Camberwell Football Club

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Camberwell
Names
Full nameCamberwell Football Club
Nickname(s)Tricolours, Cobras, 'Wells
Club details
Founded1886; 138 years ago (1886)
Dissolved1995; 29 years ago (1995)
Colours     
CompetitionVarious
PremiershipsRDFA (4)
  • 1907
  • 1908
  • 1909
  • 1911
MDFL (3)
  • 1921
  • 1922
  • 1923
VFA (D2) (2)
Ground(s)Camberwell Sports Ground
Uniforms
Home

Camberwell Football Club was an Australian rules football club which formed around the mid-1880s, with a published match in 1886[1] and competed in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) between 1926 and 1990. Nicknamed the Cobras, Camberwell wore blue, white and red club colours. They were based in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell.

History

Camberwell first competed in the Victorian Junior Football Association in 1888, finishing sixth on the ladder, 8th in 1890 and 8th in 1891.[2][3][4] At the 1895 VJFA AGM, the competition was reduced from 20 teams to 12 teams and Camberwell was one of the clubs that was not admitted and it appears that Camberwell FC went into recess for a number of years, before joining the Eastern Suburbs Football Association in 1899. In 1912, Camberwell went into recess with their players being distributed to the Burwood and Kew Football Clubs.[5] In 1913, Camberwell was readmitted into the VJFA, rated by many as the third highest grade of football in Victoria at that time.[6]

It seems a Camberwell Football Club was playing at Camberwell Junction (the corner of Burke and Riversdale Roads) as early as 1886. The space that became the home of the Camberwell Football Club for eighty years (eventually known as 'Camberwell Sports Ground') was originally a vegetable garden ('Brooks Paddock') and part of Camberwell Racecourse. The preparation of a new sports ground (originally dubbed 'Bowen Park') on this site was finished in 1909 and Camberwell Football Club first played at the new ground the following year (1910). A grandstand for visitors' rooms (the 'Tramways Grandstand') was built in 1920. A much larger spectators' grandstand and pavilion was built in 1935 – and ready for the 1936 football season.[7]

After establishing itself as a successful junior and sub-district club, Camberwell was seen by the 1920s as a likely strong fit for expansions into the eastern suburbs of either the

Victorian Football Association. It lodged applications to join both at different times during the early 1920s,[8][9] and was admitted to the VFA for the 1926 season.[10] It reached its first Grand Final in 1935, losing by nine points to Yarraville.[11]

With the introduction of

throw-pass football to the VFA in 1938, the club made one of the VFA's most significant ever recruiting coups when it recruited champion VFL player Laurie Nash for a huge salary of £8/wk.[12][13] Following World War II, Camberwell won its first and only top division minor premiership in 1946,[14] but lost in the Grand Final against Sandringham by seven points.[15]

Following the end of the throw-pass era in 1950, Camberwell became one of several weaker VFA clubs who struggled throughout the 1950s. The club was operating as amateur in 1953 due to lack of funds,[16] and it faced pressure to hold its lease at the Camberwell Sports Ground from local soccer clubs who could offer the council more money.[17] It was generally near the bottom of the ladder, and found itself in Division 2 when the Association was partitioned in 1961. The club remained weak throughout the 1960s.

The club improved through the early 1970s, and became a regular Division 2 finalist from 1973. The club played in losing Grand Finals in 1975 against Brunswick[18] and in 1978 against Frankston,[19] before winning its first premiership in 1979, defeating Oakleigh by 38 points.[20] Promoted to Division 1 for the first time, the club was relegated after one season, but won the Division 2 premiership again in 1981, defeating Waverley by 32 points in the Grand Final.[21] In the next few years, Camberwell was considered one of the boom clubs of the VFA, and in 1984 it reached the Division 1 finals for the first time since the 1940s.[22]

Camberwell's position deteriorated abruptly in 1985. Struggling financially, as many VFA clubs were, it asked its players to take a pay cut at the start of the season; but, still unable to make its player payments, senior players began to walk out on the club at midseason.[23] Within a year, there had been an exodus of more than forty players,[24] plus the club was left with a large damage bill after a grandstand fire.[25] The inexperienced team which remained was winless with a percentage of only 30.1 in 1986, including suffering a VFA-record loss against Williamstown by 315 points,[26] and was relegated.[27] The club was more competitive in Division 2, but endured two consecutive winless seasons after the competition was recombined into a single division in 1989. After pre-season form indicated the club would be even less competitive in 1991, the club dropped out of the VFA a couple of weeks prior to the start of the season.[28]

The club hoped to regroup and rejoin the VFA in 1992, but this did not eventuate. The club joined the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) as Camberwell Amateurs in 1992, and permanently folded in the summer of 1995, with the 1994 VAFA season being the last competitive competition that the club would ever participate in.

