (2), Woodard, Elfenbick, Boult, Armfield, Orr, Creamer, J. Kennett, Lee (2), Estick, Heggaton, Lackington, Wright, Baker, Jones. Emergencies were Osborne, Allen, Johnston, Godfrey, Darwin. Apparently no one bothered to report this game in the usual manner, the only reference to it being in the 'ODDS and ENDS' column in the paper of July 26, stating that 'The Port Victors defeated the Goolwas at Goolwa on Saturday last'.

            The 'Southern Argus' of August 30 reported that Goolwa had visited Strathalbyn to play a return match.  'Both clubs had full twenties in the field, although the visitors were minus the services of several of their most prominent players'. The first quarter of this match was fairly even, with neither side gaining any real ascendancy, although Strath had most of the play. It wasn't until the second quarter that the first goal, scored by Strath, was kicked. At half-time Strath led 2 goals 8 behinds to nil. When play resumed Goolwa were still being outplayed, until, as the reporter wrote, 'the southern team now rallied up considerably and stormed the Straths' citadel, but they were again repelled'. Strath continued to outclass Goolwa, final scores being 6 goals 16 behinds to 1 behind. Goolwa's best players were Merritt, Glover, Lackington, Heggaton, Archie (aboriginal), and Gollan (aboriginal).

            The 1888 season was drawing to a close. It was difficult for towns to arrange regular matches for their football teams. The difficulty can be attributed to various factors - employment which prevented men from leaving their work place; the difficulty of travelling to places that today seem so close; lack of money to pay fares; the inability of secretaries to arrange enough matches for the season. Most of Goolwa's matches to date seemed to have been confined to close centres such as Port Elliot, Victor Harbor and occasionally Milang, which could be reached by paddle-steamer.

            One method employed by most football clubs to raise funds was to have an end of season concert. The 1888 season for Goolwa came to an end with a grand concert held in the Goolwa Institute on Monday evening, September 3. The 'Southern Argus', in its usual inimitable style, allowed publication of the complete programme. It is of interest to see what constituted entertainment in those far-off days. The programme was as follows:-

OVERTURE                                                              Misses McClintock & Sunman

COMIC SONG                                                           Mr. E.D. Scott  (encored)

SONG                                                                         Miss B. Jones

VOCAL DUET                                                           Misses Goldsmith

RECITATION - 'The Razor Seller'

SONG - 'Tit For Tat'                                                   Miss M. Darwin

VOCAL DUET                                                           Miss Dickson & Capt Wolters                     (encored)

SONG                                                                         Miss Ritchie (encored)

COMIC SONG                                                           Mr. A. Lawrence (encored)

                 INTERVAL

OVERTURE                                                               Misses Chrystal & Johnston

SONG                                                                         Miss Dickson  (encored)

COMIC SONG                                                           Mr. E.D. Scott

SONG - 'The Flower Girl'                                          Miss F. Dowland

SONG                                                                         Miss B. Sunman

STEP DANCE                                                           Mr. A. Lawrence

VOCAL DUET                                                           Misses Ritchie & N. Johnston

            The entertainment concluded with a 'screaming farce' entitled 'Quarrelsome Servants'.

            'After the entertainment a football social was held, and kept up till the early hours of the morning . People in those days obviously made the most of the social occasions, there being not enough of them to satisfy the townsfolk. It was quite common for evenings such as these to continue into the 'wee small hours'.

      Readers familiar with residents of early Goolwa will recognise many of the names in the above concert programme.

      Goolwa played one more match - on the afternoon of the same day as the above concert was held. Played against Port Victor,  'the weather was all that could be desired. Port Victor had some Port Elliot footballers playing for them'.  The ball was kicked off at 3 pm. Soon after Raggatt (for Goolwa) tried    'a place kick but failed'. Port Victor led at half-time but Goolwa played a much better second half, and ran out winners 2 goals 7 behinds to 1 goal 6 behinds. The 1888 season was over.

               Not everyone enjoyed the manly pursuit of football, as the following letter, signed 'WORKING GIRL' illustrates:- 

'The man I marry will have to be different, very different from the working men I happen to be acquainted with, otherwise there will be no matrimony for me. It is simply disgusting to see them with their dirty pipes, and to know that they stand in hotel bars quaffing pints of beer, and as for talking sensibly about anything except their stupid football or cricket it is out of the question entirely.'

                Umpires were fair game even as far back as 1889. Describing a match played between Milang and Strathalbyn, a correspondent stated that:

'Mr. T. Turvey made a slow and impartial umpire, but would do well by getting a copy and studying the rules of the Australian game of football'.

                In 1889 Goolwa's first match of the season took place at Strathalbyn on Saturday, June 15. There was 'a good attendance of spectators' as the two teams usually provided an interesting spectacle, but in this match Goolwa was overwhelmed 4 goals 6 behinds to nil. As play did not commence until 3.30 p.m., it must have been getting towards darkness by the time the match was ended. Footballers' abstinence from liquor was not considered an essential part of fitness then as it is now, as the reporter noted that at half-time the players  'refreshed themselves with a pint of "Oakbank", which was given gratuitously by Mr. Small'.  A Mr. J.H. Sinclair was upset at being included in the statement about the kind of refreshment handed to players at half-time and went on to say, in the 'Southern Argus', that 'all true athletes know full well that abstanence from liquor is the primary principle to be adopted in training'.

                A short note appeared in the 'ODDS and ENDS' column of the paper to the effect that Port Victor had defeated Goolwa on Saturday, July 6, by 2 goals to nil. A return match would be played on Saturday, July 20.  The return match was duly played on the aforementioned date at Goolwa. According to the report the  'weather was very suitable, and the ground in good condition, for a fast and exciting game'.  It being the first match that Goolwa had played on their own ground for the season,  'spectators rolled out in large numbers, being close on 200, including a good sprinkling of the fair sex'. The game was very even throughout. Goolwa's first goal was kicked by Davenport, but shortly after he had to be helped  off as  'he had his knee put out. The final scores were in Goolwa's favour - 1 goal 5 behinds to 6 behinds

                Sometimes Goolwa's matches were not reported very fully. In the August 1 edition of the 'Southern Argus', it was reported in his football notes by "ROVER" that the first match of the season had taken place between the Milang and Goolwa Clubs at Queen's Own Town on the previous Saturday. It resulted in  'a victory for the Lake-siders, who kicked two goals against their opponents' one'.  No other reports of matches for Goolwa appeared for this year so it can be assumed that the season had drawn to a close.

                        The year 1890 seemed something of a non-event for Goolwa, as the following remarks by "ROVER" on May 15 would indicate -  'The Milang Club have been practising for some time, but as yet they have played no matches. I have been informed that there will be no club at Goolwa this season, but hope it is only a rumour'.  In the following week's paper "ROVER" was able to report that  'the general meeting of the Goolwa Club is to be held at the local Institute on Saturday next. 'Better late than never'.

       In June "ROVER" was able to report that a match had been arranged between the 'Straths and the Goolwas' to take place at Goolwa on June 20, a holiday. The Strath players were to 'leave by the 9.50 train, returning in the afternoon, play starting at about 11 a.m.'  In order to arouse greater spectator interest in the forthcoming match, "ROVER" reported that the team from Strathalbyn would be  'the strongest the Straths have had out this season', while 'Goolwa have a good team'. No doubting where "ROVER'S" sentiments lay!  He advised that all who had a free day that day should spend it  'at that pretty little watering place - Goolwa!'.

