Congratulations to all of the Mt Lofty Devils Junior teams on a fantastic season! Well done to all of our award winners presented at Junior Presentation Day on Sunday 25 September.
Our coaches award Best & Fairest, Runner Up and three extra awards to team members. The Lofty Legends Group Team Award is is also presented to a player. This is a prestigious award, aimed at supporting the culture of the club within the “One Club – All In” approach. See more about the award below.
CONGRATULATIONS DEVILS. See you next season! And a special congratulations to the following award winners…
HFL U18 BOYS Best and Fairest: Noah Schofer Runner Up B&F: Archie Cook Leading Goal Kicker: Bayley James Most Courageous: Digby Klose Best First Year Player: Eddie Barnard Coaches Award: Will Anning Lofty Legends Award: Blake Lewis
HFL U17 GIRLS Best and Fairest: Keira May Best and Fairest: Cecilia Kilkenny-Jones Runner Up B&F: Phoebe Neck Most Devoted Player: Maddison Geerts Coaches Award: Mia Ensten Best First Year Player: Charlotte Cowan Lofty Legends Award: Cecilia Kilkenny-Jones
HFL U16 BOYS Best and Fairest: Raphin Scharpf Runner Up B&F: Manoli Lavrentiadis Leading Goal Kicker: Jay Trowbridge Coaches Award: Keanu Nou Best First Year Player: Christian Whitwell Lofty Legends Award: Dan Anderson
SANFL U15 GIRLS Best and Fairest: Lily Smart Runner Up B&F: Becky Jones Best Utility: Maddie Nuss Development Award: Amber Speck Best First Year Player: Ruby Kettlestring Lofty Legends Award: Farah Watson HFL U14 BOYS Best and Fairest: James Ryan Runner Up B&F: Josh O’Neil Team Player Award: Tom Booth Most Consistent Player: James Wissell Most Courageous Player: James Hage Lofty Legends Award: Xavier Burch
SANFL U13 GIRLS Best and Fairest: Julia Mazzacano D’Amato Runner Up B&F: Maggie Robinson Best Defender: Lucinda Feutrill Best Forward: Allegra Villani Coaches Award: Lily Exposto Lofty Legends Award: Zoe Redin
HFL U12 BOYS Best and Fairest: Tom Kohne Runner Up B&F: Mackenzie Hutton Leading Goal Kicker: Tom Kohne Best Defender: Lachie Logan Most Improved: Saxon Campbell-Hand Lofty Legends Award: Flynn Wheatley
SANFL U11 GIRLS Zara Burch Harriet Dawe Lara Duerden Neve Faber Maggie Farmer India Gallagher Charlotte Gallasch Chloe Hage Sophia Hatwig Milla Hersey Mae McBeth Hadley O’Connor Marley O’Connor Molly Booth
Lofty Legends Award
It is presented to a player who is dedicated to the team and the club and is heavily committed to their own improvement and that of the team. They are also persistent and determined and treat everybody with respect, while respecting all aspects of the club.
It is selected by each team’s coaching panel and is donated by the Lofty Legends Group, which maintains the contact of former players, coaches, volunteers and supporters with the club, while supporting the club in various ways including maintenance and any other tasks required. The “Legends” term refers to the wonderful stories of the clubs in the areas which have gone before us – Aldgate, Crafers, Heathfield, Heathfield Aldgate United and Stirling.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to everybody who joined us on Saturday at Arkaba Oval, especially to Herman de Roos who is doing us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for this clash against Onka’s. Herman was joined by his wife Glenda, Son Simon and his wife Emma and Grandchildren Isaac and Stella, Daughter Nicky with Granddaughters Emily, and Johanna.
Herman is Life Member of Heathfield Aldgate United and was also appointed Life Member of Mt Lofty Football Club in 1986
He played junior football for Stirling – being a Premiership player in the Stirling Senior Colts in 1960.
Herman began his Senior career with Stirling in 1962 and only ever missed 2 games through injury, He eventually retired in 1981 after 367 A Grade matches (with Stirling, Heathfield Aldgate United and Mt Lofty) with a sprinkling of B Grade games in his final year.
Ten years later, he came out of retirement to “fill in” in the B Grade, joining his teenage sons Simon and Cory in a very memorable match for the family.
He played in 9 HAU A Grade Premierships in 1967 and 1968 and then in 7 successive HAU Premierships between 1971 and 1977 which include the then Australian Record of 87 matches without loss.
Representing the HFL in Lovelock Shield matches in 1967, 68, 71 and 78 and twice a runner up in the Mail Medal in 1977 and 1978
He was runner up in the HAU A Grade Best and Fairest on 4 occasions – 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978.
