Boo Reviews Some More Yearbooks

Another batch of VSF Yearbooks have been scanned and uploaded, so time for another review.

Not a VSF Yearbook, it's the Australian Soccer Yearbook

Australian Soccer Year Book 1963

Or more accurately, the Soccer World Yearbook for 1963. This is a treat, a wonderful record of the season in NSW and pretty good coverage of other states. All the line-ups for the interstate championship and Australia Cup are there and player appearances for the NSW top tier. The great names leap from every page, Marston, Baumgartner, the brothers Ninaus, Jaros, Warren, Watkiss etc

Not a VSF Yearbook, it's some Queensland Soccer Federation Yearbooks

Queensland Soccer Federation Yearbook 1968

Queensland Soccer Federation Yearbook 1969

These are also great, up there with the early 1960's VSF Yearbooks and better than what the VSF was offering at the time.

About to enter the Golden Age, the 1974 VSF Yearbook

1974 VSF Yearbook

The new World Cup trophy on the cover. All the framework for the classic Yearbooks of 1976-78 are there without the fancy extras. Lots of fixtures, tables and cup charts.

From the top shelf, the 1976 VSF Yearbook

1976 VSF Yearbook

Another trophy on the cover, this time it's the Rothman's State League Championship Trophy. Tons of fixtures and tables. There's results grids and cup charts, and a list of VSF Cup Finals for the year prior. There's a list of the state team games from a tour of New Caledonia, and the Bendigo League gets a mention.

Returning to the Dark Ages, the 1980 VSF Yearbook

1980 VSF Yearbook

Plain, lame cover. Fixtures and club contacts book, more like. Not even tables from the previous year, let alone results grids or cup charts. Nothing about the juniors. A few pictures and the state team line-ups for the season the only highlights. Pocket sized, but no pocket rocket like the 1960's VASFA versions.

Same crap as the year before, the 1981 VSF Yearbook

1981 VSF Yearbook

Did Oliver Twist ask for some more slop? It's delivered here in spades, another shocker with the plain lame cover now a signature for mediocrity.

Page size is bigger, just makes it a bigger waste of space, the 1983 VSF Yearbook

1983 VSF Yearbook

The pocked size has been increased a bit, but the plain, lame cover offers the same dire content as it's 1980's predecessors. Scanning it made me sad.

Boo Reviews Some Yearbooks

Some more old VASFA and VSF Yearbooks have been scanned and uploaded to the Yearbooks & Annuals archive, and I thought I'd discuss their relative merits in a blog post.

Not a VSF Yearbook, the 1968 Victorian Soccer Yearbook

1968 Victorian Soccer Yearbook

Although a VSF product, this is not the actual VSF Yearbook for that year which can be found here.

It is basically a laws of the game booklet with last season's tables thrown in. Maybe they gave them out to schools for promotion/publicity, but even today I wouldn't waste thirty cents on it.

It cost shillings and pence, the 1959 VASFA Yearbook

1959 VASFA Yearbook

VASFA emblem on the cover, a lion and a kangaroo around a football with a crown on it. You could buy Stanley Matthews brand boots and balls in Queen Street. Good solid yearbook, list of VASFA officials and fixture list all nice. Slight shame the players are not identified in the picture of the previous year's State League Champions. Tables perfect, great results grids and cup charts. Slight let down with the list of champions, it's a shame Cup finals don't have further details as in scorers and line-ups. Some reasonable history with lists of previous champions and tours results. A quality production.

Here comes another one, just like the other one, the 1960 VASFA Yearbook

1960 VASFA Yearbook

Very similar to the previous year's version. The pic of the previous year's champion was ditched, and profiles of the leading officials was added. A good historical record.

It's a little bit different, but not in a good way, the 1966 VSF Yearbook

1966 VSF Yearbook

Cover photo is nice, Mike Jurecki of Victoria taking on Torpedo Moscow. Lists of officials and fixtures are all there, as well as additional editorial content with plenty of club profiles an a few photos. It fails to pass muster as a paper of record though, with the results grids and tables on covering the State League and Metropolitan League seniors only. No Cup charts, or even a list of winners, no state team match details, no reserves tables and no junior tables. G.T.Edgar, you are/were a fraud. Not fit to shine Stuart Beaton's shoes.

Gold on the cover but not enough gold, the 1970 VSF Yearbook

1970 VSF Yearbook

Nice action shot on the cover, but sadly the Hakoah and Hellas players aren't identified. Tables still unsatisfactory, none for reserves, the District League or the juniors, but some from interstate and country leagues. Cup charts are back, as are state team match details. Passable.

As old as me, the 1972 VSF Yearbook

1972 VSF Yearbook

Another unidentified player on the cover. Tables issue improving, with reserves, thirds and the District League back in the fold and only the juniors lacking. Cup charts and state team details all there, now with a review of all the State League clubs and a piece on the Argus Medal winner. There are team pics from state team games, again sadly unlabelled. Improving.

Entering the vintage era, the 1975 VSF Yearbook

1975 VSF Yearbook

Cover photo, with the team identified on page 8. What is this sorcery? Fixtures - even the Industrial League is included. Tables - seniors, reserves, thirds, District League and Provisional League. Only junior table included is an Under 20's league though. Gone - State League club reviews, results grids and state team details. Plenty of Cup charts though. On the verge of the Golden Age that was the 1977 and 1978 editions.

Musings on Recent Research

As steady work continues on the Statistical History, frustration at years of poor record keeping continues to grow.

A fortnight ago, I visited the State Library to check out some old VSF Annual Reports they had retrieved from storage for me. Unfortunately rather than ordering all the years I'd requested all I got was that for 2000, and I had to re-order the others and go back a week later.

The good news was that in the 2002 Annual Report I was able to find the missing State and Provisional League Best and Fairest Award winners. As well as the missing reserves league champions for that year. The 2000 Annual Report had already given me the missing reserves league champions for that season, with full final tables no less!

The Annual Reports generally have reports from the President, CEO etc at the front, a Roll of Honour of past champions and award winners in the middle along with lists of that season's award winners and champions plus state team achievements. At the end are financial reports.

What I found odd was that the 2000 Report had all final tables, yet the 2002 one didn't. Given that the VSF had ceased producing a Yearbook in 2000, I would have thought it may have been the other way around. With no Yearbook to record the final tables in, they should have been in the Annual Report. A lack of foresight from those at the VSF at the time, who obviously assumed their results system would still be operational and functional in the years to come rather than dead and holding so much data in it's grave.

The foundation of my research began with the Rolls of Honour in the mid-1990's VSF Yearbooks. I added to this by visits to the State Library to check out the major daily newspapers and The Sporting Globe on microfilm in the Newspaper Reading Room. Then came the internet and OzFootball and later Socceraust. Trove then made going through old newspapers so much better, with a search function that covered what winding through whole newspapers on microfilm in a darkened room may have missed.

So when I look at the Roll of Honour in the 2000 VSF Annual Report, I can't help but be a little angry.

                                                     
                                                       (Click on image to enlarge)

Look at that list of PREMIER LEAGUE RESERVES CHAMPIONS. 1983 and then nothing until 1972. 1970 and then nothing until 1961 and then nothing before that time. Now 1973-1982 is hardly ancient history. How come no-one with any sway was able to say that this was not good enough and try and improve this sad neglect of history? A bit like the version of the FFA Hall of Fame on their website, can such an embarrassing record of history really be labelled a "Roll of Honour"? Where is the honour? All is see is disrespect.

At this point in time I'm one or two years short of being able to extend that lineage all the way back to WWII, and with around 80% of the reserves champions before that also established. The FFV, meanwhile, no longer even bothers to maintain a Roll of Honour, they have in fact gone backwards.

Similarly incomplete was the list of top flight leading goalscorers. Pre-1970 all that was listed was 1969, 1967 and 1963. Wouldn't it be great to see if the current four time consecutive champion, Milos Lujic, was the all-time record holder? I've been able to add 1960, 1962, 1965, 1966 and 1968 to that list, as well as large chunks of 1930-1941. Looks like the great Frank McIver was top scorer on 5 or 6 occasions, so Millsy will need to keep on banging them in for some time to come to catch up.

Just to put the lack of records in the 1960's and 1970's into perspective, I've been able to complete a record of the "Local International" played between 1908 and 1937. Complete, and almost with line-ups, the major issue in that regard being the newspapers of the day only using surnames (no initials) and possible various spelling differences actually being the same person needing to be clarified. Once that's worked through, I'll be able to list everyone who was "capped" in these games. The data is there though.

