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Great Southern Football League SA
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Yankalilla
Club History
The Yankalilla Football Club was formed in the late 1880`s. Not much is known of the clubs early history because information and records from this era have been misplaced.
During the early years of the century, the club was a member of the Fleurieu Association which included teams from Willunga, Aldinga and McLaren Vale. At certain times of the season, trial games were played against Victor Harbor and other neighbouring teams.
In these first years of the club, the club colours were red and navy. These were later changed to double blue, and later still to black and gold – the current colours.
Until 1926, The Yankalilla Football Club`s home ground was situated at the Yankalilla Show Society`s grounds. In 1926 the clubs home ground was moved to the Memorial Park Sporting Complex which had just been created. This has remained the clubs home ever since.
When the oval was built at the Memorial Park, there was trouble because a large Gum tree could not be removed from the oval. The Gum tree stayed and during games it was quite common for the ball to become stuck in the tree. The Gum tree was eventually removed in the late 40`s.
The Yankalilla Football Club applied to join the Great Southern Football Association in 1934, but they were refused. However, in 1935 they were accepted into the league. Following weak performances in 1935, the club made the final four in 1936, and created a record by drawing with Encounter Bay TWICE in the 1st Semi Final. In 1937 the Yankalilla Football Club were the Great Southern Football Association Premiers.
In 1940, only part of a season was played because of a difference with the GSFA. The difference was caused by the registration of 4 Aldinga players for Yankalilla.
The first full season of football following WWII was in 1946. L.Wenham captain/coached the team that year.
In 1947, Reg Mellantz was coach. He was a school teacher at Second Valley. Jack Putland was Captain/Coach in 1948. He was a short, nuggety player and a very good footballer. In 1949, `Buster` Noble was Captain/Coach. Buster worked at BHP in Rapid Bay.
In 1950, Reg Karutz was coach of the team. He worked in the Bank of Adelaide. Reg`s brother John Karutz played League Football for Glenelg. Also in 1950, a ruckman by the name of Jim Mitchell came to work at BHP Rapid Bay. He was a very good footballer and was famous in the district for his `place kicks`. During a game at Yankalilla one day, he marked the ball between the centre and Half Forward, It was close to the end of the match, and Yankalilla were in a position where they could not lose the game. Someone in the crowd yelled out
`Take a place kick`. So Jim Mitchell walked back, placed the ball on the ground and walked back further to take a run in at the ball. He ran straight in and let fly with a beautiful kick that sailed straight through the centre of the goals.
George Tucker was appointed coach in 1951. He worked for Tom Bennett at Delamere. In 1952, Max Smith was Captain/Coach of the team. He worked at the Yankalilla Garage which is now the site of Beaurepaires. Bob Prater took over in 1953. He worked as an electrician for the PMG and was very energetic . He did a lot to lift the standard of the club. In 1954, John Hamlyn was the coach and managed to win the Mail Medal in 1952. His sons, Peter and Trevor have both played football for Yankalilla with Peter representing the State in the South Australian Schoolboys Team in 1971. In 1955, the Yankalilla Football Club started paying their coach, Lloyd Tugwell, for that season. Tugwell had played League football for Norwood and had some success as coach of Victor Harbor. He was paid 140pounds per season for coaching the team.
Until 1955, Yankalilla seemed to be the only club with a surplus in players. The club had been trying for many years to form a B Grade competition within the GSFA. However, the Association refused to allow a B Grade competition. So, in 1955, the Yankalilla Football Club decided to field a B Grade side in the Southern Football Association, which had a B Grade competition in place for many years. The Southern Football Association covered an area from Reynella to Yankalilla. The A Grade team continued to play in the GSFA, while the B Grade side played in the Southern Football Association. The B Grade team played in the 1955 Grand Final against Reynella at Aldinga. Yankalilla B Grade won the Grand Final and won the Premiership in its first season in the Southern Football Association.
In 1956, the Yankalilla A Grade team decided to join the Southern Football Association, as having two teams in different associations proved to cause a lot of conflict within the club at the time. The club appointed a former Glenelg player in Bill Prior as coach that year. He lived in Adelaide, but drove to Yankalilla for training 2 nights a week, and for games on Saturday in an old Bedford van. He was paid 200Pounds per season to coach the team.