                The day of the match finally dawned. On previous  occasions Strathalbyn teams had travelled to Goolwa by road, but late rains had left the roads in such a bad state that the club's committee had wisely decided to go by rail. The train reached Goolwa at 11am and 'the Straths' made straight for the oval, where "ROVER" was  'surprised to see the small team that was to oppose us, as I had been informed - or rather misinformed - that the Goolwas had a very strong team.'   In fact, Goolwa did not even have a full team at that stage and had to start the game with 16 men 'including an aboriginal', but several other players were taken on soon after the game commenced.

       The game began at about 11.30 and  'play was somewhat rough, and free marks for breaches of the rules was the result'.  It was a very one-sided game, Strath leading at half-time, 4 goals 4 behinds to nil. As time was limited, it was decided not to have a half-time rest. Strath went on to win, 7 goals 9 behinds to nil. Goolwa's best were P. Heggaton, Lackington, Allen, Porter, Knuil, Shipway, Chibnall and Watson.  'Mr. R. Wilson was every success as central umpire, being fast and impartial'. The Strathalbyn people caught the 2.15 train home, in a cheerful mood and to the strains of the song 'Dear old Strath'.

                While Strathalbyn were playing regularly and drawing good crowds to their home matches, the Goolwa Club seemed to be in the doldrums. There did not appear to be any further reports concerning the club after the game against Strathalbyn, possibly because industry in Goolwa had slowed down and people had to seek work elsewhere. Other clubs - Strathalbyn, Milang, Mt. Barker, Willunga and Macclesfield - were playing regularly. Strathalbyn had such a successful season that it claimed for itself the title 'Premiers of the South', the first time any such title had appeared in print. Late in August, Strathalbyn played a match against the 'second' team from Port Adelaide. A contest against Goolwa had been arranged for the afternoon of the same day but appears not to have taken place.

                Football in 1891 seemed as if it would get off to a more promising start when Goolwa held its annual meeting in the Institute committee-room on Saturday evening of April 4. Among those elected were 0. Sandy as captain and Thomas Johnston as vice-captain. In order to strengthen the team players would be sought from nearby centres.  'It was decided to send a ball to Middleton and Currency Creek, on condition they join to the number of five.'

                A further general meeting was held on April 18. Correspondence read by the secretary included a challenge from Macclesfield to play on the Goolwa oval on May 25. The challenge was accepted. It was also resolved at the meeting that the club would hold a concert on May 25 in aid of the club's fund. The secretary was also instructed to write to the Milang Club to arrange a match on their ground for May 2 (later altered to May 9), with the club to have a steamer excursion to Milang. It was also proposed that the club should provide a dinner, or tea, to any visiting club, and this was carried. The secretary was instructed to make the following purchases: 5 new bladders, 6 books of the rules, 3 new covers, 1 of the new imported balls and 4 goal  posts. It was also decided to have players from Port Elliot and that  'a ball be sent, on condition they join to the number of seven'. The Chairman, Mr. E.T. Henley closed 'one of the most successful meetings ever held'. It seemed that Goolwa was determined to make 1891 a more successful year for football than the previous year had been. The idea of sending a ball to other centres must have been to ensure that local players had something to use at practice. I suppose it also placed a responsibility on players from Middleton, Currency Creek and Port Elliot to play for Goolwa, if the ball were accepted!

                "ROVER" reported in the 'Southern Argus' of May 14 that

'A football match was played at Milang on Saturday last between the local team and a Goolwa team. The steamer "Jolly Miller" arrived at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon from Goolwa, with a team of footballers and a number of excursionists. No doubt the beautiful day had induced not a few to take advantage of the trip across the lake. The match commenced at 2.30 o'clock.'

       Goolwa started the match strongly but could kick only behinds. As the game went on, Milang got the upper hand and won, scores being 1 goal 10 behinds to 6 behinds. The best for Goolwa were Heggaton, Porter (2), Sandy, Shipway, Godfrey and Glover.

                The Goolwa club had accepted a challenge from the Point McLeay Wanderers to play a match at Goolwa on May 16, with play to start at 2.30 pm. Apparently this match did not eventuate, as a later report stated they    played Victor Harbor instead. In that match Victor established an early lead and won, 2 goals 5 behinds to 1 behind. Sandy, Porter (2), Johnston, Watson and Burns 'played a good game for Goolwa'.

                A match between Strathalbyn and Point McLeay highlighted the problems that could arise from time to time when there was only a rope, or sometimes nothing at all, separating players and spectators. "ROVER" reported that

'When the play was at any time near the ropes - or rather where the ropes should be - the spectators at once forged into the playing grounds, thereby interfering greatly with the game, and the field umpire informs me that at times he could not see how the play was going on account of the crowd of spectators that surrounded the ball.'

       Football did not draw large crowds in the country then, by today's standards, and not much thought had been given to keeping spectators from the playing area. It did not appear that spectators surged on to the oval for any malicious reasons, but merely to be closer to the action!

                On the same day Goolwa played Macclesfield at Goolwa, and beat the visitors 5 goals 12 behinds to 2 goals. The match was umpired by Mr. E.T. Henley, one of the Goolwa Club's vice-presidents!  'The Macclesfield Club was provided with a tea by the Goolwa Club, and several of the Goolwa players were also provided'. One wonders whether the Goolwa players who were provided with a meal were men out of work, or whether they were aborigines. The newspaper report did not say.

                By this time it appeared that two distinct football 'zones' were beginning to emerge. Strathalbyn, Mt. Barker, Macclesfield, Willunga and other Hills towns formed one 'zone', while Goolwa, Port Elliot, Victor Harbor - and perhaps Milang - formed another. It was not to be long before demands for some kind of association were to be stated in the local paper.

                In these early days of southern football rough play was not unknown. The rules did not entirely prevent ^tungentlemanly' behaviour on the football oval; although there are stricter rules today, rough play is still part of the game. On many occasions players were overcome by the excitement of the game and indulged in unsporting conduct, and these were reported with relish in the local paper. One such example was a match played between Strathalbyn and Mount Barker. The game was a close and exciting encounter between two fierce rivals. The Strathalbyn reporter had this to say about an incident in the last quarter:

'At this stage of the game one of the visitors – Onley - for some unforseen reason struck W. Byrne (of the local side) in the face with his clenched fist. A fighting attitude was at once struck by the two aforementioned  players - the giver and the receiver. The umpire at once blew his whistle and stopped play, and assumed the role of peace-maker. But not until P.T. Uppington threatened to 'run 'em in'  was peace restored.'

       The local police trooper was obviously not averse to entering on to the playing arena to ensure that any fighting was stopped. The umpire being described as a 'peace-maker' would indicate that perhaps there was no reporting of players as there is today. Players then may have been censured by their own clubs.

                Goolwa Football Club, meanwhile, was preparing to travel as far afield as Macclesfield to play a match in June. As the paper reported it was going to be a busy few days for Goolwa's players.

'The trip of the riversiders should be very enjoyable as they leave Goolwa tomorrow morning and proceed to Strathalbyn by rail, and thence to their destination by vehicles. In the afternoon the game will be contested, while the evening will be spent at Host Jackson's. Next morning they proceed to Strathalbyn, the contest with that team being timed for 2 pm.'

And further on in the report:

                        'Excursion - Milang to Goolwa - on Monday next (June 22)'

       No reports of these matches could be found, so it is not possible to know whether or not the trip actually took place. Sometimes matches were arranged, then for one reason or another were postponed or cancelled. In the  'Southern Argus' of August 13 there was a report of a forthcoming match between Goolwa and Macclesfield to be played at Goolwa. Goolwa's team was announced as consisting of Johnston, Ritchie (2), Shipway, Porter (3), Byrnes (2), Holmes, Lee, Haines, Newell, Heggaton, Estick, Godfrey, Brown (2), and Jones.

