The Mt Lofty Districts Historical Society is holding its AGM on Friday 24 March, 7 for 7:30pm at the Coventry Library in Stirling.
MLDFC life member Chris Chardon has been asked to present as a guest speaker on how football has evolved in the Stirling district from the late 1890s up to the Mount Lofty Club as it is today.
You are invited and welcome to attend! Bookings essential : 0419 816 490
The history of our community clubs that encompass our arena will be forever remembered.
Thanks to the Mt Lofty Community Sports Club for arranging the bench seats in honour of Stan and Barb Evans for having the forth sight, inspiration and dedication to make our home what we know it is today. They also unveiled the new plaque to showcase the history of the space.
The CSC work with the Mt Lofty Devils, the Mt Lofty Cricket Club, Heathfield Netball Club and the Stirling Netball Club all of whom were there to represent on the day, and along with our Devils, two others happened to have family focussed event days booked in on the same day. What a great day for the hills, and hopefully, exactly the day Stan and Barb first envisioned when they planned a community oval in the area all those years ago.
From all of the Mt Lofty Devils current and past, thank you Stan and Barb ❤️
📸 Mt Barker Courier
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?
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.
CHRIS CHARDON
August 2022
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.
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.
Stirling United
1911 Players and officials:- Stirling— Carthew (2), Caust, Cleland, Conquest, Gaskell, Garrod, Grimes, Keen, McFarlane, Milford (2), Scott, Scragg, Spoehr, Twist, Woodgate
Mount Lofty Parks
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.
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!
STIRLING UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB FOUNDED IN 1901
The Stirling United Football Club was formed in 1901:-
The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 24 May 1901
FOOTBALL.
A club, the Stirling United, has been formed at Stirling, and the Bridgewater secretary (Mr. J. D. Neaylon) informs us that he will be pleased to hear from teams in the neighbo(u)ring districts. (It is understood that this was the forerunner of what became the Stirling Football Club).
However there was a reference to a Stirling team in 1894:-
South Australian Register, Friday 7 September 1894
“STIRLING EAST. September 4.
A football match was played at Stirling East on Saturday between Mylor and Stirling.
From the following article it seems that the 1901 season was not played as an association but more like games or a game organised between clubs.
In 1902 there was a move to create a Hills Football Association:-
Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 28 February 1902
FOOTBALL.
A HILLS ASSOCIATION WANTED.
An endeavo(u)r is being made to form a football association in the Hills, the initiative being taken by the Oakbank Club, and in accordance with correspondence received the Mount Barker Club on Monday evening held a meeting to consider the proposal. After discussion it was decided to support the movement, and Messrs. R. Murray and A. H. Monks were appointed as delegates to attend a conference to be held at Balhannah in the near future. It is proposed that the Oakbank, Woodside, Lobethal, Hahndorf; Stirling, and Mount Barker Clubs, all of which are within easy distance of each other, should compose the association.
Interestingly the Stirling United Club was against forming an association:-
The Advertiser, Adelaide, Saturday 1 March 1902
“A. H. Rudd,” Bridgewater (hon, secretary Stirling United Football Club),writes in reference to the report of a football meeting at Stirling West, at which it was stated there were present representatives of the Hahndorf, Littlehampton, Lobethal, Mount Barker, Woodside, and Strathalbyn clubs. Our correspondent says:-“The facts are simply these – On Saturday last a meeting of the Stirling United F.C. was held to consider the advisability of an association of the clubs mentioned. A vote was taken, and the majority were against the proposal.”
In 2019 I ran the matter of the Stirling Football Club’s establishment by country football historian, Peter Lines. Peter responded with the following information:-
“Hello Chris,
“The Stirling football conundrum tends to only get more complicated the further that you delve into it. The Stirling United team that you mentioned as the first in 1919, I have checked back to 1901 and they were Stirling United from back then. In fact I have checked for the period 1901-1912 and they are exclusively referred to as Stirling United.
“Before association football began in the Hills in 1902, the teams that existed in the area played challenge and social matches. This would mean that a team such as Piccadilly which played in the early 1900s would challenge the Aldgate team. What would then happen say two weeks later Aldgate would play Crafers, and the Crafers team would bear an uncanny resemblance to the Piccadilly team with similar playing personal that Aldgate had played two weeks prior. The introduction of association football stopped teams from doing this allowing players to be registered and only play for one team, which is why a team like Piccadilly faded away.
“The Stirling team from 1919 shows a player representation covering a wide area and hence the title Stirling United. However as I have mentioned this title was in use as far back as 1901 before association football was introduced. One explanation could be that the title Stirling United could be a throw back to an English or Scottish football heritage.
“Teams that played against Stirling United in 1901 were Hahndorf, Oakbank, Mount Barker, Aldgate/Mylor (combined team) and Mylor on their own. They also played matches during the year against several Adelaide clubs. They applied to join the Hills FA in 1902 but the members voted against doing so, they eventually joined in 1904. They decide to leave the Hills FA in 1907 and did not play association football again until 1919.
“From 1909 it gets increasingly more difficult to find the results of Stirling United games until around 1912-1913 no mention at all. However I did find that a team called Mount Lofty Park played 17 matches, winning 15 and losing 2 in 1913. Maybe Stirling United had become Mount Lofty Park ?, a quite plausible theory until finding a score Mount Lofty Park 7-10 defeated Stirling United 2-8. In 1914 there is a little on Mount Lofty Park and nothing on Stirling United but there was only a small amount of football played in 1914 due to increasing enlistments.
“Mike Milton, who’s work I respect greatly mentioned a Stirling West team playing in the Mount Lofty association in 1928. My research taken from a 1928 Mount Lofty FA premiership table only reveals Uraidla, Stirling, Fifth Creek, Carey’s Gully, Ashton and Crafers. Mike also mentions a Stirling East participating in Hills Central FA in 1923. What I found in the Register 26-4-1923 is a listing of the inaugural teams as Kangarilla, Meadows, Scott’s Creek, Mount Barker (seconds), Stirling (seconds) and Echunga.
“I will keep looking and let you know if I find anything more.
“Cheers
“Peter Lines.”