Defunct footy clubs in Melbourne

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MortlockWatcher said:
Any idea where Deepdene transferred from. I know they played ESFL until the 1960s.

I am pretty sure Middle Park-Elsternwick is correct.

St. George's Reservoir went to the Panton Hill FL and spent time there during the 1980s.
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I think there were two Deepdenes : Deepdene & Deepdene YCW. The latest reference I have to either of these, is 1962 in the ESFL as you said (Deepdene). Deepdene YCW seem to have played in the CYMS league, at least as late as 1959. But after that, nothing.
 

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Interesting to note that Dandenong South are listed in B Grade in 1989 and C Grade 1991, but the digitized copies of The Age for 1990 (July onward) don't list them, but I think I have enough reason to believe that Dandy South went down in 1989 and pulled out for the season in 1990, as I only found 9 teams in C Grade.

I think the same phenomena happened with Glenhuntly St. Anthony's in 1989 but I've found eight teams in C Grade. I'll double check that.

Another interesting note is seeing the ESCFA do away with E Grade for 1990 following the departures of Middle Park-Elsternwick, Sandringham Sacred Heart, South Ringwood, Hawthorn YCW, Brighton United, Salvo Saints, Blackburn North Burners, and St. Mary's (I think they all folded except for St. Mary's). So, instead of two 7-team grades, they put them all together to form a 14 team D Grade.
 
I get the feeling we will see a number of leagues ditch reserves footy if we get back, whether it be in 2020 or 2021. Some may bring them back over time but some of the country leagues may just have seniors once players transition out of junior football.

You never know, in some areas there might be de-mergers at senior level if there are enough adults in an area without the burden (for lack of a better word) of fielding a reserves side.
 
MortlockWatcher said:
I get the feeling we will see a number of leagues ditch reserves footy if we get back, whether it be in 2020 or 2021. Some may bring them back over time but some of the country leagues may just have seniors once players transition out of junior football.

You never know, in some areas there might be de-mergers at senior level if there are enough adults in an area without the burden (for lack of a better word) of fielding a reserves side.
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I used to have this big idea in my head of preserving or even regurgitating teams through abandoning the reserve grade where populations were depleting. The introduction of the reserve grade sure smashed the proliferation of leagues and teams when it metastisised, with smaller towns being the ones who copped the brunt. But these days with costs as they are to manage a sports club, along with oppressive nannying regulation, it was never gonna be a real goer.
 
Connor7395 said:
Slowly piecing together the clubs of the ESCFA. I've come across a few defunct ones.

Box Hill Church of Christ, last season probably 1984. No idea what happened.
Dandenong South, made some real headway. Joined in 1987 in D Grade, earned two promotions to B Grade, but suddenly nothing at all in 1990?
Deepdene, last season either 1983 or 1984. Can't even say for sure if 1979 or 1980 was the year they joined the ESCFA. Spent all their time in E Grade and no idea what happened.
East Malvern, last season 1987.
Elsternwick United, last season 1989. Apparently, they were Middle Park-Elsternwick for the last season if The Age is correct.
Elwood, last season 1984. No idea what happened or what church, if any, they were connected to.
Hawthorn YCW, joined from YCW FL possibly in 1982 (played from 1983) during the great YCW to ESCFA boom. Last season probably 1989.
Koonung Heights Methodist, were Koonung-East Kew to about 1981 if The Age is correct. Last season appears to be 1986.
Our Lady of Victories South Camberwell, I have no idea if this is the correct name as it comes up as OLV-S. Camberwell in The Age. Last season under this name was 1979 in C Grade.
Richmond St. Ignatius, made the E Grade Grand Final in 1978 but lost, then got kicked out of the league. Reformed as Richmond Centrals in the YCW FL and were permitted to rejoin the ESCFA in 1987 as Richmond Amateurs, probably as a result of an entirely new Richmond Centrals team joining the VAFA. Ended up becoming Richmond Rosellas and went bust in the Southern FL in the mid-90's after poor performances.
St. George's Res., not sure of the full name. Last appeared in B Grade in 1980.
Salvation Army, joined 1986, became the Salvo Saints and played mostly E Grade. Probably folded in 1989.
Sandringham Sacred Heart, joined in 1981 and played mostly D and E Grade, last season 1989.
Surrey Hills, supposedly absorbed into Oakleigh Sacred Heart after 1979. Apparently stuck around namewise in 1980 when OSH were referred to as "Oakleigh Surrey Hills" in The Age.
Trinity Presbyterian, last season in 1984 when they were in B Grade. What happened?
Whitehorse, a team whose full name I'm not sure of, but this name last appeared in The Age in D Grade in 1979.
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I can tell you that St George/Reservoir ended up in the Panton Hill Football League in 1981 & 1982 and folded before the 1983 season.
 
