The Football Club was founded at a meeting held at the Brecknock Hotel, King William Street (corner Gilbert Street), Adelaide on Wednesday the 24 March 1880. With Mr. W. Baker in the chair the following officers were elected:— President, Mr. W. W. Winwood; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. C. Kingston, Dr. Joyce, T. Charlton, Councillors J. Baker, and W. Holland; captain, W. Giffen; vice-captain, A. Brandenburg; secretary, J. Lyons; treasurer, G. Martin; Committee, T. Rowe, F. Mehrtens, W. Baker, A. D. Munro; match, committee, W. Giffen, F. Mehrtens, W.Baker, and the secretary and treasurer. Several prominent players were elected. [1][2]
Walter Giffen, future State and Test Cricketer, was captain of Royal Park Football Club in 1880. He also played cricket for Royal Park
Annual Meeting (1880)
A meeting of the members of the Royal Park Football Club was held at the King's Head Hotel on Wednesday evening, September 22, 1880. There was a large attendance. Mr. W. H. J. Dedman occupied the chair. It was stated that the club had been very successful during the past year. Fifteen matches had been played, six were won, four lost, and five ware drawn. The advisableness of forming a junior association was discussed, and it was decided to, take active steps in the matter. Several toasts were proposed, including that of the captain, vice-captain, and chairman.[3]
General Meeting (1881)
A general meeting of the Royal Park Football Club was held at the King's Head Hotel on Wednesday evening, March 30, 1881. The secretary report showed the expenses, leaving a balance of £3 lls. Id. The club had played 20 matches, won 8, lost 4, and drawn 8. The following officers were elected:— Patron. Hon.G. S. Fowler; president, Mr.C.C. Kingston; vice-presidents, Messrs. A.J.Diamond, W Killicoat, Councillor Holland, L. Mehrtens, Dr. Gardner, W. Charlton, W. W. Crane; secretary Mr. Lyons; treasurer Mr. J. Rowe. Several new members were elected. The appointments of captains of both twenties was left until after the color match, which is to be played early April.[4]
Admission to SAFA (1882)
A special meeting of the club was held at the Brecknock Hotel on Wednesday evening 29 March 1882, Mr.Maley in the chair. The Secretary stated that he had received a letter from one of the prominent members and various other gentlemen advising the club to go into the Senior Association. Mr. J. McLoughlin proposed, and Mr. A. G. Hill seconded — That the club accede to the wishes of these gentlemen, as there was no other course for the club to pursue, as they were not in the Junior Association.
It was decided that the club should wear the old colours with an orange hoop; also that they should go into the Senior Association with twenty-five players. The Secretary was instructed to write, applying for the vacant position.[5]
On 4 April 1882 the South Australian Football Association held a meeting after inviting additional clubs to join the competition. Only one application was received, from the Royal Park Football Club, and the Association agreed to include them in the competition for the upcoming 1882 SAFA season with 19 votes for to 4 votes against.[6]
It was reported on Saturday 3 June 1882 - At the meeting of the South Australia Football Association a letter was received from the secretary of the Royal Park Club tendering the resignation of the club. The resignation was accepted. At the same meeting a communication was received from one of the members of the club, stating that the club did not wish to resign. This as a matter of course was not entertained by the association. The Royal Park Club held a meeting on Friday evening, at which it was decided that the club had no wish to resign. The resignation of the club having been accepted a special meeting of the association must be called to reinstate the club.[8]
On Saturday 10 June 1882 it was reported - The South Adelaides did just what they liked with the Royal Parks on the Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon last, June 3. The game was played under the auspices of the Football Association, the Royal Park Club having been reinstated.[9]
On Saturday 17 June 1882 it was reported - The Royal Parks failed to get a team together against the Norwoods, and it is to be hoped that they will now make up their minds to resign all further connection with the Association.[10]
On Saturday 1 July 1882 it was reported - Royal Parks vs. Victorians. This match was played on the Kensington Oval on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of a very small number of spectators. The afternoon was beautifully fine for the game, but the football displayed by the Royal Parks was miserable. The Parks were never in the game, and it seems a pity that the club should have contested an association match. The Victorian's kicked 7 goals and 7 behinds.[11] And also - The match on the Kensington Oval between the Victorians and the Royal Parks was a sickening spectacle. The juniors were never in the game, and to put them forward as an association club is a bitter 'reflection on our association football. If one can imagine a lot of rough lads, ranging from the age of 10 to 14, having a very rough game of football among themselves, without any pretensions to discipline or knowledge of the game, then he has a very fair idea of the football displayed by the Royal Parks. For the interest of association football generally the sooner they retire from the association the quicker will the blot which now rests on the Football Association be removed.[12]
On Saturday 15 July 1882 it was reported -The Royal Parks have at length retired, and their remaining matches of the second round will count as wins to their opponents.[13] The end of season table recorded their results as - Played 5 games (Victorian twice and one each against Norwood, Port Adelaide and South Adelaide) and 5 forfeits (South Park twice and one each against Norwood, Port Adelaide and South Adelaide). The team kicked just 2 goals (one each by Lyons and Macklow) and 6 behinds in their five SAFA games and conceded 24 goals 85 behinds. The club prominent members were welcomed to join the South Park.[14][15]
In 1883, it was reported that a number of their players had joined the West Torrens Club which would rename itself in 1887 as West Adelaide when it joined the SAFA. The failure of the Royal Parks has considerably strengthened their ranks, Blacklow, Loud, and others having decided to throw in their lot with the red, white, and blue.[16]
Royal Park Cricket Club
Despite the Football Club folding in 1882, the cricket club continued for a number of seasons before amalgamating with the Hackney Cricket Club in September 1889.[17]
Notable Players
John James (Jack) LYONS - also played one season at Norwood Football Club in 1885 played cricket for Royal Park as a youth, then Norwood, South Australia and was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Test matches between 1887 and 1897.[18]
Related Research Articles
The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL, is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport.
