Mini League

[RUSure]

I have just had lunch with a friend who asked about the famous mini league. It seems we all have a favourite mini-league experience or memory.

The question was about the first ever game of mini-league - apparently between Norwood and Glenelg at Norwood in the late 60s.

Can anyone assist?

[Leaping Lindner]

I'm pretty sure that the mini-league started in 1967 but I need to double check.

[rd]

The official mini league comp started in round 1 1969.

[Adelaide Hawk]

The official mini league comp started in round 1 1969.

Correct. 9 of the 10 clubs ran special squads whereas Norwood played a different school each weekend. Needless to say Norwood took some king-sized hammerings that season. Eventually all clubs realised the benefits of giving as many kids as possible the chance to play mini-league.

I don't know about other clubs, but prior to 1969, Norwood would invite two local Under 13 teams to play the full length of the oval at half time.

[Bluedemon]

We should also use this post on when, where and who you played for. I played for Sturt versus Norwood at Football Park in 1988. I was lucky that I have footage of the game becuse on the old Sunday SANFL show that use to speak to a player and play the mini-league footage from that game, the player was Michael Aish.

[dinglinga]

my mini league experience was Centrals v Eagles 1987 Football Park Double Header we got thumped think it was Salisbury Park Primary vs Fulham Gardens

[leftlegger]

1st mini league game IIRC was West v Torrens at Thebby, would have been 79.
Wore number 17 'Trevor Grimwood's number' and our game was replayed at 1/2 time of the reseves telecast the following week with the legendary Ian Day doing the commentery.
I reakon we won....we usually won!

Another great memory was kicking the plastic footys out at 1/2 time of one of the finals at footy park as part of Westies special squad in 1980!?

AAAH! the mini league, golden memories, how lucky we were.

[Bluedemon]

We defenitly were.

[sturtpeter]

I remember Gant playing for the Double Blues.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I remember Gant playing for the Double Blues.

He was captain of Sturt, a tallish blinde haired ruckman.

The first mini league grand final was played at half time of the 1969 1st Semi between West Adelaide and West Torrens.

Sturt 2-1, d. West Adelaide 1-1.
Goals
St: Manolakos, Marsh
WA: Lenuzzi

Players of note for Sturt were Robbie Weatherald (uncle of Tim) amd Rob Magarey. Their vice captain was M.Farquahr, so I wonder if it may have been Michael Farquhar who played for the Bays.

For West Adelaide there was Darryl Hewitt, Leon Grosser, David Drew, Randall Bennett, and Roger Luders. The Aish brothers played the following season I think.

[Dogwatcher]

I played mini league twice

1985 - Centrals v Norwood. Part of a double header, it pis*ed down all day.
We played Ardtorndish PS.

Second time was Centrals v West Torrens in 1989 (I think).
Might have been a double header.
Chris Lindsay spent a lot of time at FF (might have kicked a bag that day) and the Dogs lost.
Also rained that day too IIRC

[Pseudo]

My own solitary mini-league experience:

Glenelg v North, Football Park, 1982. Our team won (kicked the only goal IIRC). I was only allowed on the oval in the second half and I amassed the personal stats of one single handball, which went straight to the opposition. Got to relive the moment on the next week's "KG's junior supporters show". One of the kids on my team (and one from the opposition) got to go on the show. KG asked the bloke from my team "what did you do that helped you win?", and his answer was "we marked our men", whereupon KG made pointed comment on the importance of marking one's man.

In the other games North won the ressies and Glenelg the league, IIRC.

[spell_check]

My own solitary mini-league experience:

Glenelg v North, Football Park, 1982. Our team won (kicked the only goal IIRC). I was only allowed on the oval in the second half and I amassed the personal stats of one single handball, which went straight to the opposition. Got to relive the moment on the next week's "KG's junior supporters show". One of the kids on my team (and one from the opposition) got to go on the show. KG asked the bloke from my team "what did you do that helped you win?", and his answer was "we marked our men", whereupon KG made pointed comment on the importance of marking one's man.

In the other games North won the ressies and Glenelg the league, IIRC.

Yes you are right on both counts:

Reserves:
North 4.6 8.11 11.13 17.15 (117)
Glenelg 3.1 6.8 12.15 15.21 (111)

League:
Glenelg 3.4 9.9 17.10 23.16 (154)
North 2.5 8.7 11.8 16.10 (106)
Football Park, 6166

[Hondo]

I played for Norwood in what I believe was the first ever double header at Football Park (?)

It was Port v Norwood 1983 and I think the first game was Woodville v West Torrens (again ?)

[spell_check]

I played for Norwood in what I believe was the first ever double header at Football Park (?)

It was Port v Norwood 1983 and I think the first game was Woodville v West Torrens (again ?)

It was South vs Torrens, Round 11 1983.

[Hondo]

I played for Norwood in what I believe was the first ever double header at Football Park (?)

It was Port v Norwood 1983 and I think the first game was Woodville v West Torrens (again ?)

It was South vs Torrens, Round 11 1983.

Thanks Spelly .... was it the first double header?

It was a sunny day and the ground was packed

I was a bit chubby at age 12 and so some smart arse yelled out a "fat" comment. Not that I'm still holding on to the pain or anything 25 years later

[Ash59]

My favourite mini league experience is not about a game I played.

There were four of us in the street and we played footy after school every night in the winter time. Three of us went to Parkside Primary School in the late 60's a early 70's. The school didn't have a regular football team in those days and we never got the opportunity to play mini league.

However, the fourth guy was a chubby Italian kid, a couple of years younger than the rest of us. He went to St Raphaels school and got an opportunity - playing fullback for Sturt against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval. Spell_check may have to help me out here but I believe it was 1973 on a holiday Monday (Queen's Birthday) in front of about 21,000. The rest of us were there cheering him on and he got plenty of touches. And if anyone is intested in seeing what happened to that chubby Italian kid, check out the website www.sicily-bluestours.it

[spell_check]

hondo, it was the first, and the attendance was 33,342.

Ash, I think this is the match, but it was on a Saturday:

Round 11 1973
Glenelg 4.5 6.7 10.8 14.14 (98)
Sturt 5.2 9.10 11.14 11.17 (83)
Adelaide; 21,062

[Ash59]

Thanks Spell_check. Possibly the Saturday of the long weekend? I caught up with Alfie a couple of yeras ago when he came to Adelaide with his family to show his kids where he grew up. His first trip back since he left a couple of months after his mini league experience. He still remembered it.

[spell_check]

The long weekend occurred two rounds earlier. North played Central on the Monday.