West Perth Football Club 1885 - 2001, A Proud
Tradition
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Since
it's fledging beginning on May 2nd 1885, the West
Perth Football Club has provided an untold amount
of pleasure for hundreds of thousands of Western Australians.
In celebrating our 116th season of competitive senior
football our Club has established itself as one of
the most enduring and successful entities within our
great State, perhaps even throughout the country.
The Club was formed at a meeting held at the old Criterion
Hotel and became a part of the new West Australian
Football Association. The Club was known as the Victorians
and the first game was played against the Rovers Football
Club at Wellington Square at 3:00PM, June 6th 1885,
before some 300 spectators. The Rovers team was successful
on that occasion, winning 1.7 to 0.5.
In 1889 the Club adopted a new name - Metropolitan
Football Club and on May 10th 1891, following 2 very
unsuccessful years, again changed its name to West
Perth Football Club. The Club achieved its first Premiership
in 1897 by finishing on top of the ladder.
Again in 1899, the Club won the Premiership by finishing
on top of the ladder. As it is now recent history
with our success in 1999, the Club boasts Premierships
at the conclusion of both the 19th and 20th Centuries.
During the early 1900's the Club won a further two
Premierships in 1901 and 1905. Following the success
of the 1890's and early 1900's the Club did not achieve
the ultimate success until 1932 when on October 8th,
West Perth defeated arch rivals East Perth 18.9 to
11.8.
Further success were in 1934 and 1935. During this
time the Club won 4 Sandover Medals - Harold Boyd
in 1922, Jim Gosnell in 1924, Jim Craig in 1927 and
Ted Flemming in 1930.
During the 1940's the Club again achieved back to
back success in 1941 and 1942 and in 1949 and 1951
won Premiership pennants against Perth and South Fremantle.
In 1960 the Club again defeated East Perth to achieve
its 12th Premiership.
It was during that season that the Cardinal Twins,
Mel Whinnen and Bill Dempsey played their first season
of senior football with the Club. Of course Mel Whinnen
played some 371 League games for the Club and Bill
Dempsey 343 games.
By this time the Club had won a further 5 Sandover
Medals - Ted "Checker" O'Keefe in 1940,
Laurie Bowen in 1942, John Loughridge in 1946, Fred
Buttsworth in 1951 and Brian Foley in 1959.
Over the next 2 years West Perth, with success in
1969 against East Perth and again in 1971 were captained
and coached by the great Graham Farmer, dominated
Western Australian Football.
In 1975, before a crowd of 52,322 West Perth kicked
a record-winning margin when it won 23.17 to South
Fremantle 7.9. Rover Barry Day kicked 7 goals in t
he last quarter.
Following the 1975 success the Club experienced its
longest Premiership drought when in 1995, following
its relocation to Arena Joondalup, won its 16th Premiership
against the much fancied Subiaco team.
We further added to our tally of Sandover Medals with
wins by Robbie West in 1992, followed by Neil Mildenhall
in 1993.
Again in 1999 the Club was successful when it defeated
the South Fremantle team 14.13 to 11.6.
During the past 116 years our Club has achieved many
memorable records and has had an enormous influence
on the lives of thousands of Western Australians.
We hope, with your ongoing support to continue the
tradition of the success and support given us by our
forefathers. |
| This
information was compiled with grateful acknowledgement
to Mr Brian Atkinson |
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