South Park FC in the SANFL

[Sojourner]

Under the Wikipedia entry for SANFL we find this entry for one of the founding Clubs South Park,

South Park - formed in 1877 and disbanded in 1884.

Is there any reason given anywhere as to why the club disbanded after having survived for the first seven years of the SANFL?

Does anyone know what the colours of the club were and what the emblem was?

[Pseudo]

Surely they would have been the Cows!

[bayman]

wasn't there a team called adelaide in that era & they split up to become south adelaide & mendindie (later north adelaide) ? help spelly

[spell_check]

There's a thread in here somewhere, but there was an Adelaide team, who won the pennant in 1886.

[spell_check]

There were two Adelaide teams, the 1st one merged, and the 2nd won the 1886 title:

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=9080

[bayman]

thanks spelly, next time someone says to me adelaide have won 2 premierships i can say i bet you that adelaide have won 3 & win a bet

[Leaping Lindner]

This is the South Park team (circa 1879). #8 is John Creswell who was secretary of SACA for many years as well as secretary of the SAFA for a time in the 1880s. The old stand at Adelaide Oval that was replaced by the Bradman Stand was named after him.

[bayman]

it could be an optical illusion but the ball appears a lot bigger & more rounder than the footballs of today, if this is correct when did the shape etc start to change ?

[spell_check]

I think it did - possibly later in the 1800s. I have noticed a lot of photos even up to the 50s, the ball usually seems bigger than what it is now.

[Pseudo]

it could be an optical illusion but the ball appears a lot bigger & more rounder than the footballs of today, if this is correct when did the shape etc start to change ?

I had thought that a round ball was used here until Charles Cameron Kingston suggested that the oval balls be used and the Victorian rules be adopted as standard.

[Sojourner]

What an intersesting photograph - that has to be a Gaelic Football!

[Leaping Lindner]

From what I can gather early footballs were something of a cross between a soccer ball and a rugby ball.
Check out the football in this photo of the Medindie team from 1888

[Psyber]

it could be an optical illusion but the ball appears a lot bigger & more rounder than the footballs of today, if this is correct when did the shape etc start to change ?

They were. When I was a kid an elderly neighbour who had grown up in Glenelg and been a blacksmith there in his youth gave me his old football. It was definitely larger and more rounded than modern footballs.

He was an interesting guy, born in Glenelg in 1872 and lived until 1964. He told us tales of life in Glenelg when it was not yet part of Adelaide.
His brother bred horses and was Marshall of Horses for the Royal Show each year, and that connection got me a ride on Comic Court well after his Melbourne Cup win when the Tremellen family had him in SA for stud work, so I could brag that I had ridden a Melbourne cup winner in future.

I was young enough to need to be held on him while John Tremellen, later SAJC chairman, was a teenager and held the "longue" rein.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I think it did - possibly later in the 1800s. I have noticed a lot of photos even up to the 50s, the ball usually seems bigger than what it is now.

The contemporary ball is definitely smaller than they were when I played. I don't know when they downsized, but I recall being at a Norwood game at Adelaide Oval, Neville Roberts kicked a goal at the ball headed straight for me.

When I marked it, I remember thinking how much smaller it felt in the hands to the footies I used to play with. If anything I'd say they are probably the same length, but less round in the middle.

As for South Park. was their captain's name Fabulous Phil Cartman?

[Footy Chick]

Stan Whickham?

[hawkseye]

This is the South Park team (circa 1879). #8 is John Creswell who was secretary of SACA for many years as well as secretary of the SAFA for a time in the 1880s. The old stand at Adelaide Oval that was replaced by the Bradman Stand was named after him.

There is also John Creswell gardens Cnr of King William and Memorial drive, just pass the southern carpark of Adelaide Oval.
When they built the Bradman stand there was an agreement that the next stand built will be called the John Cresswell stand so they could name the new one The Bradman stand. This was never followed throogh though and now we have the Chappell stands instead.

[GWW]

I think Rod Butters was the President.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I think Rod Butters was the President.

I think we have found the reason why they disbanded after only 7 seasons

[Mr66]

I think Rod Butters was the President.

I think we have found the reason why they disbanded after only 7 seasons

How many premiership chances did they stuff up?

[oldtimer2]

I am currently researching the 1884 season and here is what I have discovered to date:

South Park’s demise at the end of the 1884 season was influenced by a number of contributing factors.


At the end of the 1883 the club achieved its best result on the premiership ladder but in preparation for the 1884 season the club lost:

o the most energetic and driving force of its administration John Creswell who also retired from the playing arena in the finest form of his career.

o its champion player George Cairns to Port Adelaide.

o a number of players from the junior clubs who had significantly contributed to the success achieved in 1883 all opted to play in the junior association rather than play with the senior club (this situation also affected a number of other clubs)

During the 1884 season the club had its experienced club captain Aldam Pettinger resign and he was replaced by Turner who was not complimented for his performances by the newspaper scribes

The club had very poor performances in 1884

I am continuing my reading and see if anything else emerges

http://stores.lulu.com/southaustralianfootball