                The following week's paper reported on the match, stating that Macclesfield had only eight of their ordinary players and three subs. against 'twenty of the picked players of Port Elliot, Middleton, Currency Creek and Goolwa'. The game was fairly even up to half-time, with Goolwa leading 1 goal 5 behinds to 1 goal. In the second half Goolwa was too strong for the visitors, winning the match 3 goals 11 behinds to 1 goal 1 behind. Two of the Porters, Heggaton, Godfrey, Brown and Lee were Goolwa's best players.

                Football reporters then were not averse to casting doubts on the fairness of goal umpires, as the following remarks concerning the above match reveal:

'I hope the next time the Goolwas play a match they will get a goal umpire who knows his duty, as two of the behinds got by Goolwa he gave as goals, of which the nearest one to goal was at least four feet off the goal post and after the field umpire and the player that kicked them said they were no goals, he had the cheek to dispute them.'

     Needless to say it was reported by a Macclesfield correspondent! No more matches appeared to be played by Goolwa, and the 1891 season drew to a close.

                        By March of 1892 Milang, Strathalbyn and Goolwa clubs had held their annual meetings. At Goolwa's meeting it was announced that  'the Port Elliot players were unable to be present, being away from the District, and several of the home team are up the river'. The election of a captain and vice-captain was left until the next meeting.

                        Some excitement was aroused among the southern clubs when it was learned that Mr. J.C Rundle of the Royal Exchange, Adelaide  'has consented to pick a Southern twenty footballers to play a Northern team upon the Adelaide oval during the coming season'. Mr. Rundle wanted to hear from club secretaries 'between the city and Mount Gambier'  to give him advice and assistance as to who should make the team.

                        An announcement in a later paper stated that theadjourned meeting of the Goolwa Football Club was to be held at Foresters' Hall on Saturday, April 9. A large attendance was expected and would include players from Port Elliot, who would come to the meeting by the evening train.  'Port Elliot and Middleton have promised to throw in their lot, and with the Currency Creeks the Goolwas should be able to put in the field a very strong team. A scratch match is arranged for Saturday next, when a good muster is expected to be out'.  At this meeting A. Lee was elected captain and P. Heggaton vice-captain.  'The colours were then dealt with and it was decided to have blue-and red'.

                        Meanwhile, other teams such as Macclesfield (red and black with a green badge), were arranging their seasons. Macclesfield decided to ask Mt. Barker, Goolwa, Milang and Strathalbyn to meet them during the season. Hard-working club secretaries could arrange a busy season; those less inclined to do that did not arrange much at all.

                        That football was gaining in popularity as a spectator sport is evident from the following advertisement that appeared in the 'Southern Argus' under the column headed 'AMUSEMENTS':

GOOLWA FOOTBALL CLUB

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY, MAY 24

A FOOTBALL MATCH

Strath  v.  Goolwa

WILL BE PLAYED AT Goolwa ON THE ABOVE DATE

PLAY TO START AT 2pm

The Annual

ENTERTAINMENT

will be given in the Institute Hall in the

evening when the Goolwa CHRISTY MINSTRELS

will appear after a long interval, and

some new talent will come forward, and

several Ladies and Gentlemen will take part

in the Entertainment. The whole will conclude

with a screaming farce.

Admission - Front Seats, 2s.; back seats, 1s.; children, half-price

                                                                                                  Moonlight                                                                       Moonlight

A. DOWLAND, Hon. Sec., G.F.C.

                        In the 'FOOTBALL NOTES' by 'ROVER' in the same paper, the forthcoming match was previewed. He said that  'The Goolwas will have a strong team out, including several men from Port Elliot and Currency Creek, who have joined the Goolwa Club, and the game should be a fast and exciting one.' Goolwa^ts team for this match was listed as Brown, Boyd, Chrystal, Estick, Freeman, Glover (2), Heggaton, Holmes, Jones, Knight, Lackington, Lee (2), Newell, Porter (3), Tate and Watson. The emergencies were Byrnes, Newell, Hasney, Godfrey, Freeman and Clover. Goolwa Club must have decided that it was an important match as they scheduled a practice match for May 21, with Mr. G. Ritchie to act as central umpire. It was also decided that another meeting would be necessary to choose three men to represent the club in the match between North and South of the colony.

                        The above match was played and won by Strathalbyn, 4 goals to 1 goal in what was described as  'an exciting game'. Goolwa's best players were Heggaton, Watson, Porter and Brown. The entertainment that night in the Institute drew a crowd of about 150 people.  'The hall was utilized for dancing, the stage being set apart for games, etc.'

            Meanwhile, the match between the north and south of the colony that Mr. Rundle of Adelaide had promised to organise was set down for Saturday, June 25, at the Adelaide Oval.  E. Watson from the Goolwa club had been chosen in the team from the south and among the rest of the players were four aborigines from the two Point McLeay teams – H. Hewitt, J. Rankine, W. Rankine and J. Wilson.

                        Football continued on a more or less monthly basis for Goolwa. On Saturday, June ll,· they met Port Victor at Goolwa. Port Victor won 'a most exciting game', although under today's rules the game would have been a draw, scores being 4 goals 5 behinds to 3 goals 11 behinds. Port Victor included in their team the two Knight brothers and Brown,  'who had recently withdrawn from the Goolwa team and joined the Ports'.  Goolwa's best players in this match were Ritchie, Lackington, Lee (2), Watson, Jones, and Rankine. Club secretaries had arranged for Goolwa and Macclesfield to play a match at Strathalbyn on Monday, June 20. Juniors from Goolwa were to play Strathalbyn juniors on the same day. The Goolwa squad consisted of Rogers, Ritchie, Wright, Lush, Atkins, Darwin (2), Paulson, Richards (2), Porter, Bowley, Newell, Barclay, Packer, Henley, Campbell, Wolter, Underwood and Gillen.

                        In these early years of football there were no restrictions placed on players who wanted to move from one club to another. There was talk of forming some kind of an association to control the movement of players between clubs. Indeed, one letter written to the 'Southern Argus'  and signed 'ASSOCIATION', tried to stir up interest in the idea. The letter was headed 'ThE NEED OF A FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION IN THE SOUTH' and stated, in its entirety:

Every Saturday we are more convinced of the necessity of the above, for the ruling and guiding of clubs in the South, and it is a great surprise to most that something is not done to­wards keeping the rules of football in better order and prevent their being held in contempt so much as they have been. Surely the cases that have already come before us in the Argus shows that even now we're not too late to form one as three or four months are yet to run. I witnessed a match on Saturday last at Goolwa between the local team and the Port Victors, and there were some very strong reasons that something should be done. I believe that one player was actually bought from (one) side to play for the others, and it was a case of  'who gives the most gets me'. The Port Victor captain and men refused to pay anybody so the player was bought and played for the Goolwas, Then again, why cannot we get or arrange before hand to have suitable umpires, the Goolwas sent two on the field, one of whom knew nothing of the game whilst the other was incapable of giving decisions and the last quarter of the game the Port Victors had actually to play over twenty men and the umpire still they stuck to their work although short handed (18 men I am told) won with plenty to spare. I am sure something should be done in this matter and the secretaries of the various clubs should do their best for the promotion of this object. I am sure no one would like to see a recurrence of the way the umpire played, as he did most undoubtedly last Saturday, fairly enjoying the game. Hoping that the secretaries of South clubs can arrange something to stop these practices and then we can witness better examples of Australia's noble game fought out.

       Football between teams from the southern towns seemed to have reached the point at which it was no longer good enough for each club to go its own way, relying upon their club secretaries to arrange matches with other teams.