As it is, the local international was contested annually bar for some years during WWI and 1910 when it was held twice (possibly because the 1-1 draw in the first game was an unsatisfactory result). Some reports state it began in 1909 with the first organised league, but there was a contest in 1908 that I've included in the records. There are also selected teams for the 1884-1886 versions, but for some reason no results found for those games.

The home of the local international was the Fitzroy Cricket Ground, which held 12 contests. The Motordrome was used 4 times, as was it's successor Olympic Park. The fields at Middle Park were utilised 3 times, with the Exhibition Oval used twice and a single event held at East Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In the end, honours were even. Scotland had 11 wins, England had 11 wins and there were 4 draws. The Scots did inflict some heavy defeats on their foe though, with the goal difference being 64-50 in their favour.

J.Maxwell (of Windsor, and later Prahran City) was England's greatest ever scorer with 7 goals. P.Dowker got 5 with G.Brown, Percy Lewis, Hawkes and Frank McIver all getting 3. Jock Baxter led the way for Scotland, netting 9 times. Johnnie Johnstone got 7 with Thompson on 4 and Jim Lurton with 3 next best.

From 1970's Soccer Action I see that when the Bill Fleming Medal was run by the press, independent of the VSF and the Rothmans/Gold Medal, there were also press awards for Under 21 VSL Player of the Year and VSL Coach of the Year. I will add these winners to the lineage of their later VPL/NPLV equivalents, as they should be. Maybe in the future the FFV will do the same.

This Year's Draft of the Statistical History

Last week I uploaded a pdf version of the Statistical History of Victorian Football, which can be downloaded from here:

Statistical History of Victorian Football - Draft 8

I thought I'd explain the layout and content a little. All the final league tables, and scores of Grand Finals, Finals and any games relating to promotion and relegation are on the left of the page. In a column down the right there are details (date, venue, referee, score, scorers and line-ups with substitutions) of top flight Grand Finals and Dockerty Cup Finals. Next will come scores and scorers of any other Cup Finals that year. Finding details like for the Grand Finals and Dockerty Cup Finals for all these games would be impossible, I'd estimate there would be less than 10% of that information available, so I'm just running with score and scorers.

The next information I'm looking to record are the winners of the league best and fairest awards and top goalscorers for each division. Then comes a list of reserves league champions. In the years of the District Leagues I include a list of champions in that league above the list of reserves league champions. To include District League tables would add more pages to the document than is necessary, a line has to be drawn somewhere.

I've only used pictures to fill in gaps where there was no text. The use of pictures has been along these lines: Team shot of league champions or Cup winners. Player pic of best and fairest winners, top goalscorers or member of league championship or Cup winning team. I'm not looking at adding pictures where it would mean adding another page for that year.

At the end, a month or so ago, I've added a National Competitions section using the same format, tables on the left, details on the right. In this section the tables and details on the page may not necessarily be from the same year. In future I'll probably include details of NSL and A-League Grand Finals, though that information is widely available elsewhere.

Another section I'm looking at adding between the Victorian and National sections would be a couple of pages to list non-playing awards like VPL/NPL coach of the year. There I would also like to add a list of the various media awards for the VSL/VPL over the years as issued by Soccer News, Soccer Action, Soccer Star and Australian and British Soccer Weekly.

Since that last draft I've corrected the wrong table being cut and pasted into the box for the First Division in 1969 as well as the scores in the 1984 and 1989 State League Cup Finals.

From what I was seeking here I've found the referee of the 1991 Dockerty Cup Final and the reserves champions of Provisional League Division One South East 2002. The rest still remains unknown. Please share the document with anyone you know who may be able to assist in filling in the gaps. There must be players out there who recall playing in some of those 1980's Cup Finals where only the only record the VSF kept was the name of the winner inscribed on the trophy. There must be old team managers and club secretaries with a collection of VSF Yearbooks or memos from the VSF with final tables (mainly reserves missing now) or their own records of Cup finals. I'm really hoping that someone somewhere has a list of award winners, top scorers and reserves champions for 2002 seeing as the FFV can't open that year's Annual Report.

It would be nice to be able to work out which players have played in the most Dockerty Cup Finals, or had the most wins in it. Referees are people too, it would be nice to know which ones have had the honour of reffing the most Dockerty Cup Finals. Surely every senior and reserve team that won a championship deserves having that feat noted somewhere for posterity? Would anyone expect the AFL to have a gap in it's list of Brownlow Medal winners? Then where are the 2002 State and Provisional League best and fairest winners and top goalscorers?

If we can get most of what I listed in that blog post, I can just make up some of the pre-War stuff and we're finished. Well, I wouldn't do that but a few asterisks could tie things up.

An Update on the Biographies

Several large updates have been made recently in the Biographies section of the blog. The aim is to provide some sort of information on anyone every awarded Life Membership of the State's various governing bodies over the years, be it the Victorian Amateur British Football Association, the Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association or the Victorian Soccer Federation/Football Federation Victoria.

For the first two bodies, details of Life Membership will always remain sketchy. In the VSF/FFV era living Life Members are often listed in the Yearbooks/Annual Reports yet it is possible some may have slipped through the cracks.

The current state of play shows one known VABFA Life Member (Harry Dockerty). I have information on 3 of the 8 known VASFA Life Members. In the VSF/FFV era there is information on 75 of the 121 known Life Members. I know a little about some of those without information attached to their names, but am endeavouring to find more substantial profiles for them.

If anyone can assist, please get in touch at markboric@bigpond.com

The Biographies can be found via a tab at the top of the blog or via clicking here.

No Further Correspondence Shall Be Entered Into

Here's a collection of old club and Federation/Association correspondence, some with nice letterheads.

                                                    (Click on images to enlarge)

Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame?

In looking to add more profiles of VABFA/VSF/FFV Life Members to add to the Biographies page of this blog, I had another look through the Hall of Fame section of the FFA website.

Nothing ever surprises me in terms of neglect of the history of the game in this country. Even still, I was taken aback by the lack of detail afforded to many of the individuals apparently "honoured" by their induction into the Hall of Fame. It is supposed to be an honour, but with so little respect afforded to many inductees the use of the term is questionable.

Let's go back to the inaugural 1999 induction:

There is no picture or profile for any of the first sixteen names listed. It is not like many of them are from early last century either, some are still involved in the game today. The 1974 Socceroos fare best, with recent efforts to make amends for years of shoddy treatment ensuring all their profiles are complete. For many others, the FFA has neglected to properly salute them on their own Hall of Fame page. Surely in the SIXTEEN years since they have been inducted some basic research could have been conducted?

List of inductees not properly honoured:

1999

George Smith (No image, no text)
Cliff Sander (No image, no text)
John Perin (No image, no text)
Frank Parsons (No image, no text)
Jeff Olver (No image, no text)
Gordon Nunn (No image, no text)
Sergio Melta (No image, no text)
Gary Marocchi (No image, no text)
Allan Johns (No image, no text)
Tom Jack (No image, no text)
William "Bill" Henderson (No image, no text)
Jack Evans (No image, no text)
Michael de Bruyckere (No image no text, while he Anglicised his Christian name to "Mike" if we have William "Bill" Henderson it should probably be Sjel "Mike" de Bruyckere)
William Coolahan (No image, no text)
Jim Armstrong (No image, no text)
Ron Adair (No image, no text)
John Nyskohus (No image)
James McNabb (No image)
William Maunder (No image)
Frank Laughran (No image)
Bob Lawrie (No image)
Ron Wright (No image)
Sir William Walkley (No image)
William Thomas (No image)
Ron Smith (No image)
Martin Royal (No image)
Peter Nikolich (No image)
Des Miles (No image)
Graham McMillan (No image)
Frank McIver (No image)
Zoran Matic (No image)
Jack Logan (No image)
Brian Leferve (No image)
Tony Kovac OAM (No image)
Tom Grimson (No image)
Keith Gilmour (No image)
Pam Gilbert (No image)
Harry Croft (No image)
Donald Campbell (No image)
Fred Barlow (No image)
Eric Worthington (No image)
Laurie Schwab (No image)
Julius Re (No image)
Sam Papasavas OAM (No image)
Dieter Klose (No image)
Brian Corrigan (No image)
Ian Brusasco AM (No image)
Giacomo "Jim" Bayutti OA (No image)
Michael Weinstein AM, BEM (No image)
Vic Tuting MBE (No image)
Robert Telfer (No image)
Theo Marmaris MBE (No image)
Arthur Gibbs (No image)
John Walter Fletcher (No image)
Harry Dockerty (No image)
Tony Boskovic (No image)
Connie Selby (No image)
Sir Arthur George AO (No image)

2000

Alex Gibb (No profile)
Kevin O'Neill (No profile)
Chris Bambridge (No image)
Don Sutherland (No image)

