Sarnia Imperials
Founded | 1928 |
---|---|
Folded | 1955 |
Based in | Sarnia, Ontario, Canada |
Home field | Athletic Park |
League | Ontario Rugby Football Union |
Division | ORFU Group 1 (1928) ORFU Western (1929-1931) |
Colours | Red, blue, gold, and white[1] |
Nickname(s) | Imps |
League titles | 1934 & 1936 |
The Sarnia Imperials were a
History
Pre-war
The Imperials first began playing in the
The team reversed their fortunes the next year, as they returned to the Dominion championship and came out victorious, defeating the
While they would not return to the Grey Cup game, one of their more memorable
Post-war
After the Second World War, the Imperials were not as dominant as they had been before, but recovered by 1949, finishing with a winning record every year from that year until the end of their existence. In their last ten years of existence, they won two ORFU titles, in 1951 and 1952; they finished second several times in that span.
By this time, however, the ORFU was reckoned as a minor league. In the years after World War II, it became increasingly difficult for the ORFU to compete against the
Overall, the Imperials won their first ORFU title in 1929, then reeled off nine straight Ontario championships from 1931 to 1939. They also won the ORFU crown in 1951 and 1952, giving them a total of 12 championships, in addition to their two Grey Cups.
The team played its home matches at Sarnia's Athletic Park, now known as Norm Perry Park after the former star football player and Sarnia mayor.
The team ceased operations in 1955. ORFU football in Sarnia would return under the name of the Sarnia Golden Bears later in the decade. The Golden Bears won the 1958 and 1959 ORFU championships.
Canadian Football Hall of Famers
Imperials who were elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame-based solely on their play in Sarnia included Norm Perry, Orm Beach and Hugh 'Bummer' Stirling. Stirling was also named Canadian Male Athlete of the Year in 1938.
- Ormond Beach
- Tony Golab
- Jack Newton
- Norm Perry
- Bummer Stirling
ORFU season-by-season
Season | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts | Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1928 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 28 | 4 | 1st, ORFU Group 1 | Lost ORFU Final |
1929 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 19 | 12 | 1st, ORFU Western | Lost East Semi-Final |
1930 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 76 | 25 | 8 | 2nd, ORFU Western | Missed Playoffs |
1931 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 24 | 5 | 1st, ORFU Western | Lost East Semi-Final |
1932 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 125 | 37 | 10 | 1st, ORFU | Lost East Semi-Final |
1933 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 95 | 25 | 10 | 1st, ORFU | Lost 21st Grey Cup |
1934 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 137 | 28 | 12 | 1st, ORFU | Won 22nd Grey Cup |
1935 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 9 | 8 | 1st, ORFU | Lost Eastern Final |
1936 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 102 | 27 | 6 | 1st, ORFU | Won 24th Grey Cup |
1937 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 81 | 19 | 7 | 1st, ORFU | Lost Eastern Finals |
1938 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 95 | 27 | 8 | 1st, ORFU | Lost Eastern Finals |
1939 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 70 | 38 | 8 | 2nd, ORFU | Lost Eastern Finals |
1940-45 | Did not play due to World War II. | |||||||
1946 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 88 | 158 | 8 | 4th, ORFU | Lost ORFU Semi-Finals |
1947 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 66 | 166 | 0 | 6th, ORFU | Missed Playoffs |
1948 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 72 | 130 | 8 | 3rd, ORFU | Missed Playoffs |
1949 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 142 | 101 | 16 | 2nd, ORFU | Lost ORFU Finals |
1950 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 164 | 102 | 10 | 2nd, ORFU | Lost ORFU Finals |
1951 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 268 | 60 | 18 | 1st, ORFU | Lost Eastern Finals |
1952 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 312 | 68 | 22 | 1st, ORFU | Lost Grey Cup Semi-Final |
1953 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 231 | 101 | 16 | 2nd, ORFU | Lost ORFU Semi-Finals |
1954 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 218 | 193 | 15 | 2nd, ORFU | Lost ORFU Finals |
1955 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 140 | 182 | 13 | 2nd, ORFU | Lost ORFU Finals |
New incarnation
In 2006, the team was resurrected under the same name to play in the Northern Football Conference, Canada's top league for adult amateur play.[6]
References
- ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
- ^ "HISTORY >> Grey Cup >> 1933 | CFL.ca | Official Site of the Canadian Football League". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
- ^ "HISTORY >> Grey Cup >> 1934 | CFL.ca | Official Site of the Canadian Football League". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
- ^ "HISTORY >> Grey Cup >> 1936 | CFL.ca | Official Site of the Canadian Football League". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
- ^ "The Leader-Post - Google News Archive Search". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
- ^ "1992 - Present | Northern Football Conference". Nfcfootball.ca. Retrieved 2013-10-27.