In a Courier article covering a function to celebrate his 350th senior game he was described as “….a tough uncompromising defender who rarely fails to perform. He is a model for any young footballer both in the skills of the game and his attitude.”
Was a member of many committees and boards, carrying out several voluntary club positions over the decades, including President of the Mt Lofty Football Club in 1986 and then junior coaching when his sons Simon and Cory began playing
Herman was a draftsman and prepared the first conceptual drawings of the two storey Licensed Club back in the mid 1960’s and which we now know as the “Pavilion”.
Thank you for everything you have done for our Clubs Herman!
In the very early years of the 1900s there was two football clubs in the Stirling area. They were Mount Lofty Parks (formed in May 1895) and Stirling United (formed in May 1901).
It seems that Mount Lofty Parks never played in a football association but played what was called ‘challenge matches’. In 1904 Stirling United joined the Hills Football Association. The home ground of both clubs was the Mount Lofty Recreation Ground (colloquially known as the Old Rec) at what is now Heathfield. This ground was located approximately where the lower high school oval is now.
However there have been newspaper references to other teams such to as Stirling II, Stirling East and Stirling B. What is the connection between these teams? Are they the same team? What association did they have, if any, with Stirling United and Mount Lofty Parks?
Whilst football historians believe that the Stirling East (Stirling II) club was short lived, examination of newspaper articles creates some doubt about this belief. The following newspaper quip indicates that Stirling II existed in at least 1902.:-
The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 4 July 1902 reported:- “The Stirling and Mount Barker II Clubs will meet on Dunn Park on Saturday after noon.”
Further evidence appeared in the Advertiser of Wednesday 13 April 1910 which recorded the establishment of a Crafers Football Club and reference to the club’s first game being against the Stirling Seconds. Could this mean Stirling II?
“CRAFERS FOOTBALL CLUB.
“Crafers, April 6.-At a meeting in Mr. J.W. Harris’ Crafers Hotel on Tuesday evening a local football club was formed, with 25 members. Central grounds have been secured by Mr. Harris, and he has also presented the club with their first match ball. The colors are to be black, gold trimmings with black hose. The season will start on April 16, when Crafers plays Stirling Seconds.”
CHANGE OF NAME
The Advertiser, Tuesday 4 April 1911 and the Chronicle, Adelaide, Saturday 8 April 1911, reported on the Stirling East Football Club annual general meeting:-“The annual meeting of the Stirling East (late Stirling II.) Football Club was held at Mrs. A. M. Wright’s store on March 24. The balance-sheet showed a small credit. The offices elected were: President, Mr. E. Wakefield; treasurer, Mr. P. Hart; secretary, Mr. R. D. Wright; committee, officers and Messrs. E. W. Wakefield (captain). B. Scott (vice-captain), and A. Halliday. Teams desiring engagements should apply to the secretary, Mr. R. D. Wright, Stirling West.”
(All names are familiar family names of people living in the Wright Road/Stirling East area. Mr. Hart operated a garage adjacent to the Stirling East Tennis Courts).
So by 1911 Stirling East Football Club had been formed from Stirling II.
WHICH TEAMS DID STIRLING EAST COMPETE AGAINST?
There was very scant reporting about Stirling East’s matches. It is wondered whether the team played mainly ‘challenge” matches. However in 1923 the team proposed playing in the Hills Central Football Association.
The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, of Friday 27 April 1923 – the program for 1923 was published
The Hills Central Football Association was formed in March 1923 by the Meadows, Echunga and Kangarilla Football Clubs. The membership was raised to six clubs at consequent meetings with Scott’s Creek, Mount Barker B and Stirling East joining up. However Stirling dropped out before the season began.
The Register of Thursday 26th April 1923 reported that the Stirling “Seconds” wanted to be a member of the newly formed association.“On Tuesday evening, a delegates’ meeting was held to finalize matters in connection with a newly formed Association, to be called the Hills Central Football Association. The districts amalgamating are, Kangarilla, Meadows, Scotts Creek, Mount Barker (seconds), Stirling (seconds), and Echunga. Mr. Brownless of Meadows, was elected President, and Mr. Patrick, secretary of the Association. The opening match of the season will be played on the Kangarilla grounds between Meadows and Kangarilla on Saturday. May 5.”
The match program for 1923 (to the left) included Stirling East (presumably it was journalistic licence to call Stirling East Stirling “Seconds”).