2001

Bill Vojtek (No image, no profile)
Cecil Drummond (No image, no profile)
Leo Baumgartner (No profile)
Gary Byrne (No profile)
Robert Dunn (No profile)
Ken Murphy (No profile)
Doug Rennie (No image)

2002

James Wilkinson (No profile)
George Harris (No profile)
Branko Buljevic (No profile, how about start with 1974 World Cup Socceroo)
Siri Kannangara (No image)
Rodney Woods (No image)

2003

Wally Savor (No image, no profile)
Percy Lennard (No image, no profile)
William "Bill" Henderson (Seems to have been inducted a second time, still not good enough to get his image or profile added)
Colin Bennett (No image)
Steve O'Connor (No image)
Roy Crowhurst (No profile)
David Harding (No profile)
Betty Hoar (No image)
Les Murray (No image, it can't be that hard for the face of football media)
Joseph J Honeysett (No image)

2004

Todd Clarke (No profile)
Ian Gray (No profile)
Peter Thorne (No image)
Jane Oakley (No image)

2005

Mike Petersen (No image, can they not get Ange Postecoglu to take a pic on his phone?)
Alec Cameron (No profile)
Craig Johnson (No profile, can they not borrow his book?)
Bruce Morrow (No profile)
Roger Lamb (No image)
Vic Dalgleish (No image)
Phil Murphy (No image)

2006

Peter Sharne (No profile)
Ernie Campbell (No profile)

2007

Steve Blair (No image, and he even has a website with a great collection of Aussie soccer photos)

2008

John De Witt (No image)

2009

Tony Vidmar (No profile, his brother got image and profile with his induction the previous year)


Neglecting those honoured in the past is nothing new, I have already previously covered it regarding the issue of VSF/FFV Life Members. The state of the FFA Hall of Fame on their website is embarrassing.

This is the standard the FFA should aspire to: AFL Hall of Fame

When they can't even offer basic profiles for all Hall of Fame members, one can only laugh at the regular calls from eminent journalists for a National Football Museum. What are the odds they could make a decent fist of that? A shrine to themselves, maybe, a proper historical museum, no chance,.

History, Rewritten

Occasionally I will Google search "Victorian Soccer History", looking for something new or something that I may have missed previously. During such a search yesterday I thought I'd check out what the Wikipedia entry for Football Federation Victoria contained and was struck by some glaring "inconsistencies". Today I thought I'd check the FFV's own site to see if that is where the Wikipedia entry was lifted from, which was the case.

                              

                                                  (Click on image to enlarge)

To claim the organisation dates back to 1884 is more than an inconsistency, it's an outright lie and fabrication. The 1880's body died out with the Depression of the early 1890's. When Harry Dockerty was instrumental in restoring the code in Melbourne in 1908, it was with a new association.

It would be a stretch to claim that was one of "several name changes". It is a downright lie, and a criminal one at that, to suggest the creation of the Victorian Soccer Federation in 1962 was merely a name change from the Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association. The VSF was a breakaway from the established body, it was ugly split that went before the courts. It dishonours the VSF pioneers not to acknowledge this.

Such historic revisionism is particularly galling on a day in which Dawn Fraser's racial comments about Nick Kyrgios have made the headlines. Fraser harks back to an era where telling foreigners who did not fit in to return to their homeland was the norm. It cannot be denied there was a racial element to the VASFA/VSF battle. To pretend there wasn't disrespects the actions of the leaders of many ethnic clubs who stood up for themselves in rebelling and creating the VSF.

In fact, the main, genuine name change in the governing bodies history, from VSF to FFV is not mentioned at all! A further, shameful, insult.

The claim that the NPL brought "top flight football" to Geelong "for the first time" is a slap in the face of the North Geelong Warriors VPL Championship team of 1992. Rewriting history to suit a political agenda is pretty poor form, as is disrespecting a club and their achievements.

Maybe that's why they would prefer history not be researched? To allow it to be rewritten by themselves, unchecked?

The Cup of Changing Names

Among the changing landscape of the Victorian Soccer Federation assuming control of the game from the Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association was the inauguration of the Federation Cup in 1962. It was introduced to provide a Cup competition for clubs left out of the Dockerty Cup, which was scaled back to the twelve State League teams and the top two teams from Division One North and Division One South in an increasingly crowded schedule.

The first edition was won by Coburg United, who took the trophy in a replay following an initial draw with Sunshine City. Coburg retained the Cup the next year, this time defeating Makedonia.

The results between 1964 and 1968 are still to be uncovered. Whilst the top of the pyramid was well covered in the media, the lower reaches did not always get their results published. I have searched at the end of seasons and come up with nothing, but have yet to check if any Cups were contested in the pre-season. It is important to note the Dockerty Cup was expanded back to it's traditional format in 1964, so it is possible the Federation Cup was discontinued.

It is known that it was back in action by 1969, when Altona City triumphed over Springvale City after extra time. By 1972 Altona City had claimed the Cup for the third time. They would be joined as multiple winners in the 1970's by Albion Rovers.

In 1979 the Cup seems to have been replaced by the Winfield Cup, a name which would only last a year before being altered to the Metropolitan League Cup. Another name change would follow when the Metropolitan League became the Victorian League in 1985. The most confusing change would come in 1991 when the State League was re-branded as the Victorian Premier League. The Victorian League was in turn renamed the State League, meaning the new State League Cup carried the same name as the competition usually contested as an end of season finals series between the top four teams in the old State League.

Preston Makedonia were thumping 9-0 winners over Sunshine City in the 1973 Final, going on to win again in 1975 and then again in 1995 as Preston Lions. Box Hill dominated in the early 1980's with Lalor United multiple winners in the 1990's before the Cup was discontinued in 1996. It was revived for four editions from 2000 before the drought of 2004 finally killed it off.

Famous Cup heroics include a sixteen year old goalkeeper Jeff Olver taking Albion Rovers to success in 1976 on his way to becoming a Socceroo. Melbourne (Hungaria) had a last great hurrah as a club winning in 1985. Many winners from the 1980's were clubs on their way to stints in the VSL/VPL.

The full list of known Cup Final results is:

2003 Sunshine George Cross 0 Cranbourne Comets 0
Sunshine George Cross won 5-4 on penalties

2002 Westvale 4 (Goutzioulis2, Squillacioti, Gacovski) Springvale White Eagles 2 (Diaco, Styczen)

2001 Westgate 1 (Delic) Cranbourne Comets 0

2000 Stonnington City 2 (Tyrikos, Georgoulis) Sunshine Georgies 1 (Hynds) aet

1996 Preston Lions 4 (Chiodo, Burlak, Tasevski, Emsovski) North Coburg United 1 (Saglam)

1995 Lalor United 5 (Ujgunovski2, Drogriski, Filipovski, Taseski) Essendon Brunswick Royals 1 (Kolar)

1994 South Springvale 1 (Asimakidis) South Dandenong 0

1993 Lalor United (Tasevski2) Box Hill 0

1992 Werribee City 2 (Cidoni, Grillo) Doncaster Rovers 0

1991 Frankston Pines 1 (Johnstone) North Geelong 1 (A.Cervinski)
Frankston Pines won 5-3 on penalties    

1990 Springvale City 2 (Carroll, Kenny) Port Melbourne 1 (T.Rizopoulos)

1989 Western Suburbs 2 (Beattie 2) Eltham/Diamond Valley United 1 (Coyle)

1988 Westgate 1 (Andriotis) Mooroolbark 0

1987 Albion Rovers 1 Bell Park 0

1986 Clifton Hill 1 (Gillan) Hawthorn 1 (Katsogiannis)
Clifton Hill won 4-3 on penalties

1985 Melbourne 2 (Heery, P.Bannon) Keilor Austria 2 (Beller, Santos) aet
Melbourne won 4-2 on penalties

1984 North Dandenong 2 (O'Halloran, McCombe) Sunbury United 2 (Magnano, O.G.) aet
North Dandenong won 4-2 on penalties

1983 Knox City 2 (Lesbirel, Gerrish) Nunawading City 1 (Mullet)

1982 Box Hill 5 (S.Patterson2, Taylor2, Priestly) Dandenong City 1 (Donnelly)

1981 Box Hill 3 (Taylor2, S.Patterson) Polonia 1 (Marshall) aet

1980 Doveton 5 (McDonald2, Quin2, Irvine) Moreland 2 (Lenders, Constantinou)

1979 Collingwood City 3 (G.Batticiotto, G.Bozikas, J.Nicolaides) Keilor Austria 1 (R.Bellar)

1978 Croydon 4 (Lowrey2, M.Brown, Murphy) Moreland 0

1977 Waverley City 2 (Stocca, P.Whitehurst) Melbourne 1 (P.Mihalj)

1976 Albion Rovers 4 (S.Tribuzio2, B.Rae, G.Bentley) Springvale City 1 (J.Gollan)

1975 Preston Makedonia 2 Dandenong City 1

1974 Albion Rovers 2 (Clarke, Pryde) Frankston City 1 (Adams)

1973 Preston Makedonia 9 (Reid4, Temelkovski, Hayward, Jancev2, O.G.)
Sunshine City 0

1972 Altona City 3 Prahran Slava 0

1971 Altona City

1970 Yallourn 1 Frankston 0

1969 Altona City 3 Springvale City 1 aet

1968

1967

1966

1965

1964

1963 Coburg United 4 (Healey2, Loughran, Malcolm) Makedonia 2 (Kuhn, Zemunik)

1962 Coburg United 1 (Young) Sunshine City 1 (Oliver)
        Coburg United 3 (Earley3) Sunshine City 2 (McNeil2)

Victorian Soccer Officials

As well as trying to gather the statistical history of Victorian football, I've also tried maintaining other records. Once such record follows, a list of executive and board positions of the governing body through the years.