Over the course of their sixty-two season involvement in the VFA, the Cobras/Tricolours achieved a success rate of 40.9%.

Football Competition Timeline

Premierships

Eastern Suburbs Football Association

  • 1899: Camberwell: 2.6 – 18 defeated Albion: 1.2 – 8[35]

Reporter District Football Association

  • 1907[36]
  • 1908
  • 1909
  • 1911 – A. Section: Camberwell: 14.15 – 99 defeated Burwood: 2.9 – 21

Melbourne District Football Association

  • 1921 – Camberwell defeated Brunswick Junior by 10 points
  • 1922 – Camberwell: 8.9 – 57 defeated Moreland: 7.9 – 51[37]
  • 1923 – Camberwell: 9.12 – 66 defeated Fairfield: 8.8 – 56[38]

Camberwell's 1923 MDFA premiership team that triumphed on the

MCG
:

  • Backs: Harley, Killen, Amery
  • Half backs: Whitecross, Syd Reeves, Alway
  • Centres: Birchall, Hardie, Price
  • Half forwards: Gil Hendrie, Aisbett, Carswell
  • Forwards: Smith, Reg Whitehead, Bill Yole
  • Followers: Wal Tuck, Dimond, Les Woodford

Victorian Football Association

Grand Final Side

  • B: Rob McFee Greg Spithill Mick Alexeeff
  • HB: Greg Cook Ross Wright Colin Judd
  • C: Neil Chamberlain
  • HF: Peter Slacik Peter Oliver Andy Moore
  • F: Scott Cowley Gary Hammond Geoff Simpson
  • Foll: Phil Neilson Mark Davidson Peter Hirst
  • Interchange: Kerry Haywood Steve Teakel
  • Coach – Graeme Phillips; Assistant Coach – Gordon Duff; Captain – Peter Oliver; Vice-Captain – Neil Chamberlain.
  • 1981 – Second Division
    • Camberwell: 15.16 – 106 defeated Waverley: 11.8 – 74.

Grand Final side

  • B: Rob McFee Roy Cahill Greg Spithill
  • HB: Colin Judd Ross Wright Mark Hipworth
  • C: Neil Chamberlain
  • HF: Drew Pevitt Gary Hammond Leon Rice
  • F: Peter Oliver Peter Stevenson Peter Howard
  • Foll: Phil Neilson Mark Davidson Peter Hirst
  • Interchange: Greg Cook Steve Teakel
  • Coach:
    Leon Rice

VFA Club Records

Highest Score 43.22 (280) v Yarraville, Round 4, 1981, Camberwell Sportsground
Lowest Score 1.8 (14) v Oakleigh, Round 9, 1959, Camberwell Sportsground
Greatest Winning Margin 193 points v Yarraville, Round 4, 1981, Camberwell Sportsground
Greatest Losing Margin 315 points v Williamstown, Round 16, 1986, Camberwell Sportsground
Lowest Winning Score 6.10 (46) v Brunswick 6.9 (45), Round 3, 1928, Brunswick Park
Highest Losing Score 20.24 (144) v Preston 21.19 (145), Round 20, 1940, Camberwell Sportsground
  • Most goals in a season: 141 - Laurie Nash in 1941
  • Most Consecutive games in a row: Harry Jones - 133

Victorian Football Association – Best & Fairest Honours

Team of the Century

CAMBERWELL FOOTBALL CLUB

VFL / AFL Players

The following footballers, played with Camberwell prior to making their VFL / AFL debut, with the year indicating their VFL / AFL debut.

VFL / AFL footballers came to play / coach at the Camberwell FC

The following footballers came to play & / or coach with Camberwell FC, with senior football experience from an VFL / AFL club. The year indicates their first season at Camberwell FC.