                        Goolwa and Macclesfield met at Strathalbyn on Monday, June 20, where Goolwa was victorious, scores being 1 goal 12 behinds to 7 behinds. According to the report of the match  'Messrs Stark and Gosling acted as umpires at different times, giving every satisfaction'. The Goolwa juniors playing on the same day at the same venue also had a win against the Strathalbyn juniors, 4 goals to 1 goal.

                        In the same paper there was a letter from Mr. E.J. Wheaton, captain of the Port Victor Football Club, in which he ridiculed an earlier report of his club's match against Goolwa on June 11. He claimed that the correct scores for that game were 5 goals 12 behinds to 2 goals 7 behinds. This letter also pointed to the fact that it was the practice for goal umpires to be appointed by the agreement of the two captains on the day.

                        Football clubs who travelled in those days sometimes incurred the anger of the public due to their unseemly behaviour, another aspect of the game, it seems, that has not changed all that much. A letter signed 'DISGUSTED WITH FOOTBALL' stated that:

I refer to those who played against Macclesfield on the 20th. Who they were, I don't desire to know, but a greater set of disreputable roughs and hoodlums has not been met with for a long time.

     The writer of the letter may have have made reference to members of the Goolwa team who had travelled by train that day to play Macclesfield at Strathalbyn. One can imagine the tomfoolery and noisy behaviour of a group of young footballers as they whiled away the slow journey from Strathalbyn to Goolwa.

                        Mr. A. Dowland, secretary of the Goolwa Football Club, also had published a letter that denied that Goolwa had bought a player. There was, he said,  ' a native named Rankine, who may have asked for pay',  but didn't get any, as the Goolwa Club was  'not in the habit of paying their players'. Dowland also claimed that, despite what had been said to the contrary, Port Victor had had a full team out against Goolwa. He also supported the idea of an association  'as it would stop players running from team to team as had been done so much this season.'

                The much-publicised match between the North and the South of the colony took place on the Adelaide Oval on June 25  'in the presence of three or four thousand people, including His Excellency the Governor'.  How exciting it must have been for the footballers from the country towns to have played in front of so large a gathering of spectators! The game was won by the Southern team, 9 goals 5 behinds to 3 goals 8 behinds. The captain of the Norwood team, Mr. A. Waldron, kindly acted as honorary umpire. The report of the match stated that  'a feature of the game was the play of two of the Point McLeay natives, Hewitt and Wislon, who played the best game of the forty'.  Later that evening all players were entertained at a dinner at Bricknell's Cafe in Gawler Place.

                        A terse report stated that Port Victor juniors beat Goolwa juniors at home, 7 goals 7 behinds to 1 goal 4 behinds. There was also an announcement of a return match to be played between Goolwa and Port Victor on July 16, but no record of the match having been played could be located. Goolwa's team was published prior to the match, and consisted of Chrystal, Estick, Forbes, Glover (2), Godfrey, Haines, Heggaton, Homes, Hargraves, Jones, Lee (2), Newell, Porter (3), Wright, Rogers, and White. Emergencies were Richards, J. Byrnes, Newell and Love.

                        Although the above match was not recorded in the 'Southern Argus', a general meeting of the Goolwa Club was. Mr. P. Heggaton presided at the meeting, which was held in the Foresters' Hall and which was well attended. The secretary, Mr. Dowland, reported that correspondence had been received from Strathalbyn, Aldinga, Port Victor, Point McLeay and Macclesfield, no doubt seeking to play matches. It was decided to play a return match against rivals Strathalbyn on Saturday, July 23. If possible, a match would be arranged  'with the Point McLeay natives'.  Mr Dowland also announced that he would offer a medal for best attendance at matches, meetings, and practice during the season, a move that was gratefully accepted by the club. The club also offered three other medals for proficiency  'in the following departments of the game - place man, goal kicker and follower'. The 'place man' would have been the player who played his position best of all, as apart from the followers who roamed all over the oval. Goolwa's team for the match against Strathalbyn was announced as being selected from Lee (2), A. Byrnes, Porter (3), Newell (2), Glover (2), Godfrey, Forbes, Jones, Haines, Sunman, Byrnes, Knight (2), Brown, Wright, Chrystal, Estick, Holme and Rogers.

                According to the 'Southern Argus' report of July 28 the match against the red and whites was very one-sided, Goolwa proving to be no match for their opponents. They stuck to their task, however, in a match that did not start until 3.40 p.m., as the train that the Goolwa team travelled on did not arrive until 3.30 p.m., so that there was very little time between arrival and start of play.

                        As the game was played at Strathalbyn, the reporter was able to write a meticulously-detailed report of the whole match, quarter by quarter. This method was employed whenever Strathalbyn played at home. Reports of matches played elsewhere had to rely upon the efficiency of club secretaries to furnish reports for publication.

                        One of the Lee brothers captained Goolwa, and when the match began the ball was carried back and forth for some time until  'one of the Goolwas (a native), put in some rather rough play, and Jarvis was given a mark for it'. Play was of ¹a give and take description', with neither side able to get an advantage. By half-time, Strathalbyn led 2 goals 12 behinds to 1 goal 3 behinds. There was a lot of uninterest­ing play after half-time and Strath. eventually won 4 goals 14 behinds to 1 goal 3 behinds. The reporter made the unusual comment that  'the game all through was a most friendly one, although at times rough'. Goolwa's best players were the three Porter brothers, Brown, Heggaton, Rogers and Knight.

                        There then followed a match at home for Goolwa against Point McLeay Wanderers on July 30. Goolwa lost, scores being 5 goals 11 behinds to 3 goals 4 behinds. The only comment made was that  'the game was very fast.' Goolwa were due to play Point McLeay at home on August 6. The teams often changed from one match to the next, no doubt due to the unavailability of some players who may have been away up river, or working in another district. Goolwa's team for the August 6 match was to be Lee (2), Haines, Jones, Heggaton, Godfrey, Glover (2), Rogers, Porter (3), Byrnes, Brown, Knight (2), Barrett, Newell (2), Forbes.  Emergencies:- Holmes, White, Wright and Lush.

                        Later, the paper had this to say about the match, which was won by Point McLeay:

A rather unpleasant feature of the game was the fact that although the match started fully a half-hour after the time arranged, the Goolwas did not all turn up punctually, and then continued coming in after play had commenced until they had overreached the usual number required to play a match, thus necessitating the Point McLeay skipper (J. Rankine) to appeal to the umpire to have them lined (up), and it was amusing to see the manner in which some were trying to escape. Both teams played two men each from the Wanderers team.

            Point McLeay won the match easily, 10 goals 14 behinds to 0 goats 5 behinds.

     To play out the season Goolwa boys played the lads from Strathalbyn and lost 4 goals to 1 goal. The lads who did well for Goolwa were Rogers, Pickhills, Richards and Aveline. Goolwa were due to play against Port Victor on September 3; Strath and Port Victor played each for the first time, but in some confusing reporting it was stated that Port Victor beat Gootwa 12 goals to 4 goals at about the same time.

                        The year 1893 saw the approaching football season begin in the usual way with a flurry of annual meetings. Strathalbyn held their meeting in March, while Macclesfield held theirs in April, and decided to try to fix matches with Goolwa, Milang and Strathalbyn. No mention was made of the Goolwa Club holding its meeting, but it did so after its annual social, which was held in the Institute Hall on Wednesday evening, May 24.  'For seasons past the club have always opened their season with an entertainment, but this year it was decided to hold the entertain­ment later on'.  About 150 people were present at the hall, which was decorated with flowers, flags and evergreens. The football and flag of the club were placed on the stage, which had been set aside for games, cards, etc. The hall was mostly taken up for dancing. The M.C. for the evening was Mr. Henley, vice-president of the club.