The North Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed the Roosters, is an Australian rules football club affiliated with the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and SANFL Women's League (SANFLW). The club plays its home games at Prospect Oval, located in Prospect, a northern suburb of Adelaide. The club joined the SAFA in 1888 as the Medindie Football Club, changing its name to North Adelaide in 1893. It is the fourth oldest club still in operation in the SANFL after South Adelaide (1877), Port Adelaide (1877) and Norwood (1878). As the Port Adelaide SANFL team merged with the Port Adelaide AFL team in 2013 and now plays in the SANFL as an AFL Reserves team, some will argue that North Adelaide is now the third oldest SANFl club still in operation in the SANFL. North Adelaide's first premiership was won in 1900, and the club has won a total of fourteen senior men's premierships in the SANFL, most recently in 2018.
The South Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club that competes in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Flinders University Stadium, located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide.
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) from 1895 to 1990. In 1991, the club merged with neighbouring Woodville Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
The Kensington Oval is located on 344 The Parade, Kensington, South Australia. Now used primarily for cricket in South Australia, the venue was once Adelaide's premier athletics facility and known as Olympic Sports Field.
The Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as the Old Adelaide Football Club, was an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide. Founded on 26 April 1860, it was the first football club formed in South Australia.
The Victorian Football Club, "The Victorians", renamed the North Adelaide Football Club for the 1883 SAFA season, was an Australian rules football club based in North Adelaide, South Australia. The team wore an orange-and black guernsey and hose, with black knickerbockers, and were known to their supporters as "The Tigers."
The Jubilee Oval was a sporting ground created in 1895 between the Jubilee Exhibition Building and the River Torrens. It was located next to the railway station at the end of the Jubilee Exhibition Railway line, which operated from 1887 to 1927. It incorporated a (banked) cycle racing track, and a new grandstand and seating on the mound were built in 1896.
The 1888 South Australian Football Association season was the 12th season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia. The Norwood Football Club won their 8th premiership by winning 1 premiership point, or a half a win, more than Port Adelaide.
The 1890 South Australian Football Association season was the 14th season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia.
The 1893 South Australian Football Association season was the 17th season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia.
The 1894 South Australian Football Association season was the 18th season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia.
The South Park Football Club was a foundation club of the South Australian Football Association which competed in the inaugural 1877 SAFA season. The Club was based in Adelaide city centre and played its home games on the Adelaide South Parklands.
The Kensington Football Club was one of the first Australian rules football clubs founded in South Australia and played an integral part in the game's development in the state. The early rules used in South Australia were referred to as the "Kensington Rules". Club uniform was a scarlet cap and jacket and white trousers. The club was one of the founding teams of the South Australian Football Association in 1877.
The Gawler Football Club was an Australian rules football club that was founded in June 1868 based at Gawler in the Township of Gawler about 39 km to the north-north east of Adelaide, South Australia.
The Bankers Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the inaugural 1877 South Australian Football Association (SAFA) season. The club was formed on 28 March 1877 from a meeting of about 30 officers of the Banks of Adelaide.
The Woodville Football Club (SAFA) originally known as the Port Suburban Football Club (from 1868–1870) was an Australian rules football club that participated in the foundation year of the South Australian Football Association. It is not related to the Woodville Football Club formed in 1938 and which competed in the South Australia Amateur League (SAAL) until it was admitted to the SANFL in 1959.
The North Adelaide Football Club (1888) originally known as the Hotham Football Club prior to 1888 was an Australian rules football club based in North Adelaide, South Australia. It participated in the South Australian Football Association in 1887 SAFA season and 1888 SAFA season playing most of its matches at Kensington and Adelaide Ovals.
The West Adelaide Football Club (1878–1887), previously known as the West Torrens Football Club, was an Australian rules football club that participated in the South Australian Football Association during the 1887 SAFA season.
The Young Australian Football Club was an Australian rules football club established on the 11 May 1870, in North Adelaide at the Royal Oak Hotel. A dozen persons were present and Mr. W. L. Wyly was appointed Secretary and Treasurer, and Messrs. Mellor, Harrison, Holthouse, Simms, and Randall the Committee. Blue and white were decided upon as the colors. It was decided to challenge the Port Suburban Club for the opening game.
References
↑ "GENERAL NEWS". The Express and Telegraph. Vol.XVII, no.4, 861. South Australia. 25 March 1880. p.2 (SECOND EDITION.). Retrieved 8 October 2019– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "THE FOOTBALL SEASON OF 1882". South Australian Register. Vol.XLVII, no.11, 190. South Australia. 25 September 1882. p.1 (SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGISTER.). Retrieved 8 October 2019– via National Library of Australia.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