Club Honourboard:Senior Football

Year President Secretary Competition Position Coach Captain Best & Fairest Most Goals No. of Goals
1926 H Rooks L Jenyns VFA 9 George Rawle George Rawle Les Woodford Les Woodford 49
1927 VFA 8 Tom Elliott Tom Elliott Reg Page Les Woodford 40
1928 VFA 5
Wally Gunnyon
Wally Gunnyon
 Rev. E. Lyall Williams Les Woodford 36
1929 VFA 11 Jim Shanahan[41] Jim Lawn Jim Lawn Jim Lawn 44
& Bert Calwell[42]
1930 Dr. Frank Hartnett VFA 12 Percy Wilson Jim Lawn Bob O’Neill ?[43]
1931 Dr. Frank Hartnett VFA 3 Percy Wilson Stan Petrie Harry Jones Bill Luff 52
1932 Dr. Frank Hartnett VFA 7 Horrie Mason Horrie Mason Jim Lawn[44] Bill Luff 81
1933 Dr. Frank Hartnett VFA 7 Horrie Mason Horrie Mason Ern Dyball ? Bill Luff 106
1934 J H Gray VFA 3 Maurie Hunter[45] Maurie Hunter Roy Williams
& Horrie Mason Horrie Mason
1935 VFA 3 Horrie Mason Horrie Mason Harry Jones Bill Luff 75
1936 VFA 3 Horrie Mason Horrie Mason Reg Henderson Harry Jones
1937 G.McCutchan VFA 8 Roy Laing Roy Williams Joe Meehan
1938 Dr. Frank Hartnett VFA 5 Roy Laing Laurie Nash Arthur Davidson Laurie Nash 81
1939 Dr. Frank Hartnett VFA 5 Laurie Nash Laurie Nash Laurie Nash Laurie Nash 100
1940 Dr. Frank Hartnett VFA 8 Laurie Nash Laurie Nash Reg Horkings Laurie Nash 96
1941 VFA Roy Cazaly Reg Henderson Harry Whitehead Laurie Nash 141
1942 VFA Harry Whitehead Club in Recess –
WW2
1943 VFA Club in Recess –
WW2
1944 VFA Club in Recess –
WW2
1945 VFA 4 Albert Collier Albert Collier E. Jim Bradford
1946 VFA Albert Collier Albert Collier E. Jim Bradford Kollen Bryce 61
1947 VFA Marcus Boyall[46][47] Marcus Boyall Marcus Boyall John McDonald 47
VFA & Harry Collier[48] Harry Collier
1948 VFA Roy Williams Ivor McIvor Frank Stubbs Jim Bohan 66
1949 VFA Roy Williams Frank Stubbs Frank Stubbs R Milgate 63
1950 VFA 9 Cec Ruddell Cec Ruddell Frank Stubbs R Milgate 35
1951 C S Greenwood VFA 12 Frank Stubbs[49] Jim Bohan R Milgate 69
VFA & Jim Bohan Jim Bohan
1952 C H Henderson VFA 6 Jim Bohan Jim Bohan Ken McFee 41
1953 VFA 11 Jim Bohan Jim Bohan Jim Bohan Ken McFee 35
1954 VFA 13 Ted Jarrad Ted Jarrad Geoff Mason Ken McFee 33
1955 VFA 13 Roy Laing Kevin Clarke Lloyd Holyoak Jack Hedley 27
1956 VFA 12 Ken Ross Ken Ross Ken Ross Keith McGuinness 38
1957 VFA 9 Ken Ross Ken Ross Ken Ross E Higson 45
1958 VFA 9 Ken Ross Ken Ross Peter Box E Higson 33
1959 VFA 16 Ken Chambers Kevin Johnson Ken Freiberg 38