                        A few days later, on May 27, the Goolwa Club held a meeting in the Foresters Hall, with Mr. J. Porter presiding.  'It was decided to arrange if possible for the Strathalbyn Club visiting Goolwa on June 21. It was also decided to accept a challenge from the Point McLeay Wanderers for June 10      ... 'A football match was played here on the holiday [which would have been May 24], Goolwa v. Port Victor, and it resulted in a draw, the scores being - Goolwa, 1 behind; Port Victor 5 behinds'.

                        The Port Elliot Club must have been in recess for a short period, for it was reported that  'the members of a newly formed football club under the captaincy of Mr. J. Brown are practising vigorously and I believe they intend playing the Goolwa team at an early date'.

                The 'Southern Argus' of July 6 reported on a match played between Port Victor and Goolwa Combined (with whom is not certain, but possibly Middleton and Currency Creek). The report stated that:

The afternoon gave promise of being a lovely one, but at a few minutes to four, until which time the visitors did not arrive, a shower of rain fell, making the ball wet and greasy. At 4 o'clock the ball was bounced, and exactly one minute after play started the seasiders kicked their first goal. But after the ball had been played a little it became heavy, thoroughly saturated, and almost impossible to hold. The game however, which was very fast, was evenly contested and was a splendid struggle right up to the last minute.

            Port Victor won, 2 goals 13 behinds to 1 goal 1 behind. Best for Goolwa were H. Hewitt, A. Rankine, Long, Godfrey, Lee and Brown.

                        Times were hard in the 1890s, and many people in Goolwa were unemployed. There were no unemployment benefits such as there are today, so the poor had to rely upon the generosity of others. The hard times would help to explain why the football club sometimes found it difficult to get enough players together to play some of the arranged matches. Sometimes, as on Thursday, July 27, 1893, a Social in aid of the poor was held. On that night just such a Social was held in the Institute Hall, and a charge of one shilling (10 cents) was made for admission. According to the newspaper report a   'very large number showed sympathy for the needy by their presence'. The Social opened at half-past seven, and lasted till the early hours of Friday morning. Mr. H. Newell provided the music, free of charge. Later the Mayor, Mr. D. Taylor, the Rev. Noime and Messrs. Evans, Hart and Craig were appointed to distribute the money that had been collected.

                        A couple of days later, on July 29, a match was played between Goolwa and Strathalbyn, and resulted in an apparently easy win for Strathalbyn, 8 goals 16 behinds to 1 goal 2 behinds;  'but the game was by no means a one-sided affair, as the Goolwas played a good uphill game right through, and at times made things very warm for their opponents'.  It should be remembered that Strathalbyn  was playing football on a more regular basis than Goolwa, and played against teams that Goolwa never met. The above match was played at Strathalbyn, but the Goolwa team did not arrive until 3.45 p.m., possibly by train. In his report of the match, the correspondent mentioned that at one stage  'Thomson had a chance to score but one flag only went up',  which indicated that goal umpires were using signals to notify scores even then. The reporter was also apparently quite taken by  'the brilliant play of J. Rankine'. The best players for Goolwa were Rankine, Cope, Brown (2), Porter and Lee.

                        As in 1892, a Southern team had been chosen to play a match at Adelaide Oval against a Northern team. The Southern team included players from Willunga, Happy Valley, Strathalbyn, Gumeracha, Robe, Mount Barker, Blackwood and Naracoorte, but none from Goolwa! The Northern team won easily, 16 goals 17 behinds to 4 goals 3 behinds. The Southern team was said to be  'very much inferior to last year's'.  It was also noted that Mr. A.Waldron of the Norwood Club carried out the duties of central umpire   'and the experiment of boundary umpires was tried'.

                        It seems there was no more football played in 1893 by Goolwa. As there was still no association, games were often played on a monthly basis, or not at all.

                        Before the 1893 season was officially over, Willunga claimed a premiership by winning all of its matches in the 'Southern Association'. This association consisted of teams from Willunga, Aldinga and Sellicks Hill. Strathalbyn Club also announced that player T. Fallon was their leading goalkicker for the season with 13 goals! The season appeared to be over for Goolwa, no more matches having been reported on.

                                  By April 12, football reporter 'ROVER' was writing in his column in the 'Southern Argus' that he had 'not heard anything of the Goolwa or Macclesfield clubs yet, but I hope they are not going to be allowed to die out'. No more was heard about Goolwa for a month, until 'ROVER' was able to report that  'I hear the Goolwa Club are having a meeting this week, and that they will probably have a good team this year, as several men from Port Elliot are going to join in'.  'ROVER' began this column in the May 10 edition of the ^tSouthern Argus' with a little verse:

After the football is over -

After the field is clear -

Straighten my nose and shoulder,

Help me to find my ear.

which no doubt epitomised the feelings of many towards what was often described as the 'King of winter games

Goolwa did hold its annual meeting, as it happened on the same day that 'ROVER' was wondering whether there would be a club in the river town. The Foresters' Hall was chosen as the venue for the meeting and elections were held to fill various positions.

PATRONS: Hons. R.C. Baker, J.H. Gordon and Messrs.                                                H.E.Downer, M.P., J.R. Kelly, M.P., S. Tomkinson,                                             L.Cohen and Sir E.T. Smith.

PRESIDENT: Mr. Thomas Carrington.

VICE-PRESIDENTS: Messrs. T. Goode, J.P.₁ J.T. Underwood, J.P.,               D.L. Taylor, E.T. Henley, J. Bannigan, J. Rust, T.                                 Dowland, and Capts. J. and G. Ritchie.

CAPTAIN: Mr. H. Cope.

VICE-CAPTAIN: Mr. J. Porter.

SECRETARY/TREASURER:          Mr. A. Dowland.

COMMITTEE: Messrs. L.Hoobin, F. White, J. Brown, T. Knight and                              A. Lee.

      If it seems unusual for a football club to hold its annual meeting in May, it should be remembered that, as there was no association in this area, there was no definite starting time for the football season. Once the annual meeting had been held, it was then left to club secretaries to try to arrange matches with other clubs. The list of office-bearers for the Goolwa Football Club for the 1894 season looked most impressive - almost as many people as would be needed to play a match!

      The football reporter for the 'Southern Argus', as he often did, previewed a forthcoming match to be played between Goolwa and Strathalbyn with the remark that  'next Saturday will see the Straths at Goolwa trying conclusions with the representatives of that team. I don't know what sort of team the Goolwas have yet, but the Straths had better get together a good twenty, or they may be caught napping'. The match was played on June 9, 1894, and 'ROVER' reported the game in great detail, which he always did when the Strathalbyn team was involved. It was a close, exciting and pleasant game, 'with the exception of a couple of little squabbles regarding two of the goals obtained'.

      One of the 'little squabbles' occurred early in the game, when Strath was given a goal while Goolwa claimed that the ball had been touched. The goal umpire stuck to his decision in favour of Strath, even though the field umpire said afterwards it was no goal. Play was very even throughout most of the game until time was called. 

'Here again a slight breach occurred owing to some of the players not hearing the time called, and Godfrey (of Goolwa) being one of the number collared the ball and put it through. The Goolwas then asserted that there was three minutes to go, but strangely enough this was the first time the Straths heard of the Goolwas having appointed a time-keeper, Mr. Edmonds having called time on the three previous occasions (at the end of each previous quarter). In future I would advise the Goolwa people to procure a bell'.

 

      Final scores, in favour of Strath, were 3 goals 8 behinds to 1 goal 2 behinds. Best players for Goolwa were Jack Porter, Grundy, Newell and Cope. Later, in the June 21 paper, Mr. H. Cope, Goolwa's captain, wrote to say that the correct scores for their match against Strathalbyn were 2 goals 9 behinds to 2 goals 6 behinds, which would have been counted as a drawn game. 'ROVER' replied in his column that that was not so - the scores were as he printed them in his report.