THE HOME GROUND WHEREABOUTS
It is uncertain as to where Stirling II’s original home ground was but it well could have been what is now the Stirling Oval (In the early 1900s it would have been small and probably very unsatisfactory for football). Stirling United and Mount Lofty Parks, were not using Stirling Oval as their home ground.. The oval used by the team, in its latter history, was in what is now Wrights Road, Stirling East, diagonally opposite the Stirling East tennis courts. The Wright family owned much of the northern side of what is now Wright Road. From July 1918 until March 1940 the land, large enough for an oval, remained in the ownership of Myrtle Wright. The Wright family were heavily involved with the Stirling East football team. Did Myrtle own the oval and generously let the football club use it?
A Backroader’s jumper
Stan Evans displaying the jumper
The Stirling East team was colloquially known as the Backroaders – presumably because of its geographical location on the backroad named Old Mount Barker Road. Stirling. Stan Evans was aware of the teams’ existence and has a jumper worn by the team.
The Stirling East team did not reform after 1928.
STIRLING B TEAM
In the mid 1930s newspaper reference was made to a Stirling B team. Exactly when this team was formed is unclear and it is also unclear as to whether this was a separate club or the second team of Stirling. The following was noted in the Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 31 May 1935:-
“Crafers B v. Stirling B
“Crafers, by scoring 6 goals 12 behinds, secured a win over the Stirling lads, who were only able to manage 4 goals 6 behinds. The game was fairly evenly contested throughout.”
Another reference appeared in the Courier edition dated Friday 17 May 1935:-
“Stirling B v. Tweedvale B (Lobethal).
“The B grade football team defeated Stirling B at Stirling by 12 goals 12 behinds to 5 goals 7 behinds. Tweedvale’s goal-kickers were:—C. Green (3), J. Green, W. Mason, L. Mieglich, W. Forester (2 each), H. Jackson (1). Mr. Murphy was the central umpire and gave satisfaction.”
There was several other match reports in 1935 concerning the involvement of the Stirling B team. Was it a new team or was it a reincarnation of the Stirling East team?
The Courier of Thursday 30 April 1936 gave the impression that two Stirling clubs existed in 1936:-
“SCRATCH MATCH AT STIRLING
“The Stirling A and B Football Clubs played a scratch match on the Mount Lofty recreation ground (Old Rec.), at Heathfield, on April 26 for practice purposes. The Stirling Centenary oval will not be completed for several weeks.”
“The names of both Stirling “A” grade and “B” grade teams were appearing in the program of football matches in 1936:-
The Courier of Thursday 16 July 1936 carried the match program for the following Saturday:-
“FOOTBALL MATCHES FOR NEXT SATURDAY
“The following matches to be played by teams in the Mount Lofty Football Association will be as under:—
“A GRADE
Nairne v. Mt. Barker, Tweedvale v. Ashton, Uraidla v. Crafers, Ambleside v Stirling.
“B GRADE
Callington v. Forest Range, Ashton v Tweedvale, Crafers v. Uraidla, Stirling v. Onkaparinga, Woodside v. Carey’s Gully.”
It seems that the two Stirling teams were from the one club.
However further confusion arises when one reads the following:-
An article in the Courier Thursday 20 January 1949 adds a little more intrigue as to the period in which the Backroaders existed – was the club playing tennis in summer for “pre-season fitness?”
“Southern Hills Tennis Association.
“At a recent meeting of the above association, held in the Aldgate library, arrangements were finalised for an Easter picnic tournament. The tournament will be an open one, and will be conducted on the Loftia Park courts on Saturday, 16th April, 1949. Events will include men’s championship singles and doubles, women’s championship singles and doubles, handicap singles and doubles for both men and women, mixed handicap doubles and two junior events. A large number of entries is expected and some fine tennis should be seen.
“With only five matches left to play in the final round of the season, there seems little chance of any change in the leading four teams. Last Saturday’s matches resulted in easy victories for the three leading teams. Heathfield 13 sets 94 games defeated Upper Sturt 2 sets 67 games; Bridgewater 12 sets 83 games defeated Stirling East F.C. 3 sets 41 games; Aldgate 12 sets 87 games defeated Valley Ramblers 3 sets 37 games.
PREMIERSHIP TABLE
P.
W.
L.
Pts
Heathfield
11
10
1
20
Bridgewater
10
9
1
18
Aldgate
12
7
5
14
Upper Sturt
11
4
7
8
Valley Ramblers
10
2
8
4
Stirling East F.C.
10
0
10
0
Is Stirling East F. C. the Stirling East Football Club playing in the local tennis competition? The football club wound up in 1928!
Whilst this essay may raise more questions than it answered it is hoped that interest is stimulated. Perhaps any errors in my understanding will be corrected.
In the very early years of the 1900s there was two football clubs in the Stirling area. They were Mount Lofty Parks (formed in May 1895) and Stirling United (formed in May 1901).
