The first published evidence of a club meeting was in 1871, to arrange a local football match on the Queen's Birthday holiday.[3]
Football in Benalla appeared to of lapsed between 1872 and 1877, then the football club was re-formed in April 1878, with a meeting at Hamilton's Hotel when Mr. D.G. McC. O'Leary was elected as president.[4] "The first and inaugurating match of Benalla FC" was played on the Benalla Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 27 April 1878.[5]
In May, 1878, Carlton Football Club played a match against a North Eastern Victorian team at Benalla.[6]
In May 1882, Benalla hosted a match between the Melbourne Football Club and a North Eastern representative team, with Melbourne winning a tight contest.[7]
In 1883, Benalla FC played their home games on the oval adjoining the Benalla East State School[8] and "have given amusement to the public during many a dreary Saturday".[9]
In 1884 and 1885 the club's colours were a "blue guernsey and red and blue hose and cap".[10]
In 1886, Essendon Football Club played a representative team from the North East of Victoria [11] at the Benalla Recreation Reserve, which resulted in a win to Essendon.[12]
Benalla initially played in the North Eastern Football Association in 1892[13] and won their first premiership in 1895 (unbeaten premiers),[14] the first of three consecutive premierships.
In 1897, Benalla's colours were blue, white and black.[17]
Benalla FC went into recess from 1900 to 1902, with the Benalla Half Holiday FC[18] and the Benalla Federals FC both playing competition football in these years.
In September 1908, Benalla's 28 year old captain and local Police Constable, James Cummins, along with Mounted Constable Daly, both drowned at the Benalla Waterworks Trust Weir.[19][20]
In 1911, Benalla FC were not admitted into the Yarrawonga & District Football Association & went into recess, so as a result a new club was formed in Benalla, known as Benalla & Railway United FC referred to as "Benalla United" in local newspapers.[21] This new club entered the Benalla Wednesday FA in 1911.
From 1919 to 1923,[22] Benalla's colours were green and gold.[23]
The O&MFL played Carlton in Wangaratta in 1922,[25] resulting in a close win to Carlton, with three Benalla players representing the O&MFL.[26]
In June, 1925, Benalla FC offered Cyril Gambetta their coaching job, but St.Kilda refused to clear him[27]
In 1927, the club's colours were altered to red and white and Mr. J Skelton was elected a life patron.[28] Fitzroy 18.7 - 105 defeated Benalla 9.9 - 65 in Benalla in late September, in what was a highlight for the local football supporters.[29]
Mr. Les Hill was given a testimonial by the Benalla FC in 1927, after 17 years of service as a player.[30]
At the club's 1929 AGM, Benalla Rovers FC took over the running of football in Benalla[31] and their senior team was named the Benalla Rovers in 1929 [32] and they wore a vertical black and gold striped jumper, known as the Tigers in the O & M in 1929 and 1930.
Between 1931 and 1941, Benalla's senior team played off in ten senior football grand finals, winning seven premierships. The only season Benalla missed playing in a grand final was in 1934 when they lost the first semi final to Wilby by one point in the Benalla Mulwala Football Association,[33] in a real golden era for the club.
In 1931, Bernie Squires won the senior grade best and fairest award, while Dave Smith won the reserves grade best and fairest award.[34]
In 1933, Benalla was known as the "Tigers"[35] and lost a close match against Collingwood in October, 1933.
In 1940, Benalla 16.16 - 106 defeated Rushworth 11.16 – 82 to win their first senior Goulburn Valley Football League premiership in their first year in the GVFL.
Former 1930 and 1931 Benalla Junior premiership player,[36] Jim Howell died in a Japanese Prison Camp in 1945.[37][38]
From 1948 to 1997, Benalla were known as the Demons after they changed their jumper to a red jumper with a white V.
In late 1952, arrangements were made to set up a Benalla Junior Football League (BJFL) to start in 1953,[39] with former Benalla FC coach, Ken Walker elected as the first President of the BJFL.[40] This decision led to Benalla FC not fielding a Thirds team in the Benalla & District Football League.[41]
In 1953, the O&MFL introduced a second eighteen (Reserves) competition for the first time, which meant that Benalla Reserves had to pull out of the Benalla Tungamah Football League.[42]
In 1961, Benalla Football Club's Chiswell Pavilion was built and served the club well over the next 50 odd years, when it was replaced with the Lakeside Community Centre and changerooms in 2011. Charlie Chiswell was a former club President in the early 1960s and was instrumental in funding the building through a debenture scheme.[43] The old Chiswell Pavilion was demolished in 2021, with only the front verandah remaining as a shelter.[44]
When Australian Rules Football really took in the North East of Victoria in the late 1880's and early 1890's, a number of local football clubs were formed. Some of these local clubs, listed below played in local competitions and either merged with the Benalla Football Club or later folded. These clubs formed a valuable part of the local grassroots football history of the Benalla region.
Benalla Half Holiday Football Club (1899 to 1902 & 1908 & 1909)
The Benalla Half Holiday FC was formed as a junior club in May, 1899, wearing a blue jumper with a yellow sash.[45] The club's jumper colors were changed to red, white and blue at a meeting in April, 1900.[46] The club played in the Benalla Wednesday (Half Holiday) FA and wore maroon jumpers with white knicks in 1908.