I publish it without making any amendments. In some cases names, or at least middle initials mainly, vary for the same person. I've yet to correct these. I've added in where people have been made Life Members. To be a Life Member you obviously have to be alive, and the names of those deceased would be removed from the lists published in Yearbooks. Which makes it harder to ascertain the full number of people awarded the honour.

A Vice-President in 1888, David Gaunson was a solicitor who had represented Ned Kelly. He was also the basis for the Davie Garside character in Frank Hardy's Power Without Glory. Mr.T.Bent M.L.A. would become Sir Thomas Bent and a Premier of Victoria. The suburb of Bentleigh was named after him.


1884 Anglo-Australian Football Association
President: Dr.Beaney
Vice-President: Mr.T.Bent M.L.A.
Honorary Secretary.: A.E.Gibbs

1885 Anglo-Australian Football Association
Vice-Presidents: incl. Mr.T.Bent M.L.A.
Honorary Secretary.: A.E.Gibbs

1888 Anglo-Australian Football Association
Patron: Sir William.J.Clarke
President: E.G.Fitzgibbon
Vice-Presidents: Messrs. G.D.Carter, D.Gaunson, Wm.Cain, G.Chaffey, F.T.Derham, H.W.Danby, J.L.Dow, A.Gilmour, C.J.Ham, F.Lowe, G.Mackay, O.McLean, H.Byron Moore, J.W.Pierce, O.B.Snowball, W.H.Swallow, J.C.Teare, W.F.Walker, J.J.E.Willmott.
Honorary Treasurer: W.Bisiker
Honorary Secretary: P.McKinley
Secretary: A.E.Gibbs

1907 British Football Association of Victoria
President: H.L.Dockerty
Secretary: H.H.Wood
Treasurer: H.Miller

1909 British Football Association of Victoria
Patron: Lord Dudley

1913
Secretary: E.Crawford
Council: Messrs Gilbert, Armstrong, Price, Cumming, Kerr.

1915 Victorian Amateur British Football Association
President: H.L.Dockerty
Vice President: F.G.Godfrey
Honorary Treasurer: E.Harvey
Honorary Secretary: E.C.Crawford
Assistant Honorary Secretary: G.W.E.Dempster
Members of Council: E.Jones, W.A.Cumming, C.E.Price, J.Carroll, W.B.Gilbert.
Office: Amateur Sports Club
H.L.Dockerty presented with a badge for Life Membership during the year

1919
President: E.Crawford
Acting Vice-President: F.Godfrey
Secretary: G.W.Dempster
Assistant Secretary: T.Trigg
Treasurer: E.Harvey
Members of Council: G.Hawes, J.Carroll, R.Strachan, J.Owen, T.McKinley.

1928 Melbourne Association
President: Mr Hugh Boyd

1929 Victorian Soccer Football Association
President: H.R.Boyd
Chairman: J.O.Wilshaw
Secretary: H.Bingham
Treasurer: J.W.Thompson
Honorary Assistant Secretary: A.Mackie
Patron is His Excellency the Governor (Lord Somers)

1930
Victorian Soccer Football Association
President H.R. Boyd
Chairman: W.Cummings
Secretary: H.Bingham
Asst. Sec: A.Mackie
Treasurer: H.King
Made life members: Messrs Boyd, McLeod and T.Williams

1933 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: H.Boyd
Chairman Council W.Wellington
Hon Treasurer: H.King
Secretary: H.Bingham
Honoray Assistant Secretary: A.Mackie
Vice-Presidents: J.Seivewright, F.Cranshaw, A.McLeod, H.Parker, J.O.Wilshaw
Life Members: S.Crawshaw, H.King, W.Paul, J.O.Wilshaw

1935 Victorian Soccer Football Association
President: J.J.Liston
Chairman: W.Wellington
Honorary Treasurer: J.O.Wilshaw
Secretary: H.Bingham
Honorary Assistant Secretary: A.Mackie
Vice Presidents: H.Boyd, S.Yaffer, H.Parker, A.McCallum, T.Williams, C.Vanacharen and Captain H.G.C. Franklin R.N.

1939 Victorian Soccer Football Association
President: J.J.Liston
Chairman: J.G.Hawes
Honorary Treasurer: J.O.Wilshaw
Secretary: H.Bingham
Honorary Assistant Secretary: A.Mackie
Vice Presidents: H.C.Donaldson, A.Gardner, J.Guthrie, A.McCallum, W.Paul, J.B.Scott, T.Williams.
Patron: Lord Huntingfield

1941 Victorian Soccer Football Association
President: J.J.Liston
Chairman: W.A.Cummings
Honorary Treasurer: J.O.Wilshaw
Secretary: H.K.Ingham
Assistant Secretary: A.Mackie
Vice-Presidents: Messrs H.Armstrong, T.Williams, G.J.Hawes, A.Gardner, G.Raitt, H.Lowe and P.G.Sandy

1945 Victorian Soccer Football Association
President: J.E.Liston
Chairman: W.A.Cumming
Treasurer: J.O.Wilshaw
Secretary: H.K.Ingham
Assistant Secretary: H.Armstrong

1948 Victorian Soccer Football Association
President: J.E.Liston
Vice-Presidents: H.J.Dockerty, J.G.Hawes
Chairman: W.A.Cumming
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: S.Crawshaw, Cr W.R.Dawnay Mould, W.H.Hall, H.K.Ingham, H.Lowe, J.Parker, G.Smith, R.Stynis
Secretary: H.Armstrong
Honorary Assistant Secretary: A.Jarvis

1949 Victorian Soccer Football Association
President: Sir Errol Knox then Major G.Cohen from November
Vice-President: H.J. Dockerty, W.W.Tunn
Chairman: H.K.Ingham
Deputy Chairman: J.Parker
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: Cr H.Armstrong, C.Armstrong, V.J.M.Dixon, E.Harvey, D.Hamilton, F.Lang, J.A.Olsen, J.Paul, R.Stynis, W.Thomas, T.Williams
Secretary: A.M.Mackie
Assistant Secretary: S.Beaton
Trustees: R.Stynis, J.Parker, Price, Lang.

1950 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: Major G.Cohen
Vice-Presidents: H.J.Dockerty, W.W.Tunn
Chairman: H.K.Ingham                                        
Deputy Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: T.Burns, T.Beddoes, V.J.M.Dixon, D.Hamilton, F.Lang, J.A.Olsen, J.Paul, R.Simon, J.Parker, R.Stynis, P.Polites, J.Rickerby
Secretary: S.Beaton
Trustees: J.Parker, F.Lang, J.Price, R.Stynis

1951 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: Major G.Cohen
Vice-Presidents: H.J.Dockerty, W.W.Tunn
Chairman: H.K.Ingham                                        
Deputy Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: T.Burns, V.J.M.Dixon, D.Hamilton, F.Lang, E.H.Low, J.Parker, J.Paul, P.Polites, K.S.Warburton, M.Zonenberg, R.Carlson
Secretary: S.Beaton
Assistant Secretary: J.A.Olsen
Trustees: W.R.Thomas, J.Parker, F.Lang, R.Stynis

1952 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: E.B.Coles
Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Senior Vice-President: H.J.Dockerty
Junior Vice-President: N.Rothfield
Secretary: S.Beaton
Treasurer: A.Kerr

1953 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: E.B.Coles
Vice-Presidents: H.J.Dockerty, N.Rothfield
Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Deputy Chairman: J.Paul
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: E.J.Clarkson, J.Cleworth, C.Dodd, H.Dodman, J.W.Gray, D.J.Hamilton, S.Horrobin, F.Lang, E.H.Low, Dr C.Walker
Secretary: S.Beaton
Assistant Secretary: J.Stewart