Grant Mayfield was the coach in 1958 and Gordon Menzies was the coach in 1959.
In 1960, former West Adelaide player Fred A`Court was appointed coach of the team. He was a ruckman, and one of the greatest players ever to play for Yankalilla. He coached the team into the 1960 Grand Final, which Yankalilla unfortunately lost. He was quickly re-appointed and was paid 300Pounds per season. He coached Yankalilla into the 1961 Grand Final, for the second successive year. Yankalilla were playing Willunga at McLaren Flat. Throughout the game the umpires were continually giving A`Court a hard time. In the last few minutes Yankalilla were leading by less than a goal. The ball was in Willunga`s forward line, when the umpire paid a free kick against A`Court to the Willunga ruckman, Barry McDonald. McDonald kicked the goal and seconds later the siren had sounded and Willunga were the Premiers. Fred A`Court was terribly disappointed in losing his second Grand Final in as many years, an was so upset at the umpire that he started chasing after him. The umpire saw him coming so he ran towards the boundary line and jumped the fence to seek refuge under the canvas of the changing tents. Fred A`Court had a superb coaching record, having lost only 3 games in 2 seasons as coach. It was unfortunate, that 2 of those losses were Grand Finals.
In 1962 Peter Vivian was appointed coach. He coached Yankalilla in `62,`63` and `64. In 1962-3 he coached Yankalilla to the Southern Football Association premierships. Vivian had played League football for Norwood before coming to Yankalilla. He was a rover and would rest in the forward pocket where he would score a lot of goals.
The early 60`s was undoubtedly the Golden Era of the Yankalilla Football Club. They had completed in 4 Grand Finals from 1960-1963 and won 2 Premierships.
Before 1964, there had always been a changing shed at Yankalilla Oval where players from both sides could get changed. However this shed was becoming inadequate, so in 1963 it was demolished and a new brick clubroom was built. The Clubrooms cost 4000Pounds to build, including 500Pounds for toilet facilities at the rear of the building, These clubrooms were officially opened by Mr H.J. Hunt on 4th April 1964.
In 1965-66, Trevor Barker was appointed coach. He had played League football for West Adelaide as a ruckman.
In 1967, Bill Prior was again appointed as coach but unfortunately didn’t have the same success as his predecessors.
In 1968, the Yankalilla Football Club left the Southern Football Association and rejoined the GSFA, where it has remained until present day. Peter O`Shaunessy was the coach that year.
Richard Croser was appointed Captain/Coach in 1969. Croser was an exceptional player and went on the win the Mail Medal that year. He had played football for Willunga before coaching Yankalilla.
In 1975, the Yankalilla Football Club won the Senior Colts premership. Trevor Temple was the coach.
In 1976, extensions to the clubrooms were completed. These extensions cost approximately $20,000. The large canteen was appreciated by the Ladies Auxillary, who are a very important part of the club. The Womens Auxillary made quite a lot of money running the canteen on home games. Most of the money was passed onto the Football Club Management Committee to help pay expenses.
On 17th February 1980, a meeting was held to form the Yankalilla Sporting Club, which consisted of the Football Club and Cricket Club.
On 10th February 1984, the Tennis Club joined the Sporting Club. The Sporting Club then took over the running of the clubrooms and the hiring of the oval. They applied to the Licensing Court for a club licence, to be able to sell liquor at football and cricket matches and after training nights.
In 1985, the A Grade team won the Great Southern Football League Premiership. They defeated Langhorne Creek in the Grand Final played at Goolwa Oval. This premiership was a remarkable feat because they won it after coming from the Elimination Final. This is the last premiership Yankalilla has won.
During the past century or so, the Yankalilla Football Club has produced some great players. Yankalilla has had 5 Mail Medallists: Jack Harrison 1938, John Hamlyn 1952, R. Hamlyn 1956, A.Hall 1962, and Richard Croser 1969. Des Lord in 1957 and Peter Hamlyn in 1971 have represented the State in the South Australian Schoolboys Team. During the late 1970s and 1980s, three Yankalilla footballers have played in the SANFL. Lyn Fielke played for West Torrens, Craig Fielke for Sturt, and Greg Whittlesea Captained Sturt and won the SANFL`s highest honour, the Magarey Medal in 1988.
*This history was complied in 1989 as part of celebration of 100 years of Yankalilla Football Club. *
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