# CYMS Football Association

The CYMS Football Association (CYMSFA), also known as the CYMS Football League (CYMSFL), was an Australian rules football competition played in the state of Victoria. The competition was managed by the Catholic Young Men's Society of Victoria (CYMS).

## History

The Victorian CYMS was founded in 1892, but it would not be until the 1910s that the CYMSFA was established. While the exact date of the competition's founding is unclear, it is known that the competition was active by 1912. Various CYMS-affiliated teams, including the Williamstown CYMS Football Club (founded in 1886), played in competitions prior to 1912.
The CYMSFA grew significantly throughout the 1930s, with a record 32 teams participating in the 1930 season. By 1933, a total of 468 CYMS members played for football clubs across the competition.
From its early years, the competition was split into two divisions, "A Grade" and "B Grade". "C Grade" was established in 1951, with all three divisions split into "North" and "South" sections throughout the 1950s.
Beginning in the 1960s, discontent continued to fester, a breakaway association was proposed and many clubs jumped at the chance. The main gripe was that there was no senior pathway for teenagers to stay at the club that they had played juniors at. The YCW wanted to establish a pathway for their juniors so a breakaway association (YCWNFA) was formed over the summer of 1962/63. This new competition took most of the clubs. 28 clubs left the CYMS to found the new association. The CYMS were left with 10 clubs.
After this, the CYMSFA's playing numbers began to decline. This continued when Williamstown CYMS moved to the Footscray District Football League (FDFL) at the end of 1964, although the club returned to the CYMSFA in 1969 after struggling to compete with FDFL clubs who were paying money to players.
In 1976, the CYMS Football Association officially disbanded. Williamstown CYMS life member Peter Buckley later recalled:
   "The CYMS comp folded as a result of a fight which occurred between South Melbourne and Kensington at Debney's Paddock. The police were called and fired a gun, and basically read the Riot Act. Those two sides were suspended, and we (Williamstown CYMS) were elevated into the final four. We were knocked out in the first semi, but the competition itself soon folded as a result of turbulence and falling away in numbers. It was an old comp, but no longer had significant administration. We had to find another competition. At the time, I wanted us to join the Amateurs, but it was felt that the travel would be a disincentive to the players, so we joined the West Suburban League (WSFL)."
The competition's various clubs have since folded, merged or renamed, and as of 2024, Williamstown CYMS is the only club from the CYMSFA to still include "CYMS" in its name while competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).

## Clubs

| Club | Colours | Nickname | Former league | Est. | Seasons | Premierships | Premierships | Fate |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Former league | Est. | Seasons | Total | Final | Fate |
| Murrumbeena | | | | | 1941−1954 | | | |
| South Caulfield CYMS | | | | 1890s | 1940s−1956 | | | Merged with Camden in 1957 to form South Caulfield |
| St Kevin's Ormond | | | | | 19??−19?? | | | Moved to ESCFA, later merged with St Andrews Gardenvale in 1993 to form Caulfield |
| Thornbury CYMS | | Bears | | 1930s | 19??−19?? | | | Moved to VAFA, later merged with Reservoir Rovers in 1988 to form Thornbury Rovers |
| West Preston | | Roosters | − | 1948 | 1948−1963 | | | Moved to YCWFL, later merged with Reservoir-Lakeside to form West Preston Lakeside in 1998 |
| Williamstown CYMS | | CYs | − | 1886 | 1912−1964 | 8 | 1973 | Moved to WSFL in 1977 and VAFA in 1983 |
| FDFL | | 1969−1976 | | 1886 | | 8 | 1973 |

## Premierships

* 1910 Port Melbourne CYMS
* 1911 Port Melbourne CYMS
* 1912 Port Melbourne CYMS
* 1913 Port Melbourne CYMS
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916 Port Melbourne CYMS
* 1917 West Melbourne CYMS
* 1918 West Melbourne CYMS
* 1919 North Fitzroy CYMS
With the inclusion of extra clubs a "B " grade competition was started. Top team in B Grade played off against the top 3 of A Grade for premiership.
A restructure of B grade competition, split into two competitions based on demographics. In B grade top 4 from both competitions played knock out finals.
A restructure of B grade competition, instead of East-West it was North-South. In B grade top 4 from both competitions played knock out finals until 1936
At the end of 1958 the association reorganised into two A grades and 2 B grade competitions.
At the end of 1962 most of the clubs broke away and formed the YCWNFA.