Benalla Federals Football Club (1902 & 1903)
The Benalla Federals FC amalgamated with the Railways FC in 1902 and played a pivotal role as Benalla's main Saturday competition football club in 1902 and 1903,[47] when they played in the Moira Football Association.[48]
Benalla Gymnasium Football Club (1907 - 1912)
Formed in 1907, they went onto win three premierships in the Benalla Wednesday (Half Holiday) Football Association in 1908, 1910 and 1912. They then merged with Benalla & Railway United Football Club in 1913 to re-form Benalla Football Club.[49]
Benalla East Stars Football Club (1907)
On Saturday, 15 June 1907, at the Five Alls Hotel, Benalla, the Benalla East Stars Football Club was formed[50] and played in the Glenrowan Football Association for one season only, with Five Alls Hotel owner, Mr. Jack Bowden elected as President.[51] The club played their home games behind the Benalla Five Alls Hotel.[52]
Benalla & Railway United Football Club (1911 & 1912)
The Benalla & Railway United FC "Benalla United" was formed in 1911, decided on black and white hoops as their club jumper[53] and would enter a team the Benalla Wednesday Football Association.[54]Euroa Football Club won the 1911 Wednesday Football Association premiership[55] and the Benalla Gymnasium FC defeated Benalla United in the 1912 grand final.[56]
In 1913, local footballers wanted to play in a local Saturday competition, so Benalla United and Benalla Gymnasium merged and was reformed as Benalla Football Club,[57] was admitted into the Yarrawonga District Football Association and played in the green and gold colours.[58]
Benalla Rovers Football Club (1920 to 1930) & (1976 to 1989)
The Benalla Rovers were formed in 1920, when the Benalla Junior FC (formed in 1919[59]) changed their name to Benalla Rovers FC at the AGM.[60] Benalla Rovers FC won the 1920[61] and 1921[62] premiership in the North East Line Football Association. Benalla Rovers lost the 1922 Yarrawonga Line Football Association grand final to Devenish.[63] In 1923, Benalla Rovers decided to change their colours to yellow and black, with black knickers.[64] Remarkably, Benalla Rovers went through the 1923 season without a defeat to claim the Yarrawonga Line Football Association premiership.[65][66]
Benalla Rovers were runners up to Yarrawonga in 1927,[67] then won the 1928 Yarrawonga Line Football Association premiership.[68]
In 1929, the Benalla Rovers FC took full control of the Benalla FC, including a debt of £60.[69] The club entered Rovers A into the Ovens and Murray Football League, Rovers B played in the Yarrawonga Line Football Association[70] and the Benalla Juniors played in the new Benalla District Football League.
In 1930, Benalla Rovers A played in the Ovens and Murray Football League,[71] while Rovers B lost the Yarrawonga Line Football Association grand final to St. James,[72] while the Benalla Juniors won the 1930 Benalla District Football League premiership, defeating Swanpool.[73]
At the club's 1931 AGM, the club's secretary would not present the balance sheet due the auditor refusing to sign it, who later resigned. The club's name was then changed back to the “Benalla Football Club”.[74]
Benalla Juniors Football Club (1929 to 1931)
The Benalla Juniors played in the Benalla District Football League from 1929 to 1931, playing in three consecutive grand finals, winning premierships in 1930 and 1931, wearing the purple and gold colours.[75]
They changed their name to the Benalla Imperials FC in 1932 and joined the Euroa Line Football Association.[76]
Benalla Imperials Football Club (1932 & 1933)
Benalla Imperials were beaten by Benalla Football Club in the 1933 Euroa Line Football Association grand final.
Benalla Imperials merged with the Benalla Football Club in 1934 and Benalla Seniors played in the Benalla Mulwala FA,[77] while the Benalla Reserves played in the Benalla Yarrawonga Lines FA in 1934.[78][79]
1908 Violet Town & District Football Association Premiers: Gymnasium FCBenalla's Jumper: 1927 & 1928Benalla Rovers' O&M Jumper: 1929 & 1930Benalla's Jumper: 1946 & 1947Benalla's Jumper: 1948 to 1997
Competitions timeline
Benalla Football Club
Seniors
1871 - Club was formed
1872 - 1877 - No published newspapers reports during this period.
1878 - 1885 - Club reformed and played friendly matches against other local towns and clubs.
1911 & 1912 - Benalla FC in recess. Benalla decided not to enter the North Eastern FA, but then were not admitted into the Yarrawonga & District FA,[88] which left Benalla FC without a competition to play in.
1913 & 1914 - Yarrawonga & District Football Association
1990 – Jamie Ronke. Father of Ben Ronke – Sydney Swans.
Reserves – Ralph Marks Medal
1960 – Roy Symes
1968 – Norm Hogan
1973 – Graham Sherwill
Thirds - 3NE Award
1973 – Peter Nolan
1976 – John Martiniello. (Martiniello also won the 1993 Tungamah Football League senior football, Lawless Medal, with the Benalla All Blacks Football Club.)
1983 – Rod Brewster
Goulburn Valley Football League – Best & Fairest winners
11 - Wheeler. 9 July 1928. O&MFL: Benalla v Beechworth.[151]
11 - Bob Chitty - 1947 - O&MFL Rd.13: Benalla v Rutherglen.[152]
11 - Josh Mellington. 5 September 2015 - GVFNL: Benalla v Euroa.[153]
VFL / AFL players
Tom Rockliff Lions V's Suns 2017Bob Chitty early 1940s
The following 38 players played with Benalla, prior to playing senior football in the VFL/AFL, and / or drafted, with the year indicating their VFL/AFL debut.
The following footballers played senior VFL / AFL football prior to making their debut with the Benalla FC. The year indicates their debut season at Benalla.
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