The South Saga
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THE SOUTH SAGA THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE SOUTH BUNBURY FOOTBALL CLUB 1897 - 1976 by ALAN E. CARTER This is an official publication of the South Bunbury Football Club Inc. The reproduction of contents of this publication - in whole or in part - is permitted only with the written approval of the South Bunbury Football Club Inc Wholly set up and printed by South West Printing & Publishing Co, Stephen Street, Bunbury. Western Australia. Published 1977 2 THE SOUTH SAGA INDEX HISTORICAL Acknowledgment.............................................................................................................................. Foreword.......................................................................................................................................... Origin of Football ............................................................................................................................. Origin of Australian Rules Football................................................................................................... Introduction of Australian Rules Football to Western Australia ......................................................... SOUTH BUNBURY FOOTBALL CLUB: Office Bearers 1897 to 1952 (Association) ....................................................................................... Office Bearers 1953 to 1976 (League).............................................................................................. Life Members................................................................................................................................... First Quarter 1897 to 1914 ............................................................................................................... Second Quarter 1915 to 1939 .......................................................................................................... Third Quarter 1940 to 1952.............................................................................................................. Fourth Quarter 1953 to 1976............................................................................................................ PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTIONS AFTER EACH QUARTER STATISTICAL South Bunbury Football Club - 1976 Players All Grades................................................................... South Bunbury Record in South West & Bunbury Football Assn....................................................... South Bunbury Record in South West National Football League ...................................................... South Bunbury Record in SWNFL Finals ......................................................................................... South Bunbury - Record Scores....................................................................................................... Match Results - 1897 to 1952........................................................................................................... Match Results 1953 to 1976............................................................................................................. How They Finished - 1953 to 1976................................................................................................... How South Bunbury Finished Qualifying Rounds 1953 to 1976 ........................................................ How South Bunbury Performed against other SWNFL teams 1953 - 1976 ....................................... South Bunbury Team Lists 1897 to 1952 ("A" Grade only)................................................................ South Bunbury Team Lists 1953 to 1975 (League only).................................................................... Know Your Rules ............................................................................................................................. THE SOUTH SAGA 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENT The compilation of this History and Statistical Record has been made possible mainly by the co - operation of the South West Printing and Publishing Company Limited of Bunbury. The Company very generously made available old copies of the "Southern Times", "South West Tribune" and ``South Western Times". It is from this source that this History owes its authenticity. Twenty years of these newspaper copies were accidentally destroyed in a factory fire some years ago. Fortunately, however, I was able to trace all but two of these (1929 and 1936) with the co - operation of the Western Australian State Library in Perth, and substantially complete the record of the Club's achievements. In the early days, records were not kept, or have since been lost. Some newspaper reports did not mention final scores - this explains the blanks in the statistical section. I also wish to record my appreciation of assistance given by the Victorian Football League which has been most helpful with the venture, the Melbourne and North Melbourne Football Clubs for making available copies of their own Club's History, and to the many fellow members of the South Bunbury Football Club who have given me encouragement and help. Finally - wish to thank Mr. Derrick Flynn, who readily agreed to edit my work to enhance its readability. ALAN CARTER 1976. FOREWORD What an honour for a Victorian to be asked to write this foreword. My personal contact with the South Bunbury Football Club has only brought pleasure and friends. One cannot ask for anything more in football. For senior league clubs to be celebrating their Eightieth Anniversary is one thing, but for a country club to achieve this milestone is fantastic. Football, being a sport involving nearly everyone in the community, depends not just on the superstars, television and 100,000 grand final crowds. It is equally important to have the junior and country clubs well administered and strongly involved in great competitive instinct that is the hallmark of our - game. Without clubs like South Bunbury no champions can be produced and we have a nothing situation. The Annual Legacy Match has been the means of most Australians knowing of your club, not just because it is played but because it is superbly organised. I know the same applies throughout a season and my congratulations go to you and I sincerely hope the next 80 years are even better. RON BARASSI (NOTE - Ronald Dale Barassi is one of Victoria's great sporting personalities, and has earned the reputation of being a Grand Final Specialist'. Ron represented Melbourne in 8 Grand Finals from 1954 - 1964 including 6 premiership sides, and captained the "Demons" from 1960 - 1964. After playing 203 games for Melbourne he transferred to Carlton and played a further 50 games for the "Blues" from 1965. He coached Carlton to 3 Grand Finals from 1965 - 1971 winning 2. He also represented Victoria on 18 occasions during his illustrious career. After taking a rest from football in 1972, he transferred to North Melbourne in 1973 and coached that Club to its first ever V.F.L. premiership in 1975 and to a losing Grand Final in 1974 and 1976 - A.C.). 4 THE SOUTH SAGA THE ORIGIN OF FOOTBALL Long ago in England, football used to be played in village streets, with hundreds of men competing in the one game at the same time. Usually, the bladder of an animal was inflated to serve as a ball. The "ball" was kicked, punched, thrown or carried through the streets with the object of forcing it between the opposing team's goal. The goals were placed at each end of the village and the game was played with reckless abandon. Injuries such as broken arms and legs were often sustained. At first, "football" was only played on holidays and Feast days. The sport, however, did not receive the support of several English monarchs, and Edward lll, Richard II, Henry IV, and Elizabeth I all passed laws prohibiting the playing of football - the penalty for so doing being a very substantial monetary fine, and in some cases imprisonment. The reason behind this legislation was that Archery was encouraged as the most popular form of sport, and ruling monarchs rightly considered that an accurate Archer was more important to the defence of the land than a subject capable of kicking a pig's bladder. This restriction, however, did nothing to suppress the popularity of football. By the year 1800, the English football game was a little more like the game now played with each side comprising an equal number of players. The first goal scored in a match decided the winner as well as the conclusion of the Game. Also, by 1800, the game was being played in Boys' Schools, with each individual school adopting its own rules, but, all agreed that the ball must not be carried. One such school was the famous Rugby School. In 1823, a lad named William Ellis, who was playing for the School, picked up the ball and ran with it. This action aroused the ire of his fellow school mates, but later it was agreed that if a boy made a fair catch, he could run with the ball. Later still, it was agreed that if a player caught the ball or, the first bounce he could run with it' and finally, it was agreed that a player could run with the ball at any time. Thus, from 1823, there were two types of football being played - one called Rugby after the school, and the other, as yet un - named, played by schools whose rules did not permit the ball to be carried. Inter - school matches could not be played because each school still played to its own rules. Later, boys who had completed their schooling but retained the desire to play football, banded together, and the Football Club was born. By 1850, there were several Football Clubs in England. but again,