      It is evident from newspaper reports of the times that umpires were not immune from criticism. Strathalbyn had played a match against a team of natives from Point McLeay in late May, and soon after, there appeared in the paper a letter written by Mark Wilson, captain of the Point McLeay team, in which he said: 'I attended match after match on the Adelaide oval between association teams, but have never seen such a disgraceful exhibition of umpiring as at Strathalbyn on the 28th May by H. Davison.'  The letter stirred up a hot debate that raged back and forth in the pages of the 'Southern Argus' for some weeks.

            H. Davison, the umpire in question, replied in the following week's paper, saying of his alleged partiality towards Strathalbyn:  'I treat such remarks with contempt.'  Of the Point McLeay team he said  'I would advise them to learn the rules of the game before again playing a civilised township'. In a following edition of the paper, 'ROVER' wrote a scathing reply to Mark Wilson's letter, accusing him of making 'ridiculous statements and suggesting that Mr. Wilson had been affected by the sun'. He advised Mark Wilson to get hold of a copy of the rules of the game  'and study them in his spare time'.

            By now, the correspondent who signed his column each week with the pseudonym of 'ROVER' seemed to have taken it upon himself to become the football expert of the south. He was obviously based in Strathalbyn, as each game played by that club was reported in minute detail. To cover any other football being played another column, headed 'LITTLE MARKS' was initiated. This was, more or less, a round-up of news items to do with football in Adelaide and on the south coast. 'ROVER' seemed to be of the opinion that his remarks were final and correct and that he would brook no debate about them.

      This attitude did not deter Point McLeay captain, Mark Wilson, who read 'ROVER'S' remarks about Point McLeay, and in particular the references to himself. In a letter of reply he again questioned the inability of Davison to umpire fairly, and questioned the biased reporting of 'ROVER'. Wilson said that had ¹ROVER' ever experienced the 'king of winter games' he might be able to pass as a critic of the game. He concluded his letter by saying that 'practice makes perfect' and 'experience makes fools wise'.

                Winter conditions often made for miserable playing conditions. The Goolwa juniors travelled to Strathalbyn on June 23 to play a match and found both the ground and the ball to be slippery and wet.  'From a spectator's point of view it was a most amusing game',  that Strath juniors won 5 goals to nil.

                        Point McLeay played in atrocious conditions at Willunga on the same day. It was at first thought that the weather would prevent them from coming, but the natives did arrive, and marched down the street to the oval where they gave an exhibition of boomerang throwing before the match began. Willunga won the match easily, not because they were the better players but because most of the natives played without boots and could not retain their footing on the slippery ground.

            Another 'first' for Goolwa eventuated during this season, when they played McLaren Vale for the first time. 'The game was of a friendly order all through. Goolwa won 3 goals 19 behinds to no goals 6 behinds. Jack Porter again played well, being adjudged 'best of the forty' (best on ground), and was ably assisted by Braley, Cope, Brown, Glover and Lee'.

            During this era of football without an association there must have been some ill-feeling generated between Goolwa and Port Victor who did not seem to play very often against each other. This speculation about a lack of friendly feeling between the two towns was prompted by a report in the 'Southern Argus' of July 19 that stated that:

Mr. G. Lush has kindly offered (in the match Goolwa V. Port Victor) to present the winning team with a football. I think it would be well if the above teams could come to terms and meet soon, and as the Goolwas visited Port Victor last, it is but natural that the next match be played on our ground.

            Remarks in 'ROVER'S' column from time to time indicated a concern for the well-being of the game and the people who played it; he wrote that 'it would be well if all the clubs passed a rule, whereby a player could be fined for unnecessary roughness or fighting in a match'. The fragmented nature of football in the south meant that each club was in charge of its own destiny, and, without any kind of association, it would have been difficult to bring in rules that governed the conditions of play for all clubs. It seemed, too, that some clubs took advantage of the absence of rules; it was noted that in some matches, where the scores were close, players deliberately kicked the ball over the fence in order to waste time!

                In August there was the announcement of a return match to be played between Goolwa and Strath at Strath.  'The Goolwas have a by no means bad combination this year, so a close game may be anticipated'. This match was played on August 4. Play was very even during the first quarter and there was not much between the two teams all the way through, with Strath running out eventual winners, 3 goals 10 behinds to 2 goals 4 behinds. 'Jack Porter, of the Goolwas, did more work than any man on the ground, and the Goolwas would be almost lost without him'. Jack Porter was thought to be good enough to play in the annual fixture, begun in 1892, of the South against the North of the colony, which had been arranged to take place in Adelaide on August 18, 1894.

      Goolwa'steam at this time consisted of such players as Cope, the Porter brothers, Aveline, Grundy, Hoobin, Abbott, Chrystal, the Newell boys, Heggaton brothers, the Knight brothers, Brailey, Glover, White, Lee, Godfrey, Estick, P.Richards, Lush and Brown. To keep these players interested in the game, club secretaries sometimes needed prompting to arrange fixtures with other clubs, hence remarks in the paper's football column that suggested 'Could not a match between Goolwa and Mount Barker be arranged to be played at Strathalbyn? A meeting between these two teams should furnish a good game', indicated that perhaps Strathalbyn saw itself as the Mecca of southern football.

      Goolwa did meet Port Victor Club once more, but at Port Victor, on August 11. The match resulted in a draw, Port Victor 3 goals 9 behinds, Goolwa 3 goals 6 behinds. This was somewhat of a surprise as 'The Goolwas being minus the services of their skipper - "Old Dad" - Porter Bros., Chrystal, Hoobin and a few more good men, naturally enough expected a "walking over". But through good play on the part of the men that were left' they managed to draw the game. 'The most prominent man on the ground was Walt. Grundy, his fine dashes and high marking being in themselves special features'.

      Port Victor eventually visited Goolwa on September 15, and the match was won by Goolwa, 4 goals 3 behinds to 1 goal 4 behinds. Jack Porter was again 'the man of the day', ably supported by Braley, T. Knight, Lee, H. Porter, J. Brown, Estick and P. Heggaton.

      The 1894 season was virtually over as far as Goolwa was concerned.  A notable feature of the season was the selection of Jack Porter, an outstanding player for Goolwa, in the team from the south that played a team from the north in Adelaide in August. The report of the game stated that 'Porter, of Goolwa, did any amount of useful work.' The game was declared a draw, scores being North 3 goals 10 behinds, South 3 goals 7 behinds.

      That football was becoming a more popular winter game is evidenced by the new clubs that sprang into existence. The new Nangkita Village Settlement had formed a club, and had played a match against Finniss at Black Swamp, an area created by the flow of water from the Tookayerta Creek. The 'Southern Argus' football reporter, 'ROVER', implored club secretaries to send in details of their clubs' activities because, as he wrote, 'The football season of 1894 being now over as far as Strathalbyn is concerned, next week I will furnish my readers with a retrospect of the season'. Club secretaries must have been decidedly lax because the only report that appeared was to do with the Strathalbyn Club; it would appear that when Strathalbyn stopped playing football it marked the end of a season! Goolwa's approach to football seemed to be a lot less intense and it did not seem to matter whether they played one game a month or none at all.

                While football clubs were coming into existence in other centres, the club at Goolwa seemed to be in the doldrums. The 'Southern Argus' did not have many reports about football matches played by Goolwa during the 1895 season, and this may have been so for two reasons; either the club secretary did not send in reports to the newspaper, or Goolwa did not play much football. Finniss, who played in the yellow and black colours, had already had their meeting in early March to form a club and  'to enable the members to get a little practice before the season actually commences'.  Football notes in the paper were no longer written by 'ROVER', but by someone calling himself 'IMP'. His column stated that the Happy Valley Football Club were arranging a three-day trip to the South,  'visiting Strath and Goolwa for matches and variety entertainment on May 25 and May 27'.