1960 VFA – Div 1 15 Colin Campbell Ivan 'Oscar' Skalberg Ian Whitten Ron O'Neill 39
1961 VFA – Div 2 4 Colin Campbell Ivan 'Oscar' Skalberg Ted Bailey Ron O'Neill 95
1962 VFA – Div 2 6 Colin Campbell Ivan 'Oscar' Skalberg Ian Whitten Ron O'Neill 52
1963 VFA – Div 2 7 Bert Gaudion Bert Gaudion Ken Douglas G Ellis 22
1964 VFA – Div 2 7 Bert Gaudion Bert Gaudion Ken Pemberton Ron O'Neill 77
1965 VFA – Div 2 8 Bert Gaudion Bert Gaudion Don Mackie Keith Smith 34
1966 VFA – Div 2 9 Des Healy Ron O'Neill John Smith Ron O'Neill 88
1967 VFA – Div 2 10 Mike Delanty Mike Delanty John Smith J Wicks 58
1968 VFA – Div 2 9 Mike Delanty Mike Delanty John Smith Mike Delanty 35
1969 VFA – Div 2 10 Mike Delanty Mike Delanty Mick Conyers G Brayne 35
1970 VFA – Div 2 10 Peter Brenchley Mick Conyers Dennis Boyd John Taylor 26
1971 VFA – Div 2 7 Peter Brenchley & Mick Conyers Rod Evans Peter Edwards 29
6 Mick Conyers
1972 VFA – Div 2 4 Graeme Clarke Peter De Bonde George Stone Gary Hammond 66
1973 VFA – Div 2 4 Graeme Clarke John Hook Gary Hammond Gary Hammond 48
1974 VFA – Div 2 2 Graeme Clarke John Hook Geoff Simpson Mike Moore 51
1975 VFA – Div 2 5 Mike Bowden Mike Bowden Geoff Simpson Gary Hammond 112
1976 VFA – Div 2 3 Mike Bowden Mike Bowden Roy Kennedy Gary Hammond 120
1977 VFA – Div 2 2 Ray Smith Ray Smith John Hook Gary Hammond 128
1978 VFA – Div 2 1 Ray Smith Ray Smith Ray Smith Bruce Smith 74
1979 VFA – Div 2 Graeme Phillips Peter Oliver Colin Judd Scott Cowley 65
1980 VFA – Div 1 10 Graeme Phillips Colin Judd Phil Neilson Ross Wright 23
1981 VFA - Div 2 1 Leon Rice Colin Judd Peter Stevenson 119
1982 VFA - Div 1 5 Leon Rice Colin Judd Rob McFee Peter Stevenson 87
1983 VFA - Div 1 9 Phil Fryer Mark Davidson Rob Wilkinson Peter Stevenson 69
1984 VFA - Div 4 4 Phil Fryer Mark Davidson Drew Pevitt Peter Stevenson 86
1985 VFA - Div 1 8 Colin Judd Terry De Koning Brett Weatherald 67
1986 VFA - Div 1 10 Greg Spithill Con Constantinou Danny Frew Craig Aylen 39
1987 VFA - Div 2 7 Sam Kekovich Con Constantinou George Steiner John Frazer 91
1988 VFA - Div 2 6 Sam Kekovich Rene Kink Michael Guertz Damian Condon 46
1989 VFA 14 Sam Kekovich Ralph Jones Brendan Budge John Modica 26
1990 VFA 14 Gary Brice Dean Greig Darren Wilkinson 26
1991 VFA Club went into recess
1992 VAFA: G North 5
1993 VAFA: F Two 10
1994 VAFA: G 6
1995 Club went into recess
Year President Secretary Competition Position Coach Captain Best & Fairest Most Goals No of Goals