It seems that Mount Lofty Parks never played in a football association but played what was called ‘challenge matches’. In 1904 Stirling United joined the Hills Football Association. The home ground of both clubs was Mount Lofty Recreation Ground colloquially known as the Old Rec ground at what is now Heathfield. This ground was located approximately where the lower high school oval is now.
With the outbreak of World War I – no football was played for nearly 4 years. In 1919 Association football resumed. There was a Stirling Club but it appears Mount Lofty Parks did not reform. The assumption has been that Stirling United became Stirling. But did it? or was a new club named Stirling Football Club formed? Soldiers came home from war and perhaps decided to form a team. At the date of writing confirmation of this supposition has not been confirmed.
Prior to the War Stirling United wore red and white jumpers and Mount Lofty Parks wore a tri-coloured jumper.
Stirling United Football Team c. 1901 with red and white striped jumpers.Mount Lofty Parks Football team c. 1913
What is puzzling is that the Stirling team post World War I wore tri-coloured jumpers which looked very much like those worn by Mount Lofty Parks pre war. For example:-
Pre-war Stirling United experienced limited success – never won a premiership and at times had to forfeit matches. However post war amazing success of the Stirling team flowed – perhaps there was no link between Stirling United and the Stirling Club. The 1919 Grand Final was lost to Strathalbyn 5-7 to 3-10 but in 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1934 the team won the premiership. In 1923 and 1930 Uraidla defeated Stirling in the Grand Final.
One way of determining whether Stirling United reformed as Stirling would be to compare the names of players and officials from teams pre war with those of 1919 and further on. Unfortunately such records have not been able to be sourced. However with the effluxion of time maybe such records will emerge and help clarify the supposition.
Although it is 8 years between 1911 and 1919 the lists below show the some of the personnel involved in the clubs. There are no common names in each of the Stirling teams, but Bas Scott’s name appears in the Mount Lofty Parks and Stirling team.
1913 Players and officials:— T. Barker, G. Gates, B. Halliday, Wm. Halliday, Percy Hart, B. Holmes, L. Kelly, S. Leach, Paech, Basil Scott, E. Wakefield, Charles Williams.
Stirling
1919 Players and officials:— L. Carroll; A. Caust; H. Caust; G. Chaplin; K. Emery; J. Farrent, G. Fulgrabe, F. Hart; Hart; W. Hender; A. Jones; H. Keen; S Leach; S. Leatch, W. McFarlane; B. Percival; G. Read; R. Rossini; Bas Scott; Wack. Scott, C. Snoswell; O. Snoswell; G. Whitbread, C. Williams; W. Woodgate; C. Zachariah.
We would like to welcome to Arkaba Oval members of the Wissell family who are representing deceased Life Members of our foundation clubs and are doing us the honour of tossing the Life Member coin for this very important match against Lobethal.
Welcome to Shane and Kirsten Wissell and their sons James and Harry, James is wearing our current Mt. Lofty jumper and Harry is wearing his Pop’s, Brian, original Aldgate Football club jumper. These boys are the 5th generation Wissell’s to play for Mt. Lofty and its foundation clubs.
Shane’s great grandfather Jim Wissell was the first-generation Wissell to play for the Aldgate Football Club, commencing playing in 1901 and taking on many roles until the 1930’s. Jim holds life membership of the Aldgate Football Club.
Shane’s grandfather Harold ‘Chicken’ Wissell was the second generation of Wissell’s to play at Aldgate and was also honoured with Life Membership, playing and filling different roles from the 1930’s through to the 1950’s, he was an A Grade premiership player in 1934 and was the first President of the current Hills Football league.
Then came Brian ‘Woop’ Wissell as the 3rd generation to play and volunteer support in many roles from the late 1940’s until 2009, winning the A grade B&F in 1957. Brian was involved with Aldgate, HAU and Mt. Lofty and is a Life Member of the Aldgate Football Club.
Shane and his brothers Craig and David also played for HAU and then Mt. Lofty Football clubs and became the 4th generation of Wissell’s to add their flair to our club’s history with Shane winning back-to-back SAFA medals in the U16 competition in ‘84 & ‘85 and runner up in the ‘91 A grade mail Medal. The family history of playing and support now spans 121 years with James and Harry Wissell starting their playing in the Candy Stripes at the age of six in our Auskick program.
This family sits in rarefied atmosphere when it comes to support of our club and community, and we look forward to the Wissell tradition continuing at our great club.
Be sure to be a part of the day next weekend for our reunion round that will cover all the 1 & 2 years. Check out the Premiership photos so see if you or someone you know needs to a part of the action!