      Not to be rushed Goolwa held its annual general meeting on Saturday, April 20, when  'it was decided to carry on the club this season'. There being no formal association of teams in this area, it would seem safe to assume that clubs were formed on a yearly basis, and if, for one reason or another, a club did not reform from one season to the next, it would not really be to the detriment of any other club. At the meeting Mr. Dowland was elected President, the Captain was Mr. Cope and  J. Porter was made Vice-Captain. 'It was fixed that the sub­scription for the season be 5s.' (5 shillings, equivalent to 50 cents).

                June 1 saw Goolwa play its first match for the season, against Finniss at the Finniss oval. The report stated that 'both teams were playing short handed'. Goolwa won the match, 6 goals 7 behinds to 1 goal 2 behinds. It was hard to pick Goolwa's best players  'as they all played well for their win'. The Porter brothers kicked 5 goals between them and 'played first class games'. Reporting of matches was not always accurate; the Finniss news published in the paper gave the scores as Goolwa, 6 goals 5 behinds, Finniss 1 goal 3 behinds.

                That match seemed to be about the extent of the football played by Goolwa during 1895, as the paper did not report any more matches for them. There were two reports of junior football involving Goolwa lads; Port Elliot travelled to Goolwa, leaving at 1.15  'in Mr. Hussey's drag', and arriving after about an hour's travelling.  Port Elliot juniors won the match 1 goal 1 behind to 1 behind. Goolwa played a return match by travelling to Port Elliot about a month later  'to try to have their revenge on the Ports'. The game started at about 3 o'clock and Port Elliot juniors again won, this time the scores being 3 goals 6 behinds to 1 goal 1 behind. 'The visitors soon harnessed up, and made a start for home'.

      That seemed to be about the extent of the football played by anyone representing the town of Goolwa during 1895; at least, no other football matches were reported by the paper. Economic conditions at the time made employment difficult to find. Much of Goolwa's river trade was with stations along the River Darling, and if the river did not rise, boats were idle and there was no work. Indeed, in March, 1896, the 'Southern Argus^t printed the news from Goolwa whose correspondent wrote:

This town is particularly quiet and dull just now, and business is at a standstill. There is nothing doing at all, and one would imagine it was Sunday every day un­less you walked down the street and saw the hotels and stores open. This state of affairs  will not im­prove until the River Darling condescends to rise suf­ficiently to allow of navigation being opened for steamers between this and the up river ports.

            Men who would normally work on riverboats had to find some other livelihood. Riverboat men took to fishing  'just to keep the wolf from the door until they can resume their occupation'.

      Meanwhile, Football in other towns was being prepared for, with Strathalbyn holding its annual meeting on Saturday, April 4, and Port Victor its meeting on May 16. A clue that football in Goolwa had been in the doldrums can be found in a report of Goolwa Club's meeting, held on May 23 in the Foresters' Hall. There was, evidently, a good attendance. The report stated that  'it was decided to restart the game, and a good number handed in their names as members'. Mr. Dowland was once again elected President, J. Porter became captain and E. Brown vice-captain, while Mr. T.C. Goode was elected secretary/treasurer.

            After that, nothing seemed to happen for a while. In his football column 'IMP' noted that  'we hear Goolwa is sending out the strongest twenty in the field that she has got together for many a year'.  Whether this message was designed to strike fear into the hearts of teams from other towns is not certain. The only match for 1896 that Goolwa was reported to have played in was when:

 The 'Lady of the Lake' (Capt. Payne), ran to Point McLeay on Saturday, August 9th, taking the Goolwa football team and had a nice number of excursionists on board. The steamer left here at nine o'clock and made a good run to the Mission Station which was reached before dinner, a start was soon made to play, the game being very friendly and resulted in the natives winning by two goals. The scores were Point McLeay five goals, Goolwa three goals. After a smart run home the Goolwa wharf was reached at seven o'clock, and a very enjoyably outing having been spent.

                In 1897 the Strathalbyn Football Club had held its annual general meeting on April 10, but numbers of players were apparently scarce because a meeting about a month later was held to announce that the club would  'go into recess' for the ensuing year  'as there was no chance of getting a team at present'. The 'Southern Argus' did not report on an annual meeting for Goolwa, but in the edition dated June 3 it was reported that 'the Port Victor footballers opened the season of '97 with a match against their old rivals the Goolwas on Saturday last. The Harborites journeyed to Goolwa by the 1.35 train with a fairly representative team.

      This seemed to be the first mention of any sporting 'rivalry' between Goolwa and Port Victor, who had not played each other on a regular basis at all through the early years of the game. The correspondent referred to the Port Victor players as 'Harborites', but they were sometimes known as the 'saltwaters', especially when they played against the men from the river town.

       This game, played in late May, was fast to begin with, but then settled down to become an even contest. At half time Port Victor led, 1 goal 2 behinds to 1 gaol 1 behind. The second half continued to be played very evenly until just before the end, when Port Victor kicked another goal  'thus winning the match by 1 goal 1 behind'. Those who played well for Goolwa were the Porter brothers, Rigney, Probert and Rankine.

      Until now behinds had not figured in scoring, but now a change had come in the rules, so that goals equalled six points and the winning team would be the one that scored most points, by adding together goals and behinds.

                The two towns played a return match on June 12. 'The Goolwas who were very ably assisted by nine natives from Pt. McLeay did not put in an appearance until the afternoon was well advanced, consequently the game had to be played by changing ends every twenty minutes'.  Play started about 10 past 3, and was apparently conspicuous for its unexcitingness. 'The last quarter was almost an incessant scrimmage, no less than 38 players following the ball. The Goolwas kept up a hot attack the whole quarter, Porter and the natives showing out well'. But it was to no avail, as Port Victor again won, scores being 2 goals 7 behinds to 1 goal 4 behinds. Football reporter 'IMP' stated that for Goolwa all the natives played well, together with Porter, Sweetman and Godfrey.

                Goolwa's next match against Port Elliot on the latter's oval on July 17 is of interest, as, for the first time, scores were reported as follows:-

                          Goolwa                 1 goal 5 behinds -         11 points

                          Port Elliot              1 goal 3 behinds           9 points

       The weather was good for the first half of the game, 'but a strong wind, accompanied by rain, which blew straight across the ground, somewhat spoiled the second half'.

                Scores sent in by club secretaries were often disputed by rival teams, as the following letter to the 'Southern Argus' illustrates:

'Sir - The correspondent who reported the football Goolwa V . Pt. Elliot on July 17th, made a great error in adding a goal to the Goolwa scores the ball being kicked off for a behind, it is im­possible to claim the goal; therefore Port Elliot won the match by one goal'.

       The letter was signed by the secretary of the Port Elliot Fooltball club and illustrates the fact that although there was no football association as such, nevertheless clubs jealously guarded what wins they could muster.

                Port Victor and Goolwa met for the third time in 1897 at Goolwa on August 7. Goolwa, determined to make amends for their past two defeats at the hands of the 'Harborites' 'were assisted by seven natives from Point McLeay, the very pick of the team'.  It was an exciting game, so exciting that 'at times onlookers were in the middle of the ground, and, although not actually spoiling the play, they were certainly looked upon as a confounded nuisance'.  By now, a game was begun with the ball being bounced, and this was done at 10 past 3. Goolwa were still decked out in red and blue colours, while Port Victor wore the colours they still wear today - blue and white. Excitement ran high in the final quarter as Goolwa tried to close the gap, 'there being only one point difference', but Port Victor put the match beyond doubt by scoring a late goal. The final scores showed that Port Victor won, 3 goals 4 behinds (22 points) to 1 goal 7 behinds (13 points). The reporter stated that 'the play was so consistent that we cannot individually name for good play'.

