Spotted this on the Trove archive ARGUS newspaper online. VFA Hooligans from the 1919 season. Classic STUFF.
Some of the text is pretty hard to read. Would have been pretty rough in those days. The matches from that era that would have resembled a war zone would have to be a Port Melbourne v West Melbourne or Port Melbourne v North Melbourne clash. Sounds as though Northcote were pretty rough too.
For the record the final score was
10 May Round 02 Footscray 08-06- 54 d Northcote 04-14- 38
FOOTBALL ROWDYISM.
Trouble at Northcote
The Association football game at Northcote Park on Saturday, between Footscray and Northcote, was of the rough-and tumble order. Players dashed into one another regardless of consequences, and early in the third quarter Tomlilin, of Footscray, had to be carried off the ground, but was able to resume before the final bounce. Later, Byrne, of Northcote, had his shoulder injured, and in the last term the trainers were frequntly attending players on the ground.
During the interval at three-quarter time a band of larrikins, known at Northcote "The Imps' puah," paraded around the outer ground and into the reserve, shouting, "Do we ever pay for anything? No!" They finished a tour of the ground on the northern side along Westgarth street, and soon there was a disturbance and a free fight, in which one Footscray supporter seemed to bo the centre of the attack. He had armed himself with a bottle, and with this weapon he kept ''The Imps" at bay until, being persuaded to put the weapon,away, he"was hustled out of the crowd. As soon as the final bell rang people' streamed out of the ground, and it was evident that the fight was not yet over, for as soon as they got into the roadway there were skirmishes. Halfway to the railway station there was anguish and more fighting, and the Footscray man that produced the bottle, says he swung by the bottle for defense purposes. Constable Murray reformed the man there, broke up the crowd and confiscated the bottle, as the crowd surged on. The Footscray supporters who were vastly outnumbered, were advised to make their way to the station. They did so, followed by "The Imps," but just as they reached the station there was a rush with a shower of stones, and in a moment the fight was in full swing yet again. Constable Murray by this time had been joined by a number of officers that were in plain clothes, including Sergeant Myers and Constables Frawley, Fletcher, Wylie, and Hayes. One stone just missed the sergeant's head, as Constable Frawley seized and arrested a young man named Stanley Medley, and hurried him off to the lockup, where he was charged with stonethrowing.
Until the police could break up the crowd they overwhelmed the Footscray man who had been the centre of the trouble, and he was tripped up. As he fell he was severely punched and kicked, but was rescued hy his friends, and taken on to the railway platform covered with blood. Constable Murray, with a serviceable strap, and Sergeant Myers, swinging his handcuffs, quickly dispersed the crowd, and "The Imps scuttled' away: but not without many wounds for the Footscray men though few fought back determinadly.
It was an ugly scene while it lasted, and but for the tact and determination of the police might have had serious results.
Apparently those sort of events happened a lot around the turn of the century.
My grandmother a lifelong Footscray supporter recalled going to a Notrh Melbourne/Footscray game at Arden St and when Footscray won the North supporters chased them all the way to the North Melb station and pelted them with stones from the railway tracks.Others that had come on Handsome Cabs were also attacked.
In those days there was a great rivaly between these two VFA powerhouses that took it in turns to win the priemerships.
Did you take part in any the those turn of the century fracas?
Im getting a bit long in the tooth but Im not THAT old LOL
I did witness a few fracas at Sandy in the 1960s
There was a game maybe againt Oakleigh where the Sandy supporters reckoned they were robbed by the umpire and stormed the ground after the siren and when they couldnt get at the hapless umpire they attacked the opposition supporters I reckon there were 300-400 people involved.It didnt last all that long but was pretty ugly when is was in full flight.
Billy,
have you read Terry Keenan's book on Port Melbourne ? There is quite a few classic stories regarding Port in the old days where the Port supporters use to chase opposition out of the ground. Torrid time for North Melbourne, West Melbourne, Footscray and Richmond. The tigers especially copped the wrath of Port both on and off the field. Imagine watching a West, North or Port against each other in the early days. No place for the timid.
In return matches at Arden Street when North played Port I reckon there would have been a bit of a payback. Footscray and Richmond also would be looking for revenge playing at home.
West Melbourne had a fair record back then including a flag. Worst side was Melbourne City who were win less for a few seasons. In fact I think they never won a game in their couple of seasons in the VFA.
When i lived in Darwin in the mid to late 1980's i met an old guy at a party one night who had played for Footscray in their VFA days pre-1925 & he told me about playing at Port one day & the 'Dogs lost but still got chased to the North Port railway station by Port's more 'colourful' supporters, who pelted them with rocks & bottles. The 'Dogs players didn't even change after the game, just grabbed their bags & fled still in their footy gear, according to this old guy .... interesting times back then :-)
I wonder what kind of following the dragons had in their golden era of the late 20s to mid 30s. Looking at one of Charles Boyle's collection (check on national archives), the Northcote team photo from 1933 looked a very tough and mean lot. I will post the link to this photo later in the week.
Im pretty certain that both Northcote and Brunswick got very good crowds in that era.