GREAT SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE NOW AND BEFORE
The Great Southern Football League formed on May 19th 1923 celebrating 94 years but before that there were many groups of individuals who played football matches against each other without going through the formalities of forming associations, or indeed in some cases, even bothering about forming clubs
Willunga which is one of the oldest football clubs in South Australia tracing its history back to 1874 and Goolwa club dating themselves from 1878. Process is underway to unearth history of teams participating in the 1880-1923, Some newspaper cutting show that Yankalilla, Strathalbyn Port Elliott, Goolwa were participating in that era. Records fromthose early times are sparse as football in early days was a recreation
1923 when the GSFA was formed the founding clubs were: Encounter Bay, Goolwa, Hindmarsh Valley, Port Elliott and Victor Harbor. Since that time a number of other clubs have formed part of the association which itself changed its name to Great Southern Football League.
The Executive of the GSFL are keen to introduce a “Hall of Fame’ and research is underway to unearth the necessary records from clubs to find people who contributed in a most significant way to make the league and the clubs what they are today. These people maybe, volunteers, players, umpires, coaches, or administrators and in many cases maybe a combination of two or more roles that they have performed over a long time. Integrity, sportsmanship and to be of good character are essential requirements to be awarded the highest accolade that the league can bestow on any individual.
Jan Bache recruited by the Executive to research history will be making phone calls to gentlemen from each individual club to have a chat and record their memories of their time being involved in their member clubs.
Any club personnel is welcomed to make contact with Jan so history/records can be recorded.