1954 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: E.B.Coles
Vice-Presidents: H.J.Dockerty, N.Rothfield
Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Deputy Chairman: J.Paul
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: A.Balish, K.Defris, C.Dodd, D.J.Hamilton, S.Horrobin, F.Lang, R.R.G.Lawrence, K.W.Martin, J.Parker, Dr C.Walker

1956 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: H.J.Dockerty
Vice-Presidents: N.Rothfield, Dr C.Walker
Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Deputy Chairman: J.Paul
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: C.Dodd, D.J.Hamilton, S.Horrobin, A.Kiburg, F.Lang, Z.Lukinovic, J.P.Oliphant, J.A.Olsen, K.Defris, A.Balish
Secretary: S.Beaton
Assistant Secretary: J.G.F.Stewart

1957 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: H.J.Dockerty
Vice-Presidents: N.Rothfield, Dr C.Walker
Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Deputy Chairman: J.Pauk
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: W.Campbell, C.Dodd, D.J.Hamilton, S.Horrobin, A.Kiburg, F.Lang, R.R.G.Lawrence, J.A.Olsen, K.Defris, A.Balish
Secretary: S.Beaton
Assistant Secretary: J.G.F.Stewart

1958 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: H.J.Dockerty
Vice-Presidents: N.Rothfield, Dr C.Walker
Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Deputy Chairman: J.Paul
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: W.Campbell, C.Dodd, A.Balish, K.Defris, C.D.Harris, S.Horrobin, F.Lang, R.R.G.Lawrence, J.P.Oliphant, T.Walker
Secretary-Manager: S.Beaton
Office: Olympic Park, Swan Street, Melbourne

1959 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: H.J.Dockerty
Vice-Presidents: N.Rothfield, Dr.C.Walker
Chairman of Council: W.R.Thomas
Deputy Chairman of Council: J.Paul
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: A.Balish, M.Buckner, G.F.d'Andrea, C.D.Harris, K.Defris, C.Dodd, D.J.Hamilton, S.Horrobin, D.Ivanovic, F.Lang, J.P.Oliphant, A.Pavlas, L.Rezzara, S.Rubenstein
Secretary-Manager: S.Beaton
Office: Olympic Park, Swan Street, Melbourne

1961 Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association
President: H.J.Dockerty
Vice-Presidents: N.Rothfield, Dr C.Walker
Chairman: W.R.Thomas
Deputy Chairman: J.Paul
Honorary Treasurer: A.Kerr
Council Members: G.F.d'Andrea, M.Buckner, L.Debono, K.Defris, C.Dodd, C.D.Harris, S.Horrobin, D.Ivanovic, F.Lang, T.Marmaras, J.P.Oliphant, S.Rubenstein, F.Villiers
Secretary-Manager: S.Beaton
Office: Olympic Park, Swan Street, Melbourne

1962 Victorian Soccer Federation
Chairman: T.Marmaras
Deputy Chairman: D.S.D.Sutherland
Honorary Treasurer: E.Heath
Secretary-Manager: S.Beaton
Office: Olympic Park, Swan Street, Melbourne

1963 Victorian Soccer Federation
Chairman: T.Marmaras
Deputy Chairman: J.Barclay
Honorary Treasurer: F.Varrenti
Secretary-Manager: S.Beaton
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman: N.Stanley
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

1964 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: H.J.Dockerty
Vice-Presidents: A.Kun, L.Pellegrini
Chairman: T.Marmaras
Deputy Chairman: J.Barclay
Secretary: S.Beaton
State League Management Committee Chairman: H.Dressler
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman: N.Stanley
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

1966 Victorian Soccer Federation
President:
Vice-President: T.Burns
Chairman: T.Marmaras
Deputy Chairman: J.R.Gorton
Honorary Treasurer: J.P.Oliphant
Board Members: M.Weinstein, J.O.Barclay, L.Debono
Secretary: G.T.Edgar
State League Management Committee Chairman: M.Weinstein
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman: J.O.Barclay
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Life Members: T.Burns, K.Defris, S.Horrobin, A.Kerr, F.Lang, J.Paul, J.Parker, W.R.Thomas, C.Walker

1967 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: T.Burns, J.R.Gorton
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: J.O.Barclay
Secretary: G.T.Edgar
Treasurer: J.Mitchell
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.P.Oliphant
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman:J.O.Barclay
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

1968 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: T.Burns, A.Kun
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: J.R.Gorton
Treasurer: D.Melidonis
Secretary: G.T.Edgar
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.Oliphant
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman: J.O.Barclay
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Life Members since 1966: T.Marmaras, H.Dressler, M.Weinstein, J.Pick, L.Debono, J.Demetrie, W.Thomas, H.Baytch, J.Van Hoboken, A.Kovac, E.Begovic, J.Wirt, F.W.McIver, A.Kun, E.Heath.

1969 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: T.Burns, A.Kun
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: J.R.Gorton
Treasurer: E.Begovic
Secretary: L.Willmer
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.Oliphant
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman: J.O.Barclay
District League Management Committee Chairman: J.Morrison
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Life Members since 1968: E.Harvey, J.Castellini.

1970 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: T.Burns, A.Kun
Chairman: J.R.Gorton
Deputy Chairman: J.Castellini
Treasurer: J.Klimecki
Board Members: E.Begovic, J.O.Barclay, H.Dressler, V.Manson, J.Oliphant, G.Sawczak
Secretary: L.Willmer
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Life Members since 1969: J.Oliphant, W.Campbell

1971 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: Sir David Hill-Wood
Vice-Presidents: T.Burns, A.Kun
Chairman: J.R.Gorton
Deputy Chairman: J.Castellini
Treasurer: J.Borg
Board Members: E.Begovic, J.O.Barclay, S.Wilson, V.Manson, L.Dimos, J.Oliphant
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees: T.Marmaras, T.Burns, M.Weinstein, E.Heath, P.J.O'Connor
Life Members since 1970: J.Barclay

1972 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: Commander M.Parker
Vice-Presidents: A.Kun, T.Burns
Chairman: J.R.Gorton
Deputy Chairman: J.Castellini
Treasurer: J.Borg
Board Members: A.Kovac, J.O.Barclay, S.Wilson, T.Marmaras, M.Weinstein, V.Manson
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees: T.Marmaras, T.Burns, M.Weinstein, E.Heath, P.J.O'Connor
Life Members since 1971: J.Klimecki, N.Stanley

1973 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: Commander M.Parker
Vice-Presidents: T.Burns, A.Kun
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Manson
Treasurer: J.Borg
Board Members: A.Kovac, J.O.Barclay, J.Collins, T.Marmaras, K.Mitterlehner, J.R.Gorton
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees: T.Marmaras, T.Burns, M.Weinstein, E.Heath, P.J.O'Connor
Life Members since 1972: V.Manson

1974 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: A.Kun, E.Heath
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Manson
Treasurer: G.Kerry
Board Members: A.Kovac, J.Collins, J.Barclay, J.Borg, K.Mitterlehner, S.Papasavas
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees: T.Burns, T.Marmaras, M.Weinstein, P.J.O'Connor, E.Heath

1975 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: E.Heath, T.Burns
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Manson
Treasurer: J.Dimtsis
Board Members: S.Papasavas, J.Barclay, A.Kovac, T.Bailey, L.Shorrock, V.Cilauro
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
State League Management Committee Chairman: S.Papasavas
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees: T.Marmaras, M.Weinstein, P.J.O'Connor, E.Heath, T.Burns

1976 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: T.Burns, E.Heath
Chairman: A.Kovac
Deputy Chairman: J.Barclay
Treasurer: J.Dimtsis
Board Members: S.Papasavas, M.Weinstein, L.Shorrock, V.Cilauro, A.Attard, M.McCulloch
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
State League Management Committee Chairman: S.Papasavas
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees: M.Weinstein, P.J.O'Connor, E.Heath, T.Burns, T.Marmaras

1977 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: E.Heath, T.Burns
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Cilauro
Treasurer: J.Dimtsis
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
State League Management Committee Chairman: V.Cilauro
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman: M.McCulloch
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: L.Shorrock
District League Management Committee Chairman: E.Begovic
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Life Members since 1973: P.J.O'Connor, H.M.Knott, G.Culbard, F.Hutchison, A.Brant, J.D'Andrea.