Defunct clubs from the Melbourne North (1989-1994) league. I found some information from http://heritage.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au that helped piece a few things together, but coverage was shocking:
Bellfield - 1993
Brunswick Amateurs - 1994 (previously East Brunswick)
East Preston - 1994 (could be a continuation of Preston Wanderers)
Heidelberg Colts - 1989-1994
Keon Park - 1989-1994
Northcote City - 1989 (became Northern Dragons, I presume)
Northern Dragons - 1990-1993
Pentridge Panthers - would have joined in 1991 but nobody wanted to play on prison grounds
Preston Wanderers - 1991-1993 (previously Reservoir Demon)
Reservoir Demons - 1990
Thornbury Cougars - 1992-1994
Westgarth Lions - 1990-1992
Only Fitzroy Stars remains (1989-1994)

One reference said 1991 was an eight team league when Pentridge got accepted, so one club could've folded. The only reference I had for 1990 was an MNFL representative team playing Rumbalara which mentioned a number of teams. I did find a mention of forming the league from 1988 after the Northcote VFA team folded. They were going to form a new Northcote team and contacted 17 clubs to help form the league that Northcote would compete in.
 
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MortlockWatcher said:
I was of the belief that Reservoir Rovers merged with Thornnbury (DVFL) after the 1983 season to form the Thornbury Rovers club (DVFL, 1984-1990)
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Reservoir Rovers joined the Panton Hill Football League & stayed until it folded in 1987, then they merged with Thornbury

The final season of the Panton Hill League had six teams (after Mernda went into the Diamond Valley League after a planned merger between the PHFL & DVFL failed, Kilmore went back into the Riddell League & Whittlesea changed their name to the Northern Eagles & moved to the Riddell League)

HURSTBRIDGE (who went into the DVFL in 1988, where they remain)
PANTON HILL (who finished 3rd in the league's final year, then went into the Yarra Valley Mountain Distrrict league until 1997, then they moved into the DVFL)
KEON PARK (who went into the Melbourne North league
COOLAROO ROVERS (they went back into the Amateurs for a while, then folded)
HEIDELBERG COLTS (They and Keon Park moved into the Melbourne North League in 1988)
RESERVOIR ROVERS (Merged with Thornbury to become Thornbury Rovers in the DVFL until they folded in 1990)

Keon Park won the last PHFL premiership, beating Coolaroo Rovers, Panton Hill finished 3rd & Hurstbridge finished 4th, with the Colts and the Rovers finishing out of the finals
 
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The Methodist and Presbyterian churches united to form the Uniting Church in 1977. Of course, this would lead to a host of name changes around this era. I think the majority of these happened between 1976 and 1977.

Ashburton Methodist - Became Ashburton Uniting
Bentleigh Methodist - Became Bentleigh Uniting
Box Hill Baptist Pioneers - Became Box Hill Pioneers
Box Hill Methodist - Very likely became Whitehorse
Canterbury Presbyterian - Merged with North Balwyn Presbyterian, creating Canterbury North Balwyn
Cheltenham United - Became Cheltenham Assumption in 1979
East Malvern St. Mary's - Became East Malvern
Emmanuel Church of England - Became Emmanuel
Gardenvale East Presbyterian - Became Gardenvale
Highfield Road Methodist - Became Highfield
Koonung Heights Methodist - Appears to have merged with East Kew Combined to form Koonung-East Kew (but it looks like they reverted back to Koonung Heights Methodist a few years later)
Malvern South Methodist - Became Malvern South Uniting
Noble Park Methodist - Became Noble Park Uniting
North Balwyn Presbyterian - Merged with Canterbury Presbyterian, creating Canterbury North Balwyn
North Blackburn Methodist - Became North Blackburn
Our Lady's Wattle Park - Became St. Leo's Wattle Park
Ringwood United - Became Ringwood
South Yarra Methodist - Became South Yarra
Wattle Park Presbyterian - Became Wattle Park
 
Rounding off the brief history of the Melbourne North FL.

