# Woodville Football Club (1868–1877)

The Woodville Football Club (SAFA) originally known as the Port Suburban Football Club (from 1868–1870) was an Australian rules football club that participated in the foundation year of the South Australian Football Association. It is not related to the Woodville Football Club formed in 1938 and which competed in the South Australia Amateur League (SAAL) until it was admitted to the SANFL in 1959.

## First game

The first game was played on 16 May 1868 between sides representing the Woodville Cricket Club against those from the Port Suburban Cricket Club.

## Port Road matches

In 1869 the club referred to itself as 'Port Suburban' and played its games at Woodville with teams chosen by which side of Port Road they lived.

## Early Intraclub Woodville and Port Suburban (1868)

The manly game of football has come into vogue this season in the Port Adelaide district, Woodville being the chosen place where the different matches take place. The first of the season was commenced by the Port Suburban (late) Cricket Club playing on 16 May, since which time the fun has been kept up on each Saturday afternoon. On 30 May a match took place between the Woodville and Port Suburban Clubs, which resulted in the latter club obtaining three goals. On the previous Saturday the Woodvilles obtained two goals and the Suburbans one. The game creates great amusement, and the inhabitants of the neighboring villages turn out in large numbers to witness the sport.

## Rename as Port Adelaide formed

The club changed its name from Port Suburban to "The Woodvilles" at a meeting held at the Ford's Hotel on Wednesday 11 May 1870. J. Hart was elected Captained.

## SAFA foundation club (1877)

Woodville following an internal match elected two delegates (Captain J.Obsorne and T. Letchford) to the inaugural meeting of the SAFA.
Woodville participated in the inaugural 1877 SAFA season winning 5 of its 16 matches to finish 5th out of 8 teams. Internal disputes during the season lead to resignations of senior players from the club and having to play junior players towards the end of the season to field a team.
A general meeting of the Club was held at The Halfway House, Woodville, on Thursday evening, 5 July 1877. The business had reference to the recent appointment of Mr. O. Formby as Vice-Captain, and the Woodville and Port members refused to allow anyone else to be elected to the office. There was some discussion, and Messrs. J. Clarke and J. R. Osborn tendered their resignations, which were accepted. The proceedings then closed satisfactorily.

## Dissolution of Senior SAFA Club (1877) and Defection of Leading Players to form Norwood (1878)

Woodville's last scheduled game for 15 September against Port Adelaide at Woodville fell through due to a lack of players (their principal players being involved in a practice cricket match at Norwood).
The senior club dissolved and a number of Woodville's leading players, including the captain Joe. R. (Joseph Rowe) Osborne, formed a new club called the Norwood Football Club on 28 February 1878. The new Norwood club even took over the Woodville blue colour guernsey.
Notable players of the Woodville Football Club in 1877 who helped formed the Norwood Club were Captain J.R. (Joseph Rowe) Osborn (who would become Norwood's Inaugural Captain in 1878), George Giffen (who played for Norwood 1878-1885) , A.S. (Algernon Sidney) Young (who played for Norwood 1878-1880) and the brothers Fred Letchford (who played for Norwood 1878-1886) and Tom Letchford (who played for Norwood 1878-1881).

## Reformation of Junior Club (1881)

1881 - A meeting to consider the desirability of forming a football club at Woodville was held at the local institute on Tuesday 5 April. There was a good attendance and about thirty members were enrolled. The following were the officers elected - Patron, Mr. Connor; president, Mr. DeMole; vice-presidents, Messrs. T. Roberts, J.L. Simpson, H. Hanson. R. Honey, T. Wright, J. Rawlings, and G. Baker; captain, Mr. R.Lucas; vice-captain, Mr. T. E. Kent; secretary and treasurer,Mr.F. J. Rawlings; oommittee, Messrs. F. Filgate and A. E. Norman, together with captain, vice-captain, and secretary. It was decided that the colours should be dark blue.
1883 - it was reported that Woodville had merged with Semaphore and that they had joined the Adelaide and Suburban Association. Last year the Semaphores were a weak team, but by amalgamating with the Woodvilles they have been enabled to send one of the best junior twenties into the field.

## Annual General Meetings

1882 - The annual meeting of the club was held in the Woodville Institute on Thursday 23 March. There was a very good attendance, Mr. Forrester presiding. The report showed a balance in hand of £5 10s. Fourteen new members were elected, and the following officers were chosen :—President, Mr. T. Roberts ; Vice-presidents, Messrs. Bower, M.P., G. A. Connor, W. Russell, R. Honey, W. Thow, H.C. Fletcher, W. Forrester, G. Baker, H. Hanson, J. Rawlings, G. DeMole, and L. McLaren. The working officers were elected as follows:— Captain, H. F. Nicholls ; Vice-captain, J. E. Short ; Secretary, A E. Norman ; Treasurer, F. J. Rawlings ; Committee — T. Fletcher, G. H. Downer, F. A. Howell, E. Grant, and W. Terrell. The meeting closed with votes of thanks.
1899 - The annual meeting of the Woodville Football club was held in the Woodville Institute on Wednesday 15 March and there was a good attendance of members. The secretary read the report and balance-sheet, which showed a credit balance of £1 14s. 8d. The following officers were elected:—Captain. H. H. Brooks: vice-captain. K. Wilson. secretary and treasurer. R. E. Oaten; delegates TO the Port Adelaide and Suburban Junior Association, R. E. Oaten. G. Godson, and H. H. Brooks: selection committee, H. Vagg, W. Whait, E. Brooks, H. H. Brooks, and R. E. Oaten: executive committee, H. Vagg, F. Simpson, G. Godson. T. Fergus, H. C Oaten, H. H. Brooks, and R. E. Oaten.