Edwardstown Football Club

Recollection

During 1917, my family came from Sturt to live in Edwardstown; my family had a shop on the corner of Edwards Street and South Road.

My father, the late Ern Smith, was perturbed about the young men who walked the streets or congregated under the shop veranda and after some consideration and thought, suggested a football team. This took on tremendously. The Edwardstown Football Club was formed.

The meetings were held in our shed, our four-wheeled buggy, kerosene tins and boxes were seats, for lights they had candles and kerosene hurricane lamps. What about an oval, there were plenty of paddocks, but where would be a good place to play? It was finally decided to play at the back of the Avoca Hotel on Pearson’s Estate, this was the first home ground for some time.

It is alright to have a Club, but who would they play? Several “scratch matches” were played, but the players wanted something worthwhile. After much work and many arrangements made, the Mid Southern Football Association was formed, with teams from Happy Valley, Reynella, Clarendon, Mitcham, Blackwood, Sturt and Brighton. My father was the first secretary of the Edwardstown Football Club and of the Mid Southern Football Association.

What times they were. When the teams played away two horse drawn brags would leave the Avoca Hotel with the players and as many supporters that could be taken, and with the flag flying away, we would go. The first flag was square and one triangle was light blue the other dark blue, this would be tied to a stick.

Using the ground at the back of the Hotel proved quite satisfactory, but the feeling was that the team would like a home ground. After much thought and negotiation, a team of men came up with the suggestion that land be procured in what is now Raglan Avenue. Raglan Street was metal from South Road to the railway line, then it was a bush track, quite a lake in wet weather outside Fitzgerald’s dairy. I remember going with the family on Saturdays when the land was cleared and fenced. The first function to be held was a Fancy Dress Afternoon. There was plenty of fun for everyone. Ern Smith was then the first Secretary of the Recreation Ground, and I think Constable Wilkens (or Wilkenson) was the first Chairman.

When agreement was made as to where to play, there was quite an upset. The people protested at having to go so far away to play. In those days it was either horse, bicycle or shank’s pony.

The first ‘change-rooms’ for the players of the Edwardstown Football Club were in the cow shed in Fitzgerald’s dairy, and for the visiting team behind the high hedge, which grew down one side of the ground.
Owing to ill health, my father found that the three positions he held were too much and gave up the Recreation Ground. It was then that the late Allan Wheaton became Secretary, then Dr. Joe Clayton was chairman.

It is doubtful that any of these men envisaged the Edwardstown Oval complex as it is today.

Written by Lorna Smith (daughter of the late Ern Smith, the Club’s first secretary)