Premiers:
1989 Fitzroy Stars
1990 Fitzroy Stars
1991 Keon Park 9.9.63 def Heidelberg Colts 4.8.32
1992 Keon Park
1993 Heidelberg Colts
1994 Heidelberg Colts 16.6.102 def Fitzroy Stars 10.9.69

Comp Best: Des Brooks Medal
1989 Mick Edwards - Fitzroy Stars
1990 P. Green - Heidelberg Colts
1991 R. Larkins - Heidelberg Colts
1992 Ian Scott - Heidelberg Colts
1993 M. Sharp - Bellfield
1994 Dixie Paton - Fitzroy Stars
 
Connor7395 said:
The Methodist and Presbyterian churches united to form the Uniting Church in 1977. Of course, this would lead to a host of name changes around this era. I think the majority of these happened between 1976 and 1977.

Ashburton Methodist - Became Ashburton Uniting
Bentleigh Methodist - Became Bentleigh Uniting
Box Hill Baptist Pioneers - Became Box Hill Pioneers
Box Hill Methodist - Very likely became Whitehorse
Canterbury Presbyterian - Merged with North Balwyn Presbyterian, creating Canterbury North Balwyn
Cheltenham United - Became Cheltenham Assumption in 1979
East Malvern St. Mary's - Became East Malvern
Emmanuel Church of England - Became Emmanuel
Gardenvale East Presbyterian - Became Gardenvale
Highfield Road Methodist - Became Highfield
Koonung Heights Methodist - Appears to have merged with East Kew Combined to form Koonung-East Kew (but it looks like they reverted back to Koonung Heights Methodist a few years later)
Malvern South Methodist - Became Malvern South Uniting
Noble Park Methodist - Became Noble Park Uniting
North Balwyn Presbyterian - Merged with Canterbury Presbyterian, creating Canterbury North Balwyn
North Blackburn Methodist - Became North Blackburn
Our Lady's Wattle Park - Became St. Leo's Wattle Park
Ringwood United - Became Ringwood
South Yarra Methodist - Became South Yarra
Wattle Park Presbyterian - Became Wattle Park
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If I remember right:
Canterbury-North Balwyn merged with Bulleen United to become what is now the Manningham Cobras
Noble Park Uniting joined the Eastern Districts league for about six or seven years in the 1990s.
Wattle Park struggled to field a team leading into one season (1992 or 1993?) and merged with Doncaster East.
 

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MortlockWatcher said:
Bellfield were in the Amateurs until the mid-1960s.

They would have been in the ESCFA in the 1970s and 1980s and I think they might have spent a season or two in the Melbourne North Football League until that folded in the mid-1990s.
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Recall Bellfield played in the old Metroplitan Football League for several years in the mid 70s'. Watched several of that comp's Grand Finals. Competed against Port Mellbourne Colts, Broadmeadows, Dallas Blues and Cooloaroo amongst others. They were 'colorful' games of footy. The MFL may have been a forerunner to the PDJFL senior comp and then later the Melbourne North FL.
 
Historian said:
Rounding off the brief history of the Melbourne North FL.

Premiers:
1989 Fitzroy Stars
1990 Fitzroy Stars
1991 Keon Park 9.9.63 def Heidelberg Colts 4.8.32
1992 Keon Park
1993 Heidelberg Colts
1994 Heidelberg Colts 16.6.102 def Fitzroy Stars 10.9.69

Comp Best: Des Brooks Medal
1989 Mick Edwards - Fitzroy Stars
1990 P. Green - Heidelberg Colts
1991 R. Larkins - Heidelberg Colts
1992 Ian Scott - Heidelberg Colts
1993 M. Sharp - Bellfield
1994 Dixie Paton - Fitzroy Stars
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Dixie Patton, what a footballer. His son was a gun junior too, just very very short fuse.