Note:[50]

100 Game Club

The following footballers played 100 plus senior games for Camberwell FC in the VFA.

  • Harry Jones: Played his first 133 games in a row for Camberwell.

References

  1. ^ "1886 – Camberwell V Lillydale". Trove Newspapers. The Lilydale Express. 14 July 1886. p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. ^ "1889 – Victorian Junior Football Association". Trove Newspapers. Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic). 9 October 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. ^ "1890 – Victorian Junior FA – Ladder". Trove Newspapers. The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic). 4 October 1890. p. 18. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. ^ "1891 – Victorian Junior FA – Final Ladder". Trove Newspapers. Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic). 22 September 1891. p. 6. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Victorian Junior FA – AGM". Trove Newspapers. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic). 27 April 1895. p. 10. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  6. ^ "1913 – Camberwell FC – History". Trove Newspapers. The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic). 2 May 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  7. ^ C.S.Greenwood, President (1952). Camberwell Football Club – Souvenir History, 1952.
  8. ^ "Admittance of new club". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 13 October 1923. p. 16.
  9. ^ J.W. (28 January 1922). "Football – Victorian Association clubs". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 158.
  10. ^ "Football – New Association clubs". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 7 January 1926. p. 11.
  11. ^ "Yarraville Association premiers". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 9 September 1935. p. 13.
  12. ^ Percy Taylor (31 March 1938). "To leave League – Nash joins Camberwell". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 1.
  13. ^ "Naughty Nash", The Canberra Times, 4 April 1938.
  14. ^ "Positions of VFA clubs". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 9 September 1946. p. 11.
  15. ^ "Sandringham's first VFA premiership". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 7 October 1946. pp. 13–14.
  16. ^ Jack Dunn (17 July 1953). "Third VFA team to play as amateurs". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne, VIC. p. 28.
  17. ^ Ken Moses (7 February 1955). "Soccer loses the fight". The Argus (supplement). Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
  18. ^ Ken Piesse (8 September 1975). "Roosters crowing". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 23.
  19. ^ Marc Fiddian (11 September 1978). "VFA first for Frankston". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 29.
  20. ^ Marc Fiddian (10 September 1979). "Cobras strike for first time". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 28.
  21. ^ Marc Fiddian (7 September 1981). "Bullants' bluff no match for Boroughs' brilliance". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 25.
  22. ^ Dennis Jose (27 August 1984). "Frankston pushes out Sandringham". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 25.
  23. ^ Dennis Jose (22 June 1985). "Star Cobra trip quits". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 39.
  24. ^ Hugo Kelly (10 May 1986). "Spithill and Cobras plan revival against the odds". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 37.
  25. ^ Hugo Kelly (5 July 1986). "Moncrieff is back on the ball". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 25.
  26. ^ "[1]"
  27. ^ Hugo Kelly (25 August 1986). "The Hills are alive after last-gasp win". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 32.
  28. ^ Jamie Tate (2 April 1991). "Cobras keen to stay alive". Herald-Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne, VIC. p. 75.
  29. ^ "1915 – Victorian Junior FA – Draw". Trove Newspapers. Sporting Judge (Melbourne, Vic). 17 April 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  30. ^ "1916 – Victorian Junior FA – Draws". Trove Newspapers. The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. 20 April 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  31. ^ "1917 – Victorian Junior FA – Draw". Trove Newspapers. The Herald (Melbourne, Vic). 16 April 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  32. ^ "1918 – Victorian Junior FA – Draw". Trove Newspapers. Sporting Judge (Melbourne, Vic). 25 May 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  33. ^ "1919 – Victorian Junior FA – Draw". Trove Newspapers. The Herald (Melbourne, Vic). 9 May 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  34. ^ "1920 – Melbourne District Semi Final – Match Review". Trove Newspapers. The Brunswick and Coburg Leader (Vic). 24 September 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  35. ^ "1899 – Eastern Suburbs FA – Grand Final match review". Trove Newspapers. The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic). 22 September 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  36. ^ "1907 – Reporter District FA – Grand Final match preview". Trove Newspapers. The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic). 30 August 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  37. ^ "1922 – Melbourne Districts FA – Grand Final preview". Trove Newspapers. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic). 7 October 1922. p. 15. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  38. ^ "1923 – Melbourne District FA – Grand Final match review". Trove Newspapers. The Argus. 1 October 1923. p. 12. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  39. ^ "Star status confirmed". The Hamilton Spectator. 7 August 2003. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  40. ^ Ashley Browne (20 October 2014). "By George, he'll be missed: Six-flag Stone calls time on decorated coaching career". AFL. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  41. ^ "1929 – Shanahan, Camberwell coach". Trove Newspapers. Referee (Sydney, NSW). 27 March 1929. p. 15. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  42. ^ "1929 – Club Notes". Trove Newspapers. The Argus. 2 August 1929. p. 15. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  43. ^ Ken Mansell. "Boyles - Camberwell FC History". Boyles Football Photos. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  44. ^ "1932 - Football: Camberwell Club Meeting". Trove Newspapers. The Argus. 1 December 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  45. ^ "1934 – Hunter leads Camberwell". Trove Newspapers. Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic). 14 April 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  46. ^ "1947 – Boyall new coach". Trove Newspapers. The Argus. 21 February 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  47. ^ "Boyall Resigns". Trove Newspapers. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic). 18 June 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  48. ^ "H. Collier, New Coach". Trove Newspapers. The Argus. 20 June 1947. p. 16. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  49. ^ "1951 – Camberwell dismisses Stubbs". The Age. 27 July 1951. p. 14. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  50. ^ Ken Mansell. "Camberwell FC History. 1886 – 1941". Boyles Football Photos. Retrieved 11 November 2020.

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