1978 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: T.Marmaras
Vice-Presidents: T.Burns, E.Heath
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Cilauro
Treasurer: J.Dimtsis
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
State League Management Committee Chairman: V.Cilauro
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman:J.Whittaker
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: L.Stafrace
District League Management Committee Chairman: B.Tessari
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees: E.Heath, T.Burns, T.Marmaras, M.Weinstein, P.J.O'Connor
Life Member since 1977: J.Oliver

1980 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Dimtsis
Vice-President: E.Heath
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Cilauro
Treasurer: J.Borg
Board Members: J.Whittaker, F.Burin, H.Gussenhoven, J.Hodgson, G.Pegg, L.Stafrace
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees
President: T.Marmaras
Secretary: E.Heath
Members: M.Weinstein, J.P.O'Connor, V.Cilauro

1981 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Dimtsis
Vice-President: E.Heath
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Cilauro
Treasurer: J.Borg
Board Members: J.Whittaker, F.Burin, H.Gussenhoven, J.Hodgson, G.Pegg, L.Stafrace
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees
President: T.Marmaras
Secretary: E.Heath
Members: M.Weinstein, J.P.O'Connor, V.Cilauro

1982 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Dimtsis
Vice-Presidents: E.Heath, P.Collins
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Cilauro
Treasurer: S.Hargitay
Board Members: H.Dressler, J.Whattaker, J.Hodgson, G.Pegg, J.Barclay, L.Stafrace, R.Wilson
Secretary: G.F.Wallace
Assistant Secretary: A.Jensen
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees
President: T.Marmaras
Secretary: E.Heath
Members: M.Weinstein, J.P.O'Connor, V.Cilauro

1983 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Dimtsis
Vice-Presidents: E.Heath, P.Collins
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy-Chairman: V.Cilauro
Treasurer: S.Slazyk
Members: J.Hodgson, A.Langer, J.Diamataris, P.Crawley, F.Burin, L.Stafrace, J.Whittaker
Secretary: G.E.Wallace
Assistant-Secretary: A.Crawley
State League Management Committee Chairman: V.Cilauro
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman: J.Hodgson
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: J.Whittaker
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Trustees
President: T.Marmaras
Secretary: E.Heath
Members: M.Weinstein, J.P.O'Connor, V.Cilauro
Life Members since 1978: J.Barclay, V.Manson, B.Tessari, J.E.Abalon, W.Cuuran, A.Merrills, K.Slack

1985 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Dimtsis
Vice-Presidents: E.Heath, G.Kerry
Chairman: M.Weinstein
Deputy Chairman: V.Cilauro
Treasurer: J.Hodgson
Executive Director: G.F.Wallace
State League Management Committee Chairman: V.Cilauro
Metropolitan League Management Committee Chairman: J.Hodgson
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: A.Corsar
Amateur League Management Committee Chairman: M.Leach
Life Members since 1978: V.Manson, B.Tessari, J.E.Abalon, W.Curran, A.Merrills, K.Slack, C.Cutajar, W.Bates.

1988 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Dimtsis
Vice-President: G.Kerry
Chairman: J.Reilly
Executive Director: G.F.Wallace
Honorary Life President: M.Weinstein

1989 Victorian Soccer Federation
Honorary Life President: M.Weinstein
President: J.Dimtsis
Vice-President: Mrs.A.McPhee, H.Siwka
Chairman: V.Cilauro
Deputy Chairman: P.Crawley
Treasurer: G.Zafiropoulos
Executive Director: G.F.Wallace
State League Management Committee Chairman: L.Stafrace
Victorian League Management Committee Chairman: P.Crawley
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: J.Oliver
Amateur League Management Committee: L.Goldman
Life Members since 1985: E.Barrett, Mrs.N.Bosma, R.Bosma, S.David, V.Cilauro, G.Kerry.

1990 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Dimtsis
Vice-Presidents: Mrs.A.McPhee, J.Kriaris
Chairman: V.Cilauro
Deputy Chairman: L.Stafrace
Treasurer: G.Vasilopoulos
Executive Director: G.F.Wallace
State League Management Committee Chairman: L.Stafrace
Victorian League Management Committee Chairman: J.Docherty
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: Mrs.L.De Marchi
Amateur League Management Committee Chairman: L.Goldman
Life Members since 1989: J.Dimtsis, J.Paul.

1992 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Hodgson
Vice-Presidents: A.Cikoja, M.Antolos
Chairman: V.Cilauro
Deputy Chairman: J.Docherty
Treasurer: G.Vasilopoulos
Executive Director: T.Jones
Premier League Management Committee Chairman: J.Caruso
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.Docherty
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: Mrs.L.De Marchi
Life Members since 1990: E.Richardson, F.Royston, E.Slack, M.Taussig, G.Crossley, G.Wallace.

1993 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: J.Hodgson
Vice-Presidents: A.Cikoja, M.Antolos
Chairman: J.Caruso
Deputy Chairman: J.Docherty
Treasurer: E.Sewards
Executive Director: T.Jones
Premier League Management Committee Chairman: T.Raponi
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.Docherty
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: Mrs.L.De Marchi
Life Members since 1992: J.Sampson, J.Murphy, D.Di Fabrizio.

1994 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: G.Wallace
Vice-Presidents: A.Cikoja, M.Antolos
Honorary Life President: M.Weinstein
Chairman: J.Caruso
Deputy Chairman: T.Raponi
Treasurer: T.Raponi
C.E.O.: T.Jones
Premier League Management Committee Chairman: T.Raponi
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.Docherty
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: Mrs.L.De Marchi
Life Members since 1993: A.Blacklaw, D.Phillips, V.Ballerini

1995 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: G.Wallace
Vice-Presidents: T.Cikoja, M.Antolos
Chairman: H.Siwka
C.E.O.: T.Jones
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

1996 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: G.Wallace
Vice-Presidents: A.Cikoja, M.Antolos
Honorary Life President: M.Weinstein
Honorary Executive President: J.Kennett
Chairman: H.Siwka
Deputy Chairman: T.Raponi
Treasurer: A.Augello
C.E.O.: T.Jones
Premier League Management Committee Chairman: T.Raponi
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.Docherty
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: P.Randall
Life Members since 1994: D.McIntosh, T.Dunkerley, D.Trimboli, S.Slazyk, F.Burin.

1997 Victorian Soccer Federation
Honorary Life President: M.Weinstein
Honorary Executive President: J.Kennett
Chairman: J.Brondolino
Commissioners: M.Galanos, J.Hoar, V.Stojcevski, S.David, T.Dunkerley, P.Randall.
C.E.O.: G.Miles
Premier League Management Committee Chairman: T.Cikoja
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.Docherty
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: B.Poulsen
Office: Soccer House, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Life Members since 1996: D.Sutherland

1998 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: G.Wallace
Honorary Life President: M.Weinstein
Honorary Executive President: J.Kennett
Chairman: J.Brondolino
Commissioners: M.Galanos, J.Hoar, V.Stojcevski, T.Dunkerley, J.Dimitropoulos, J.Mills.
C.E.O.: G.Miles
Premier League Management Committee Chairman: T.Cikoja
State League Management Committee Chairman: T.Parry
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: B.Poulsen
Office: 236 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne.
Life Members since 1997: J.Docherty

1999 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: G.Wallace
Honorary Life President: M.Weinstein
Honorary Executive President: J.Kennett
Chairman: J.Brondolino
Commissioners: M.Galanos, J.Hoar, V.Stojcevski, T.Dunkerley, J.Dimitropoulos, J.Mills.
C.E.O.: G.Miles
Premier League Management Committee Chairman: A.Cikoja
State League Management Committee Chairman: J.Mills
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: B.Poulsen
Office: 236 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne.
Life Members since 1998: J.Hodgson

2000 Victorian Soccer Federation
President: G.Wallace
Honorary Life President: M.Weinstein
Chairman: M.Galanos
Deputy Chairman: V.Stojcevski
Commissioners: T.Dunkerley, J.Dimitropoulos, J.Mills, K.Evans, T.Parry, I.Skunca.
C.E.O.: G.Miles
Premier League Management Committee Chairman: V.Stojcevski
State League Management Committee Chairman: T.Parry
Provisional League Management Committee Chairman: B.Poulsen
Office: 236 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne.
Life Members since 2000: L.Stafrace

The Victorian State Team

The following is a link to the file of what I have gathered on the history of the Victorian state soccer team:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/218055373/Victorian-State-Soccer-Team-History

Beginning in 1883 with a clash against New South Wales, the early games were in fact colonial representative teams. Federation in 1901 saw interstate football replace intercolonial football.

Matches missing full details are italicised. Random notes are in bold.

To start with, I looked at the list of results for interstate matches published in the VSF Yearbooks of the late 1990's. There is also a list of interstate matches contained in the book Jack Pollard's Soccer Records. So I'm pretty sure that in terms of games against other states, there is a solid framework of the history even if there are still plenty of details to be filled in.

