The Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA) was an Australian rules football competition which ran from 1886 to 1986. In its time it was one of the three main leagues in Tasmania, with the Tasmanian Football League and North West Football Union representing the rest of the state. It was based in the city of Launceston. The three most successful clubs of the old NTFA, Launceston, North Launceston and City-South, went on to compete in the short-lived TFL Statewide League.
From 1947 to 1983 the NTFA was a six team competition, in 1984 George Town and Deloraine joined to make eight teams.
In 1987, the NTFA merged with the North West Football Union to form the Northern Tasmanian Football League.
At the end of 1995 the Tasmanian Amateur Football Association disbanded, The southern clubs help form the Southern Football League, The northern clubs formed a competition called the Northern Tasmanian Football Association. There is no relationship between the old and new NTFA.
Clubs
Final ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in NTFANTFA Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsCity-South Redlegs Invermay–18791886-1986281886, 1887, 1890, 1891, 1895, 1902, 1903, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1914, 1921, 1922, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1939, 1941, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1972, 1974Merged with East Launceston to form South Launceston in TFL in May 1986Deloraine(1946-51)(1984-86)Deloraine Recreation Ground, DeloraineEFA1894, 1984-19860 -Formed Northern Tasmanian District FL in 1952. Formed Northern Tasmanian FL in 1987George TownSaintsGeorge Town Sports Complex, George TownTFA19271984-19860 -Formed Northern Tasmanian FL in 1987LauncestonBluesWindsor Park, Riverside–18751886-1986261888, 1889, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1900, 1909, 1913, 1920, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1945, 1951, 1969, 1976, 1985Formed Northern Tasmanian FL in 1987Longford(1926-?)(1950s)(?-1986)TigersLongford Recreation Ground, LongfordCFA18781926-198631955, 1957, 1958Formed Northern Tasmanian FL in 1987ScottsdaleMagpiesScottsdale Recreation Ground, ScottsdaleNEFU18891949-1986101964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1986Formed Northern Tasmanian FL in 1987
Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in NTFANTFA Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsEast Launceston Demons Invermay–19481948-198511967Moved to TFL in 1986Fitzroy –18951895-?11896FoldedNorth Launceston RobinsYork Park, InvermayNTJFA18931896-198524 1898, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1925, 1927, 1931, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1961, 1963, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983Moved to TFL in 1986WestburyTigersWestbury Recreation Ground, WestburyCFA19021946-19510 -Played in seconds competition. Formed Northern Tasmanian District FL in 1952.
NTFA premierships
Winners by year Year Premiers Def. Runner-up Year Premiers Def. Runner-up 1886 City 1937 Launceston 11.11 (77) def. North Launceston 10.10 (70) 1887 City 1938 Launceston 12.14 (86) def. City 8.13 (61) 1888 Launceston 1939 City 13.9 (87) def. North Launceston 8.11 (59) 1889 Launceston 1940 Launceston 12.17 (89) def. Longford 6.9 (45) 1890 City 1941 City 16.23 (119) def. North Launceston 7.12 (54) 1891 City 1942–44 (World War Two) 1892 Launceston 1945 Launceston 8.13 (61) def. North Launceston 8.7 (55) 1893 Launceston 1946 North Launceston 11.11 (77) def. City 8.11 (59) 1894 Launceston 1947 North Launceston 18.14 (122) def. City 5.13 (43) 1895 City 1948 North Launceston 12.14 (86) def. Launceston 13.4 (82) 1896 Fitzroy 1949 North Launceston 10.15 (75) def. Launceston 9.14 (68) 1897 Launceston 1950 North Launceston 13.11 (89) def. City 8.11 (59) 1898 Essendon 1951 Launceston 10.15 (75) def. City 9.9 (63) 1899 Launceston 1952 City 12.11 (83) def. Scottsdale 9.9 (63) 1900 Launceston 1953 City 10.12 (72) def. Longford 9.12 (66) 1901 North Launceston (No Final Played) 1954 City 12.13 (85) def. Launceston 7.13 (55) 1902 City (No Final Played) 1955 Longford 13.7 (85) def. City 10.13 (73) 1903 City (No Final Played) 1956 City 10.6 (66) def. North Launceston 9.4 (58) 1904 North Launceston (No Final Played) 1957 Longford 11.11 (77) def. Launceston 6.7 (43) 1905 North Launceston 7.6 (48) def. Launceston 6.9 (45) 1958 Longford 14.12 (96) def. North Launceston 12.18 (90) 1906 North Launceston (No Final Played) 1959 City-South 13.10 (88) def. Longford 9.13 (67) 1907 City (No Final Played) 1960 City-South 11.19 (85) def. North Launceston 12.8 (80) 1908 City (No Final Played) 1961 North Launceston 8.11 (59) def. Longford 8.10 (58) 1909 Launceston (No Final Played) 1962 City-South 11.10 (76) def. Longford 8.13 (61) 1910 City 7.19 (61) def. North Launceston 