Fitzroy Reds

Fitzroy Reds
Names
Full name	Fitzroy Reds Football Club
Former name(s)	University (E) University Reds Football Club (1954−1997)
Nickname(s)	Reds, Roys
Former nickname(s)	Uni Reds (1954–1997)
Club details
Founded	1954
Dissolved	9 December 2008
Competition	VAFA (1954−64; 1973−2008) FFL (1971−72)
President	Craig Little
Ground(s)	Brunswick Street Oval (1991−2008) Crawford Oval Princes Park University Main Oval Yarra Bend Oval
Uniforms
Home Away

The Fitzroy Reds was an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy.

The club was formed in 1954 as the University Reds (or simply Uni Reds), competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).

In December 2008, the club merged with the Fitzroy Football Club, which is now officially known as "Fitzroy Football Club (incorporating the Fitzroy Reds)" and currently competes in the VAFA's Premier Division. ^[1]

History

University Reds was formed in 1954, joining the University Blacks and University Blues as the Melbourne University Football Club's third team in the VAFA for the 1955 season. ^[2]

The club, which was originally in E Section and known as "University (E)", provided opportunities for Blacks and Blues players who were not selected in either of those sides to get a regular match. ^[3]

In 1964, the VAFA mandated reserves teams for all clubs. This forced the Reds to go into recess, however they soon returned and joined the Federal Football League (FFL) before returning to the VAFA in 1973 after two seasons in the FFL. ^{[2] [3]}

The Reds won their first seniors premiership in F Section in 1980. ^[3]

Split from Melbourne University

Following the 1997 season, under increasing pressure from the Melbourne University Sports Union to meet the required number of undergraduate and post graduate registrations to obtain funding, the club split from the university and were renamed to Fitzroy Reds, with 1998 their first season competing under the new name. ^{[2] [4]}

In 2003, the Reds played a curtain-raiser match against West Brunswick at the MCG before the Brisbane Lions met Collingwood during the AFL Heritage Round. ^{[5] [6]}

Merger with Fitzroy

On 2 April 2008, Reds president Craig Little announced a plan to merge the club with the Fitzroy Football Club. Fitzroy had left the AFL following the 1996 season, but had not entirely disbanded and had a sponsorship arrangement with the Reds. ^[7]

In December 2008, the Reds formally transferred all its assets to the Fitzroy Football Club. The Reds terminated its membership of the VAFA and was wound up as an incorporated company and football club.

By special dispensation from the VAFA, the Fitzroy Football Club then replaced the Reds in Division 1 of the VAFA, beginning in the 2009 season, fielding a senior and reserves side, as well as two under-19s sides and a Club XVIII side. ^[8]

References

1. "You can take Fitzroy out of the AFL, but you can't take it out of the people". The Roar. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024.
2. "History of the VAFA". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
3. "The Reds". Fitzroy Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
4. "SENIOR OFFICIALS 1960 TO 1989". Melbourne University Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. The University Reds were a team between 1955 and 1997 when they were let go as they did not comply with Melbourne University Sport regulations. They became the Fitzroy Reds and are now Fitzroy.
5. "Brighton tops B-grade". The Age. 12 May 2003. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024.
6. "Old loyalties die hard as amateurs fight black and blue for University". The Age. 28 June 2003. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024.
7. "REDS TO BRING BACK LIONS". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 2 April 2008. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024.
8. Barrett, Damian (9 December 2008). "The old Lion roars again as Fitzroy is reborn". Herald Sun.