History is important - look back to see where you have come from...
These notes borrow heavily from the history ‘Tigers on the Prowl’ compiled by Brian Hansford and Geoff Esler in 1990. Every player should have a copy of this marvellous book which records the faces, the stories and the achievements of so many people connected to the Foster Football Club.
During his years of teaching at South Gippsland Secondary College, Brian Hansford spent much time at the Mirror local newspaper, researching the old files and listening to the stories of the Club’s earlier deeds. He was convinced of the importance of recording early history, not only for the modern day Club but for Victorian country football in general.
A stuttering start to this great club's story begins in May 1890; a meeting to form a Football Club was held at the pub in Foster, and the first game was scheduled against Fish Creek, and a team selected. This did not take place for undisclosed reasons, and the same fate befell the next attempt, against Yarram. By November the local paper was calling the idea "a dead failure", but eventually in the following year a game against Toora was scheduled for May 14, then June 12, and finally took place on June l9th! Both these matches were won by Foster. In the following year, 1892 several games were planned, but it seemed 'the state of the roads (remember horse and buggy days)and the climate were the main factors in stopping the matches taking place'. *
Brian Hansford is responsible for recording the club's development from this inauspicious beginning until 1962 before moving to New South Wales to teach. Geoff Esler then took over the research and writing of the work, with assistance from a committee chaired by Bill Davies. From Chapter ll it seems important to revive memories of great contributors to the Club as follows...
'Since joining the Alberton Football League in 1946. Foster has also boasted some outstanding players, including Noel Ross who also won a best and fairest in the Central Gippsland League, the unforgettable Jack Mitchell. Joe Malone. Alan Wallace. Gary Clavarino who won four league awards. Len Tosch. Barry Soderlund. George Savige. Bob Wiltshire. Bill Young. Hugh Davis. Terry Benton who won a Latrobe Valley best and fairest. Graham Anderson who played a major part in Foster's emergence during the 70s and 80s. Chris Aitken. Les Hawking. John Howell. Steve Paragreen. Robert Best who must be one of the Tiger's most courageous players. Rob Davies. Tim Maxwell. Richard Anderson who kicked 99 goals in Foster's 1989 premiership year, and a very talented junior in Jeff Angwin who has made a name for himself in VFA ranks.
These are probably the cream of some talented players who have worn the Tiger colours over the past 45 years, but there have been many other honest performers who gave of their best week after week, often without the rewards they deserved.'
Though 1890 football games were played on a cleared paddock with no dressing sheds and certainly no showers, the club's after game social life was from the beginning very important. The local hotel became the focal point, sometimes the venue for dancing and 'sumptuous suppers'. And then there was the bush track home on horseback, or in the buggy.
The boys and young men who played football for the Foster Football Club in the early 1900s (not to mention the late 1800s) must have truly loved the game.
Take the recorded memories of Harry Paragreen who first played in the mid 1930s and after the war ended played until l956. He recalls players changing under the grandstand. After heavy rain the yabbies used to come up through the dirt floor of the change rooms! The ground itself was very muddy during the winter months up until the mid l960s when loam was carted in and spread by Shire graders.
The old grandstand which had been erected by the Show administrators and also enjoyed by football spectators was dismantled in the same period and brick changing rooms and a kitchen were built with much volunteer effort. During the 70s a score board and kiosk were built, and in the opinion of the official historians Brian Hansford and Geoff Esler. Foster had achieved the best facilities of any football ground in the League.
Now in the 21st Century, the Club rejoices in a two storey brick club house which has remarkable facilities for the players, for the supporters and for the hard working team officials and volunteer workers. It boasts kitchen and bar facilities which can handle any social event, a wonderful glassed-in viewing area, a lift for frail or wheel chair-bound people and a ground which offers a playing surface which comes up well in the severest weather conditions.
'Tigers on the Prowl' gives a sparkling account of the rivalry between Welshpool club (no longer in existence) and Foster in 1912.
The Tigers began the season with high hopes, and a team containing some still famous names, for example Clavarino.
But a dastardly defection occurred; four star players left Foster and joined Welshpool, and - worse still - a former vice captain of VFL team Richmond was hired as coach of that club! Such a move (an imported paid coach) was unheard of, and caused relations between the clubs to 'deteriorate rapidly'. This was played out on the field when the teams met.
The history says 'many unfortunate incidents took place, and in the last quarter the game was stopped for ten minutes while the umpire accused Gray (Foster) of bad language..' The local paper of the day describes events.".Accidents were numerous throughout the day, the elbow having taken effect on many occasions' (!) and 'it is a great pity spectators will not keep off the playing area'. When they next met, a young Foster goal umpire awarded a controversial goal and 'a state of pandemonium prevailed at this juncture'.
But in 1913 the Premiers, Welshpool suddenly withdrew from the competition, and many of their players joined other clubs. It seems the matches continued to be played on rough grounds recently cleared of trees, with players and spectators 'adopting pugilistic attitudes on numerous occasions'. In 1914 senior games ceased as World War 1 changed so many district families' lives for ever.
For this and much more, including some startling interviews with former players, get yourselves a copy of ‘Tigers on the Prowl’. It’s a winner.