For games against touring club and international teams, I've used what can be found on OzFootball and in the pages of the aforementioned Jack Pollard's Soccer Records. These are not complete, and additional information about fixtures has come from a search of the Trove online archives (great prior to the mid-1950's, not so good after that) as well as going through (incomplete) collections of Soccer News, Soccer Action, Soccer World and snippets in some VSF Yearbooks.

Having a look at interstate Federation websites, they have as little to offer as the FFV's. I believe there are books on the history of football in Tasmania and Western Australia, and perhaps these may have some information to add to the details of the fixtures and scores we already have.

If anyone has any information they can share, please get in touch. Share the link to the blog around, I'm sure a lot of the former Victorian players out there would love to have a tangible record of their efforts playing in the famous navy blue shirt it was an honour to wear.

Finally, a couple of videos which feature the 1995 home game against South Australia. Michael Zappone is featured in a rare commentary role, the venue being Box Hill's Wembley Park.

An Honour Disrespected

In the course of compiling a history of the results of senior men's football competitions in Victoria (for draft click here) I've also started a few files for other relevant information. One such file is a list of  the bodies and committees governing of the game in this state, which can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cm4nx9j04jtpri0/Officials.rtf

From early newspaper reports I have included the names of any people awarded life membership of any such body. In later years the Victorian Soccer Federation Yearbooks contained a current list of life members, and I have included any people added each year since the initial list published in 1968. When I say current, I mean the Yearbook lists those able to enjoy the privileges of life membership i.e. those still alive. Names do drop off the Yearbook lists, and I'm assuming that's because those that have passed away no longer being included rather than people having been stripped of the honour.

Obviously life memberships of the VSF were often awarded to those that had worked in the service of the organisation. Which is totally understandable, but leads to an imbalance. The VSF may have run the game, but they did not own it. It would have been nice if a few more people from outside the organisation were awarded life membership in honour of their service to the sport.

We know the AFL automatically confers life membership on those that have played or coached a combined 300 games. This has avoided what happened with VSF life membership, which is top heavy in VSF officials and light on for players, coaches, referees and those who's work as officials was restricted to club duties as opposed to being involved in VSF politics.

It's a shame more of these people weren't given life membership. It's a massive oversight that all Victorian-based members of the 1974 World Cup Finals Socceroos squad were not instantly given membership (sure Peter Ollerton would had to have had his stripped after he assaulted referee Jim Fearn). The likes of Billy Vojtek and Jimmy Armstrong should surely have been included. Referees like Eugene Brazzale, Gerry Connolly or Dennis Voutsinas too.

This week, the Football Federation Victoria called upon nominations for life memberships for new inductions to be made at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Whilst honouring people for their efforts is good, restoring the honour to previous life members would be better. There is no list of those awarded life memberships on the FFV website. Is their any prestige to an award where one can be forgotten about so quickly? It seems like a lack of respect to me.

Has the FFV Hall of Fame overshadowed those that have received life membership? Hall of Fame inductees get a mention on the FFV website, whilst the names the life members must rest in an unmarked grave somewhere.

Would it be too difficult for the FFV to add a page to their site to truly honour their life members? The names, dates of birth (and death for those that have passed) of recipients and perhaps a brief line describing what the did for the game should not be too hard to muster. If anyone actually cared, that is.

Until the memory of former life members are given due recognition, should we consider present inductees as being put through an exercise in lip service and a token effort at thanking them for their services? If the FFV is genuine in respecting these people, it needs to do more.

The Statistical History

Again another long gap between blog posts. You may remember last time I mentioned the historical record document I had started a few years ago.

Here's the link again to the MS Publisher file for what was then the grandly titled "Victorian Football Statistical History 1909-1979". I'm trying to get all the final tables for the senior men's leagues for each year since regular league competitions began in Melbourne in 1909. The wider column on the left has the tables, the narrow one to the right the results of Cup Finals (line-ups if possible for the major Cup of the day) and then Leading Scorers, Best and Fairest Award Winners and Reserves League Champions as they were introduced.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cx2j0mqd5mn1zmd/VictorianFootballStatisticalHistory.2.pub

Since the last post, I have decided to remove the 1979 conclusion and bring it up to the current day. I already had most of the tables typed up in the template I have for them up until 2006, so some typing was involved. As time consuming as this was, it paled into insignificance compared to the time spent ascertaining the information for the right hand column.

Despite being in the Internet Age, on the information super highway the FFV is pulled over, broken down in the emergency stopping lane. Searching for some of these details is no easier than it is for stuff from 1909, when football was "British Association" and a clear poor relation to the other codes.

The FFV has changed website providers and results systems a few times, and archiving has not been a priority. With the final VSF Yearbook having been published in 2000, that is where the recorded lineage of a lot of this information ends.

From the old VSF Yearbooks we know that Maurice Payne of South Yarra won the first Medal for best player in the First Division in 1954. Back then it was The Argus Medal, later the Rothman's Medal and various other sponsored names before simply becoming the Gold Medal. It remained the premier award as the First Division became the State League and then the Premier League. In 1970, Jim Dale of Heidelberg won the first Metropolitan League Best and Fairest Award, repeating the dose in 1971. When Les Gooney of Eltham took the honour in 1972, it was the last time that award was determined by one winner from all four divisions. In 1973 each Metropolitan League division had it's own Best and Fairest. The history of the Provisional League Best and Fairest Award starts in 1983 according to the records in the VSF Yearbooks.

So who were the Best and Fairest winners in the State and Provisional Leagues in 2007 or 2008? Great question, don't have the answer. It's hardly ancient history, but it may as well be. It's a damning indictment on the FFV that it's archives are restricted to the last two seasons though league tables and results going back to 2006 can still be found on a link to the old ResultsVault system.

Compare

http://www.efl.org.au/index.php?id=307

to

http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/index.php?id=history

and ask yourself could the FFV do better?

Interesting Expressions

With Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the National Premier League Victoria closing at the end of the week, there has been plenty of movement at the station.

Melbourne Knights Press Release

First came this press release from the Melbourne Knights about the decision of their members at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to not submit an EOI. How many other clubs have even put this decision to an EGM yet?

The FFV website today issued a reminder that interested parties have until 5 pm on Friday to submit their EOI.

FFV News Update

There is nothing on the FFV website at all pertaining to a query in the last paragraph of the press release, in which "The Melbourne Knights calls upon Football Federation Victoria to immediately release the criteria for the so-called 'community leagues' so that the club, and others like it, may prepare to the fullest for the 2014 season." I hope no one is holding their breath, because the vast and expensive FFV resources are being devoted solely to the NPLV and the grassroots can wither and die for all they care.

Mfootball - Green Gully Exclusive

Next cab off the rank to announce they don't want a bar of the NPLV is Green Gully. When the most financially stable club in the state won't take the risk on the viability of the FFV's brainchild, it is time to phone Houston, for we have a problem.

To get everyone in the mood for where we may currently stand in history, have a look at this if you have the time:

MARMARAS’ OYSTER OR SEAMONDS’ BABY: THE FORMATION OF THE VICTORIAN SOCCER FEDERATION, 1956-64

The great Roy Hay covers the split that lead to the foundation of the VSF. Are there any lessons to be learned from history?

The Minutes of 105 Minutes of the VSF Board of Management, 1990

Whilst making some shelf space in the office at Kevin Bartlett Reserve last year, I came across many lever arch folders containing VSF correspondence from across the 1980's and 1990's. Back then Management Committees comprising of members elected from various club nominees, and the entire VSF Board would set the agenda for the Executive Director and his VSF staff to follow. It seems a bit more transparent than today's FFV, with minutes recorded and sent to all clubs.

So here is my review of the Minutes of a Board of Management Meeting held at Soccer House on Tuesday 24th April 1990 at 6.00 pm.

Those present were the VSF Chairman, Cav V.Cilauro (Santo's old man), and Board of Management Members (Messrs J.Docherty, A.Cikoja, N.Love, T.Bailey, L.Strafrace, G.Vasilopoulos, G.Zafiropoulos and P.Karak) as well as Mr J.Dimtsis (VSF President), Mrs A.McPhee and Mr J.Kriaris (VSF Vice Presidents), Messrs E.Heath and A.Kovac (VSF Patrons) and Mr M.Weinstein (VSF Honorary Life President). In attendance was Premier League Management Committee Chairperson Mrs L.De Marchi. Mr J.Branov had taken a Leave of Absence.

The first order and resolution of the meeting was to receive and adopt the minutes of the Board of Management Meeting from the 10th of April.