7.7 (49) 1963 North Launceston 7.17 (59) def. Longford 8.9 (57) 1911 North Launceston 6.13 (49) def. City 3.5 (23) 1964 Scottsdale 8.15 (63) def. City-South 6.7 (43) 1912 North Launceston (No Final Played) 1965 Scottsdale 19.21 (135) def. North Launceston 11.13 (79) 1913 Launceston (No Final Played) 1966 City-South 9.13 (67) def. Scottsdale 7.7 (49) 1914 City (No Final Played) 1967 East Launceston 9.12 (66) def. North Launceston 8.16 (64) 1915–18 (World War One) 1968 Scottsdale 8.18 (66) def. Launceston 8.12 (60) 1919 (Influenza epidemic) 1969 Launceston 23.11 (149) def. East Launceston 16.9 (105) 1920 Launceston (No Final Played) 1970 Scottsdale 18.16 (124) def. Launceston 14.15 (99) 1921 City 8.10 (58) def. North Launceston 7.4 (46) 1971 Scottsdale 21.10 (136) def. City-South 5.13 (43) 1922 City (No Final Played) 1972 City-South 11.7 (73) def. Launceston 2.15 (27) 1923 North Launceston (No Final Played) 1973 Scottsdale 11.12 (78) def. North Launceston 10.7 (67) 1924 Launceston 6.13 (49) def. City 3.3 (21) 1974 City-South 5.13 (43) def. Scottsdale 2.10 (22) 1925 North Launceston 8.8 (56) def. Launceston 6.11 (47) 1975 North Launceston 16.14 (110) def. Scottsdale 8.10 (58) 1926 Launceston 7.18 (60) def. City 6.11 (47) 1976 Launceston 13.10 (88) def. North Launceston 12.15 (87) 1927 North Launceston 9.8 (62) def. Launceston 6.10 (46) 1977 Scottsdale 15.19 (109) def. North Launceston 10.10 (70) 1928 City 8.6 (54) def. North Launceston 5.8 (38) 1978 North Launceston 14.12 (96) def. Launceston 11.17 (83) 1929 Launceston 9.8 (62) def. North Launceston 6.10 (46) 1979 North Launceston 15.7 (97) def. Scottsdale 13.17 (95) 1930 City 15.19 (109) def. Launceston 8.10 (58) 1980 North Launceston 15.13 (103) def. City-South 11.13 (79) 1931 North Launceston 10.13 (73) def. Longford 6.7 (43) 1981 North Launceston 14.21 (105) def. Launceston 12.8 (80) 1932 City 6.15 (51) def. North Launceston 5.18 (48) 1982 Scottsdale 19.9 (123) def. Launceston 12.10 (82) 1933 Launceston 13.14 (92) def. City 7.8 (50) 1983 North Launceston 14.14 (98) def. Longford 10.10 (70) 1934 Launceston 14.22 (106) def. North Launceston 6.15 (51) 1984 Scottsdale 13.11 (89) def. Launceston 13.7 (85) 1935 Launceston 14.9 (93) def. North Launceston 12.12 (84) 1985 Launceston 19.22 (136) def. North Launceston 12.11 (83) 1936 Launceston 15.21 (111) def. North Launceston 10.15 (75) 1986 Scottsdale 20.14 (134) def. Longford 17.11 (113)
Most wins Club Premierships City-South 28 Launceston 26 North Launceston 24 Scottsdale 10 Longford 3 East Launceston 1 Fitzroy (NTFA) 1
Tasmanian State Premiership
This was contested semi regularly between the premiers of the Tasmanian Football League, North West Football Union and the NTFA.
The winners from the NTFA were – 1905 – North Launceston (unofficial) 1906 – North Launceston (unofficial) 1928 – City 1930 – City 1932 – City 1933 – Launceston 1934 – Launceston 1935 – Launceston 1937 – Launceston 1938 – Launceston 1947 – North Launceston 1949 – North Launceston 1950 – North Launceston 1954 – City 1957 – Longford 1960 – City-South 1966 – City-South 1972 – City-South 1973 – Scottsdale
Best and Fairests
Hardesty Cup 1924 – L. J. Keogh Tasman Shields Trophy 1925 – Harold Wade 1926 – Len Gaffney 1927 – Len Gaffney, Fred Odgers 1928 – Neil Edwards 1929 – Jim Milbourne 1930 – Leo Wescott 1931 – Laurie Nash 1932 – Laurie Nash 1933 – Bill Cahill 1934 – Jock Connell 1935 – Ted Pickett (Longford) 1936 – Bill Cahill 1937 – Fred Smith 1938 – Max Pontifex, Fred Smith 1939 – Jock Connell, Tom Ryan 1940 – Lloyd Bennett 1941 – Frank Horsenail 1945 – Frank Horsenail 1946 – Lance Crosswell 1947 – Lance Crosswell 1948 – Terry Cashion, Harry Styles 1949 – Max Rees 1950 – Terry Cashion 1951 – Terry Cashion, Darrell Crosswell 1952 – Bill Byrne, Charlie Dennis, Laurie Moir 1953 – Laurie McGee 1954 – Charlie Dennis, Laurie McGee 1955 – Charlie Dennis 1956 – Jim Ross 1957 – John Fitzallen 1958 – Jim Ross 1959 – Bob Bye 1960 – Bob Bye 1961 – Eddie Thomas 1962 – Darrell Pitcher (East Launceston) 1963 – Kevin McLean (North Launceston) 1964 – Charlie Thompson (North Launceston) 1965 – Nigel Wilson (Longford)
Hec Smith Memorial Medal 1966 – Barry Lawrence (Longford) 1967 – Peter Webb (East Launceston) 1968 – Alby Dunn (Launceston) 1969 – John Burns (East Launceston) 1970 – John Davis (Longford) 1971 – Stuart Palmer (City-South) 1972 – Max Hadley (Scottsdale) 1973 – Derek Peardon (City-South) 1974 – David Berne (Longford) 1975 – Ian Marsh (North Launceston) 1976 – Paul Ellis (Launceston) 1977 – Stephen Nicholls (Scottsdale) 1978 – Ricky Rattray (Scottsdale) 1979 – David Noonan (Scottsdale) 1980 – Grant Allford 1981 – Paul Reinmuth (East Launceston) 1982 – Jamie Dennis (Scottsdale) 1983 – Rod Thomas (City-South) 1984 – Jamie Dennis (Scottsdale) 1985 – Stephen Howe 1986 – Darren Cook 1986 – Malcolm Upston
References