                About a week later Port Victor paid their annual visit to Yankalilla, leaving about 9 am. in  'Bolger's drag with 5 good horses attached'. Port Victor stayed on for a meal after the game but 'a start was made for home as soon as the moon rose (about 8 o'clock) and Port Victor was reached in good time'.

                Port Victor's crowning glory came on September 4 when they defeated Willunga. In the words of the reporter:

The decisive win stamps them as the best team of footballers that has stepped on to a football ground in the south this year, and they can now fully claim the premiership of the south.

            Itseemed that in the days of no association an energetic secretary who  could secure many games for his club afforded them the opportunity of claiming a title, as long as they won more games than any other team!

                That seemed to be about all there was to the 1897 season. As the months slipped by, in 1898 attempts were being made to revive the Strathalbyn club, which had been in recess. At a meeting on April 23, enough members pledged themselves so that a club could be reformed.

                Goolwa continued on its laconic way with no reports of annual meeting appearing in the paper, but there they were, playing Port Victor in mid-June. It was an easy win for Port Victor, 9 goals 7 behinds to 3 goals 3 behinds and, as before, the best for Goolwa were 'the six natives and the Porter brothers'.

                On Monday, June 20, Strathalbyn travelled to Goolwa to play a match. A headline at the top of the Football column stated 'GOOLWAS VICTORIOUS'. Because Strathalbyn was involved the report was a lengthy one, and much of its beginning was taken up with a description of the journey to Goolwa. It is well worth quoting in its entirety:

'Leaving Strathalbyn shortly after 8 o'clock on Monday morning in a bus drawn by four flashing steeds the Strathalbyn foot-ballers journeyed to the Riverside township of Goolwa. The scrub many miles of which were traversed beginning to burst forth with all its beauty, the wattles giving out their lustrous yellow blossoms and the native plants the infancy of their glory. These tended to make amends for the bad state of the roads, a complete state of bogginess, after an hour and a quarter's drive the Finniss Creamery hauled in sight where our worthy Jehu pulled up and gave his team of horses a well earned rest; and they did well at the nosebags of chaff which were placed in front of them. After 35 minutes' halt during which time the lads enjoyed a kick at the football, a start was made again and going at a merry pace the Black Swamp and Currency Creek were passed, Goolwa being soon sighted and the bus pulled up at Wright's hotel at five minutes past noon. After dinner a start was made (for the) football ground which is not of the best, being very muddy, slippery, and uneven.'

            And after a trip lasting about four hours along poorly maintained roads, confronted by an oval with very little appeal, what did the valiant Strathalbyn players discover? The description continues:

'The Goolwas were rather late in turning up and consequently the match was delayed for a time, finally starting at about a quarter to three. The ever alert photographer was on the scene during the afternoon and at half time secured a couple of negatives of the opposing teams, not till after a lot of fitting together of his camera which was in about 20 pieces. There was a large attendance of spectators, including a number of the juvenile fraternity who were in their element barracking a player taken on by the Straths for not playing for Goolwa. The same individual was subject to a good hooting and some of the youngsters not content with that commenced shying sticks and handfuls of dirt.'

      Eventually, the reporter got around to describing the game, in which he said that  'taken as a whole the Straths were fairly outclassed from the first.' Goolwa, referred to in the report as 'the Riversiders', played a good match and won with scores of 3 goals 17 behinds to 1 goal 1 behind. Goolwa's best players were the Porter brothers (who must have been very good players in their time, as they often figured among Goolwa's best players), the two Woodards, Stehn, Godfrey and Grundy.

      Two days prior to the above match, Goolwa were at home to Port Elliot, whom they easily beat, 6 Goals 15 behinds to nil. Goolwa^ts best on that day were, again, the Porter brothers, Rankine, Tolman, Grundy, Woodard, G. Estick and Probert.

            The following Saturday, June 25, Port Victor travelled to Goolwa to play. The reporter stated that 'a beautiful afternoon favoured the game, but the ground was in a treacherous condition and all against an exhibition of good clean football'. Port Victor won the game  'largely due to the excellence of their ruck play', the scores being 3 goals 18 behinds to 6 behinds.  'Porter, Stehn, Grundy, Rankine, and Estick toiled hard to avert defeat'  but obviously their efforts were in vain.

      Play was often affected by the condition of ovals as well as by the wintry weather that the South Coast is noted for. In a match between Port Victor and Port Elliot, played at Port Elliot, the report of the game stated that

Indeed the gale blew with such force, that the ball on more than one occasion was blown right down on to the beach.

      Goolwa played an exciting match against Port Elliot in July, the headline on the football column stating  'PT ELLIOT WINS BY 1 POINT'. It was a close game, with Port Elliot gaining an early lead and then gradually being pegged back by a fast finishing Goolwa. Goolwa players were apparently the fitter, as the reporter attributed Port Elliot's poor finish to a lack of training that  'told heavily on the lungs and muscles of the red and blacks'. Final scores - Port Elliot, 4 goals 9 behinds; Goolwa, 4 goals 8 behinds.

      There appeared to be no more football played by Goolwa after that match, so their 1898 season was at an end. In fact. football in this area seemed to be in the doldrums; as 1899 was ushered in and the months passed, there did not seem to be any football activity that involved Goolwa. Football reports for 1899 were compiled by someone who gave himself the very clever 'nom de plume' of 1UOR2NO (One you ought to know). By early June, Strathalbyn had played only two matches, both against Meadows; Port Elliot was trying to reorganise its club, while there was no evidence that Goolwa had played any matches.

      It was not until late June that the 'Southern Argus' reported on a match in which Goolwa took part. In fact, the report stated that Goolwa and Port Elliot met  'for the first time this year'. The match was easily won by Goolwa, 6 goals 13 behinds to nil! Goolwa's prominent players were Stehn, Porter, Gordon, Woodard, Kerr and Probert.

Football in Goolwa at this time did not appear to be high on the list ofpriorities for Goolwa town. A report indicated economic conditions when itstated that

Things are very quiet at present as regards trade, fish being not very plentiful just now. There are a good number of men fishing now on account of the low state of Darling river.

            River traders were hoping for a rise  'to allow steamers to get up for this season's wool'.

                The only other match that Goolwa appeared to play in 1899 was once more against Port Elliot. Played in early August at Port Elliot, the scores were kept close by a very strong wind that blew straight down the ground.  'The game which was very fast ended in a draw, each side scoring 6 goals 11 behinds'.

                The following year saw the South coast ushered into the twentieth century. Football, however, was still a haphazard affair for some towns. The 'Southern Argus' football notes were now presented each week by  'GOALPOST', who wrote on July 12 that   'the Goolwa Footballers are going to Strathalbyn on Saturday to try conclusions with the inland players. We hope to have the pleasure of a visit from the Strath boys for a return match shortly and will give them a hearty welcome. We have not had the chance of seeing a game for this season',  which indicated that Goolwa was not playing much football.

                Indeed, the only report that featured Goolwa was to do with the Goolwa juniors who were beaten by Strathalbyn,  '55 points to 7 points'. Prospects of work had picked up and there were families to feed and money to earn:

Fish is plentiful again, between three and four tons being brought to the wharf at the end of last week, the bulk of which was consigned to the Melbourne market, prices still keeping very high there. The industry is a very valuable (one) for Goolwa, tiding many families over the slack season.

     

            By this time Goolwa Football Club was 22 years old, and was still playing in an area where there was no Football Association. It was still left to club secretaries to arrange matches with other towns, and men played when they could.

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