The Executive Director's Report began with an Obituary for the passing of noted former soccer journalist and player Mr Alex Barr. Mr Eric Heath had represented the Federation at the funeral. The Executive Director stated the Sunraysia Soccer Association was organising a Soccer Carnival for late September with further details to be forwarded to the Federation in due course. A full report on the Vic Health Super Clinic held at Olympic Park (attended by 150 junior players) was to be submitted to the Board by the State Director of Coaching.

Item iv) was a disciplinary matter, with Provisional League Division One club Westmeadows SC having been expelled from the Federation. The case was still subject to appeal. A media function was to be held on Monday 30th of April at Vassilis's Restaurant in Abbotsford, with all members of the Board of Management invited to attend. A verbal report was given of the business discussed by the Tours Sub Committee on the forthcoming International Game between Australia v Hajduk Split in Melbourne on Wednesday 6th June 1990. It was resolved that Mr J.Docherty would the Liaison Officer for the Australian Team and Mr A.Cikoja perform the same role for Hajduk Split.

The Executive Director stated the reasons for the non-attendance of a referee at the St Albans v Melbourne J..U.S.T. game. I am assuming it was he feared for his life, as the reason stated is not recorded.

The Chairman's Report briefed everyone on forthcoming meetings with the ASF. He was impressed by the arrangements made at a Media Conference arranged by the NSL for the NSL Cup Final, and thanked Mr Strafrace for standing in for him during the period of time that he was ill. He then proposed a television show called Santo, Sam and Ed's NSL Cup Fever. Or I just made that up.

Minutes from the 10th of April Promotion/Marketing Sub Committee Meeting were received. Matters arising resolved that estimated expenditure of $30,000 was required for the Gold Medal Presentation and this was endorsed. Liaison Officers for sponsorships were allocated thus: Vic Health Promotion Foundation - Messrs V.Cilauro/G.Wallace Admiral - Mr J.Docherty Mitre - Mr J.Kriaris Travel - Mr A.Cikoja.

Then there was more minutes spent on minutes from the Junior League Management Comittee. A sub rule regarding Voting Structures for the Member Clubs General Metting due on May 3rd was replaced.

Incoming  Correspondence was then discussed. Mr P.Gude, MP's updating of Liberal Party Sport and Recreation Policy was to be dealt with by the Executive Director. The Media Statements from the NSWSF were Noted. The Executive Director was also to take action on the letter from Lambert Bain regarding the VSF Public Liability Policy.

Action had already been taken on the Advice Amendments to Rules (Nominee Members) from Williams, Winters & Higgs. Myrtleford SC requested for permission to play in the Albury Wodonga League, with the club to be referred to correspondence already sent on the matter.

The RSL acknowledged the Donations for Anzac Day Games. The CLSA correspondence about sponsorship for the 1990 Country League Championship was referred to the next meeting. Notification of the ASF Executive Meeting on Friday 18th May was Noted, as was the Resignation of Federation's President from NSWSF. Athletic Echo Publications requested for adverts for Vic Health etc and this was to be referred to the Promotion/Marketing Sub Committee. Mr S.Radojevic was requesting a change of player status, and he was granted permission to change from Non Amateur to Amateur Player Status provided that all Resolutions of the Federation as applicable for such a change of player status are met.

The Aussie Sportsfund Training Camp letter from Sport & Recreation Victoria was Noted, as was a request from South Springvale SC to fill a vacancy in Provisional League Division One. The Executive Director was to take action on the Minister for Sport & Recreation's correspondence regarding Anzac Day Games.

The meeting closed at 7.45 pm. The minutes were signed by the Executive Director, G.F.Wallace.

Half a Century Ago with the VSF Year Book

Not sure what Sgt.Pepper was doing fifty years ago today, but if he was in Melbourne he may have been flicking through the 1963 VSF Year Book if he was looking for a game to play. The cover can be seen on the background image of the blog, and now I will run you through the contents.

 The Official Year Book of the VSF in 1963 was a pocket sized affair, measuring 10.5 centimetres by 13.5 centimetres. A pale blue cardboard cover featured an emblem of ye olde soccer ball with a crown on top supported by a lion on the left and a kangaroo on the right.
 
The inside cover was an advertisement for Ampol Services Stations, sponsors of the NIGHT SOCCER CUP. The cover was repeated again on page 3, and I note the cost of the publication was 2/6. Two sixths of what you may ask, but I believe it to be two shillings and six pence whatever they are.

Blank pages flanked an index page, before page 5 began a two page President's Message from Australian Soccer Federation President W.G.Walkley, C.B.E. He paid tribute to the late Victorian Chairman, Dr Harry Seamonds and reflected on the growth of soccer in Victoria, also commending the President Mr Harry Dockerty ('a remarkable man') and the incoming Chairman, Theo Marmaras. He praised the acquisition of Soccer House and developing Olympic Park as the centre of the code. In his second page he expressed hope for a settlement in the dispute with F.I.F.A.

Next came the names and addresses of the Executive Members of the VSF (Mamaras lived in Elsternwick) and those of the Secretaries of the respective State Federations. More names and addresses followed, those of the State League Council, Metropolitan Members, Junior Delegate and State and Metropolitan League Management Committees. Then came the same information on all the Club Secretaries.

Reminders to Clubs: All matches must commence no later than 2.45 p.m. Referees must be paid prior to commencement of match. Blah blah blah from S.BEATON, Secretary-Manager, V.S.F.

Then came the Club Directories. The State League featured Croatia (Situation of Ground:- Maribyrnong Tracy's Speedway), George Cross (Heidelberg), Hakoah (Hakoah-South Melb.Hellas, oval No.17 Albert Park, Lake Road, near Night Golf), J.U.S.T. ("Schintler Reserve", New Footscray Road, West Melbourne), Juventus (Elsternwick Park, Elsternwick), U.S.C. Lions (Montgomery Park, Essendon), Melbourne-Hungaria (Elsternwick Park) Maribyrnong-Polonia (Maribyrnong Speedway), Alemania-Richmond ("Schintler Reserve", New Footscray Road, West Melbourne, just before new overpass bridge), Slavia-Port Melbourne (S.S.Anderson Oval, Murphy reserve, Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne), South Melbourne-Hellas (Middle Park Oval 18) and Ringwood-Wilhelmina (Jubilee Park, Ringwood. Rielly Street, off Wantirna Road.) I could have thrown a few (sic)'s in there, but it would have gotten confusing.

In the other leagues, Alexander (now Heidelberg United) were at Yarra Bend, behind Fairfield Hospital. Sunshine City were at Gardens Reserve, Anderson Road, Sunshine. Austria were still in Elwood pre-move to Keilor. Dandenong City played at the Dandenong Showgrounds. Oakleigh were at Davis Reserve, Wallace Street, Huntingdale. Sandringham City were, as they are still, at R.J.Stillitoe Reserve, Hampton. My old favourites, Flinders Naval Depot, were playing at Crib Point. Moorabbin City were at Victory Park on Paterson Road. Hercules, the current Northcote City, were at Princess Park Oval 6, which may be sic as well, as it is probably Princes Park.

Then followed the fixtures for 1963 for the State League, First Division North, First Division South, Second Division North, Second Division South and the Second Division Reserves (not all North and South Second Division clubs fielded two teams, so there was a single combined league).

This was followed by results grids for all senior and reserves leagues from 1962, then the results list of the Federation Cup, an ad for Dunklings the Jewellers and then an honours list of the 1962 Champions above the results of the Interstate Championships, won by N.S.W. from Queensland and South Australia with Victoria fourth and last.

The Dockerty Cup ended with two round robin groups of four seeing the top two teams meet in semi-finals before a Final of George Cross 3 Hakoah 0. The group stage ladders of the 1963 Ampol Cup were featured, alongside all the results leading to the Final of Polonia 1 S.M.Hellas 0 (after extra time).

Soccer News was on sale at all grounds for 1/- whatever that thingy meant. One shilling and no pence at all I suppose.

There were results from the 1962 Australia Cup (won by N.S.W. club Yugal) before the list of former Champions and Winners of the Ampol Night Soccer, First Division (1928 being the year of the mighty Naval Depot!), State League Champions, State League Cup, Argus Best and Fairest Medal, Dockerty Cup, Harry Armstrong (Reserves) Cup. Next up the scores of all previous Victoria v N.S.W., Victoria v South Australia and Victoria v Queensland clashes. Finally came the 17 Laws of Soccer.

The inside back cover was an ad for The Sporting Globe, and it's COMPLETE COVERAGE OF SOCCER, here and abroad. Saturday editions featured full cover of all senior local games, and the Wednesday edition contained lists of overseas results and pools dividends. The back cover was and advertisement for the Rebel Sport of the day, London Stores, which also sponsored the "Spotlight On Soccer" segment on radio 3KZ at 7.15 of a Friday evening.