And what about the bloke in your avatar, Spide, one of the best footballers and drinkers I've ever seen.

If he had his shit together I'm convinced he could've kicked a ton in the top flight.
 
MortlockWatcher said:
If I remember right:
Canterbury-North Balwyn merged with Bulleen United to become what is now the Manningham Cobras
Noble Park Uniting joined the Eastern Districts league for about six or seven years in the 1990s.
Wattle Park struggled to field a team leading into one season (1992 or 1993?) and merged with Doncaster East.
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Noble Park Uniting became Noble Park Bears (Played in Eastern Districts FL 1989-1996 then folded)
 
MortlockWatcher said:
Mobbs,

Do you have any timelines for the Morning league and the Industrial league from the 1930s?
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Ok no, not really lol. Only these three tiny tidbits:

1920 - The Wednesday Industrial league existed.[source]

1927 - The Industrial FL was formed.

1932 :
Participating clubs were (complete) :
- Abbotsford Brew,
- Carlton Brewery,
- Dunlop,
- Goodschilds,
- Harolds Shoes,
- Havelock,
- Laygols,
- Miro,
- Raymonds and
- Victoria Brewery.


---


Edit : Not even a reference to a Morning league, sorry!
 
MortlockWatcher said:
Mobbs,

Do you have any timelines for the Morning league and the Industrial league from the 1930s?
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I was having a look at that in my downtime a few weeks ago. This is only for 1931 to 1951 so far.

Saturday Morning League (changed name from Saturday Morning Industrial FL around 1935):
Abbotsford Brewery: 1931-1935, 1940-1941, 1946-1951
Carlton Brewery: 1931-1941, 1946-1951
Commonwealth Services: 1947-1951
Confectioners: 1937-1939
Dunlop: 1931-1938, 1940
Electronics: 1948-1950
Explosives: 1946-1951
General Motors Holden: 1936-1940, 1946-1951 (not sure if named Holden just for 1936)
Goodchilds: 1932-1933
Harold's Shoes: 1932-1934
Havelock: 1931-1936, 1939, 1941, 1946-1949, 1951
Kayser: 1949-1951
Kenworth: 1938-1939
Kitchens: 1946-1947
Kodak: 1950-1951
Laygols: 1932-1933
MacRobertson's: 1940-1941, 1947-1950
McColl's Electric: 1946
Melbourne Boys Club: 1935-1937
Miro: 1931-1932
Port Phillip Mills: 1937-1938
Postal Institute: 1946-1951
Raymond's: 1931-1937, 1939, 1941, 1946-1951
Repatriation Department: 1949-1951
Ruskin: 1938-1940
Ruwolts: 1940
State Electricity Commission: 1949-1951
Victoria Brewery: 1931-1941, 1946-1951
Waterside Workers: 1948
Wirraway: 1940 (were they Wirra Stars?)
Wirra Stars (CAC): 1946-1951
Yellow Cabs: 1947-1950

Saturday Morning Industrial League (co-existed with SML, only have 1948-1949, 1949 might be incomplete):
Commonwealth Industrial Gases: 1948-1949
Davies Coop: 1948
Eagley Mills: 1948-1949
John Danks: 1948-1949
Kitchens: 1948
Kodak: 1948-1949
Malcolm Moore: 1948-1949
McColl's Electric: 1948
 
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There seems to be some sort of cross over between the Industrial comp and the VFA Sub-District around this time.

Does anyone (Connor?) have the VFA Sub-District clubs in 1948 and 1949? It's stating to do my head in as I have everything from 1930-1950 and 1953, with pre-1930 and 1951-2 to finish off.
 
MortlockWatcher said:
There seems to be some sort of cross over between the Industrial comp and the VFA Sub-District around this time.

Does anyone (Connor?) have the VFA Sub-District clubs in 1948 and 1949? It's stating to do my head in as I have everything from 1930-1950 and 1953, with pre-1930 and 1951-2 to finish off.
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The only thing I know about 1948-49 was that I believe 1948 was Kew's final season in the Sub-District league.
I also made some note suggesting that the Metropolitan FL might have been in some way connected. Very flakey notes though.
 

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Defunct footy clubs in Melbourne

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