Castlemaine | ||
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Names | ||
Full name | Castlemaine Football Netball Club [1] | |
Nickname(s) | Magpies | |
2024 season | ||
After finals | N/A | |
Home-and-away season | 6th | |
Leading goalkicker | Michael Hartley (43) | |
Best and fairest | Bailey Henderson | |
Club details | ||
Founded | 1859 | |
Colours | Black and White | |
Competition | Bendigo Football League (BFL) | |
Coach | Bailey Henderson | |
Premierships | BFL: 4 (1926, 1952, 1992, 2000) | |
Ground(s) | Camp Reserve, Castlemaine (capacity: 7,000) | |
Uniforms | ||
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Other information | ||
Official website | castlemainefnc.com.au |
The Castlemaine Football Netball Club, nicknamed The Magpies , is an Australian rules football and netball club based in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia and is currently a member of the Bendigo Football League.
The club is notable for several reasons. Formed in 1859, it is the second oldest documented football club in Australia after the Melbourne Football Club and it has produced many notable Australian rules footballers.
The first recorded football match on the Camp Reserve was in September 1855 between a team of Army soldiers and a team of goldminers. [2] The "Castlemaine Football Club" was formed on 15 June 1859 at the Supreme Court Hotel, Castlemaine and chaired by T Butterworth with reference from an article in the Castlemaine Mail newspaper [3] Castlemaine played its first match on 22 June 1859 on the Cricket Ground Barkers Creek. [4]
Records for the foundation date was discovered in 2007 which rewrote history; as many had previously believed that the Geelong Football Club had been formed earlier. [5]
The club was formed in an era before codified rules organised competition, but according to some sources, including Graeme Atkinson, "football" was popular in the goldfields region; and, without a league to participate in, the club was an irregular competitor during its first decade.
The original uniform was a white cap with royal-blue Maltese cross.
In 1925, Castlemaine joined the Bendigo Football League, Coached by the West Australian champion Phil Matson, Castlemaine made the 1925 Grand Final, but lost to South Bendigo by 14 Points: 7.12 (54) to 6.4 (40). [7] [8] [9] [10]
In June 1953, Castlemaine footballer, Ian Brown accidently received a knock to his head in a inter-league match between Bendigo Football League and Ballarat Football League and later died in the Ballarat Hospital the following day. [11]
The following 47 footballers played with Castlemaine FC, prior to playing senior football in the VFL/AFL, and / or were drafted, with the year indicating their VFL/AFL debut.