The Fingal District Football Association was an Australian rules football association in Fingal Valley, Tasmania from 1924 to 1992. Football had been played in the Fingal region since 1884, when the Fingal Football Club was formed.
History The history of the Association goes back to the 1880s when the town of Mathinna was thriving due to gold mining and had three teams that played each other regularly. At this time, like most competitions in Australia at the time, the team that won the most games were awarded the premiership.
There was a game between Fingal and St Marys recorded in 1884, but regular competition did not commence until the railway line was completed through the Fingal Valley in 1886. Two became three when Avoca joined. The Launceston Examiner reported on Saturday 9 August 1890 that a team from South Esk had journeyed to St Marys and played the local side with the visitors winning by seven points.
Only two Premierships have been recorded, from 1891 and 1907 with Avoca winning both. The odd game was played during World War One and the competition didn't reform again until 1922. The participating clubs in the return season were St Marys, Rovers (Cornwall-Mt Nicholas), Fingal, Avoca and Mathinna. The Association was in recess again from 1934 to 1935. In 1936 Rovers played a draw with Avoca in the grand final, The Rovers had already arranged for a game outside the Association and wanted a delay. When this was refused, they forfeited.. The very next year Avoca received another forfeit, this time from St Marys who had won the original game only for a protest to be upheld and the game ordered replayed. St Marys had already arranged for a game outside the Association and wanted a delay. When this was refused, they forfeited.Hobart Mercury October 1937 The Association remained more or less stable until World War 2, when the competition went into recess once again. The Rovers failed to re-appear once the recess ended in 1945.
In 1945 St Helens, Rossarden and Swansea joined the competition bringing the club numbers to seven. Competition was healthy until the 1960s, when Mathinna started to struggle to get teams on the field. They finally folded in 1968, making way for Campbell Town to join the Association. By this time Rossarden were dominating the competition with players like the Lowe and Hawkins Brothers, Gus O’Boyle, Colin Cruikshank, Garry Tapp and coach Bob Miller. They won seven premierships between 1956 and 1967, with five in a row from 1961 to 1965.
In the more recent years of the Association, the competition was looked after by longtime secretary Graham McGee. The players of the era included Bob Bye, Scott Marshall, John Smith, Jack Clements, Les Newman, John Thurley, Steven Salter, Colin Cruickshank, Gus O’Boyle, John and Patrick Cusick, Rob Lowe, Max Davison, Paul Ellis, Norm Barnes and Craig Woods.
The last grand final of the Association was played at St Marys in 1992. St Helens defeated St Marys by 87 points. Campbell Town decided to enter the Northern Tasmanian Football Association leaving only four teams in the competition; St Marys, Fingal, St Helens and Swansea. Rossarden had folded after the 1972 season and Avoca had folded after winning the premiership in 1989. It was decided that a four team competition was not viable. Swansea headed for the Tasman Football Association, while St Helens went into the North East Association. St Marys and Fingal were forced to join Campbell Town in the NTFA.
Clubs
Final ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in FDFAFDFA PremiershipsFateTotalYearsCampbell TownRobinsCampbell Town Recreation Ground, Campbell TownMFA18861972-199261973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981Moved to Esk-Deloraine FA in 1993FingalBluesFingal Recreation Ground, FingalCFA18841924-1931, 1936-1992151927, 1928, 1931, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1988Moved to Esk-Deloraine FA in 1993St HelensSwansSt Helens Recreation Reserve, St HelensPFA19101951-199271958, 1960, 1970, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1992Moved to NEFU in 1993St MarysTigersSt Marys Recreation Ground, St MarysCFA18901924-1930, 1936-1992111924, 1926, 1929, 1930, 1939, 1946, 1947, 1972, 1983, 1990, 1991Moved to Esk-Deloraine FA in 1993SwanseaBulldogs, SwansSwansea Oval, SwanseaECFA1890s1961-199231966, 1978, 1982Moved to Tasman FA following 1992 season
Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in FDFAFDFA PremiershipsFateTotalYearsAvoca DemonsAvoca Oval, AvocaCFA18861924-1930, 1936-1989101936, 1937, 1938, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1968, 1980, 1986, 1989Folded after 1989 seasonMathinnaKill'n'BurnsMathinna Oval, MathinnaCFA18951924-1931, 1946-1950, 1952-19680 -Folded after 1968 seasonRossardenRedlegsRossarden Recreation Reserve, Rossarden–19521952-197271956, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967Folded after 1972 seasonRovers(1924-26, 1929-37) (1927-28)RoversCullenswood Oval, Cullenswood–1924-1931, 1936-193711925Folded after 1937 season
Seniors
Premiership Winners
Spurr Shield Winners 1924 - St Marys 7.11 (53) d Fingal 6.4 (40) 1925 - Rovers 6.10 (46) d Fingal 4,10 (34) 1926 - St Marys 10.16 (76) d Mathinna 8.4 (52) 1927 - Fingal 6.15 (51) d Rovers 7.6.48 1928 - Fingal 9.14 (68) d St Marys 9.7 (61) * 1929 - St Marys 8.12 (60) d Fingal 8.4 (52) 1930 - St Marys 11.18 (84) d Fingal 9.10 (64) 1931 - Fingal 5.12 (42) d Mathinna 5.5 (35) Cullenwood Football Association 1932 - Mt Nicholas 7.9 (51) d Cornwall 5.6 (36) 1933 - Mt Nicholas 7.8 (50) d St Marys 4.9 (33) 1934 - Mt Nicholas 11.12 (78) d Rovers 7.5 (47) 1935 - St Marys 15.11 (101) d Mt Nicholas 10.8 (68) Fingal District Football Association 1936 - Avoca 6.14 (50) d Rovers 7.8 (50) ** 1937 - St Marys 19.19 (133) d Avoca 11.19 (85) ** 1938 - St Marys 6.12 (48) d Avoca 5.9 (39) 1939 - St Marys 13.11 (89) d Fingal 10.14 (74) 1940 - Competition suspended (World War II) 1941 - Competition suspended (World War II) 1942 - Competition suspended (World War II) 1943 - Competition suspended (World War II) 1944 - Competition suspended (World War II) 1945 - Fingal 8.10 (58) d St Marys 7.14 (56) 1946 - St Marys 10.23 (83) d Avoca 8.8 (56) 1947 - St Marys 27.19 (181) d Avoca 13.16 (94) 1948 - Fingal d St Marys 1949 - Fingal 8.16 (64) d St Marys 6.17 (53) 1950 - Fingal 9.8 (62) d St Marys 7.11 (53) 1951 - Avoca 7.10 (52) d Fingal 7.7 (49) 1952 - Avoca 13.12 (90) d St Marys 9.11 (65) 1953 - Fingal 7.18 (60) d St Marys 7.12 (54) 1954 - Avoca 10.10 (70) d Fingal 6.19 (55) 1955 - Fingal 6.12 (48) d St Marys 4.19 (43) 1956 - Rossarden 9.21 (75) d Fingal 7.4 (46) 1957 - Fingal 8.11 (59) d St Marys 6.17 (53) 1958 - St Helens 9.9 (63) d Fingal 5.6 (36) 1959 - Fingal 8.8 (56) d Rossarden 7.12 (54) 1960 - St Helens 9.10 (64) d Avoca 9.8 (62) 1961 - Rossarden 12.12 (84) d Avoca 7.12 (54) 1962 - Rossarden 13.14 (92) d St Helens 6.6 (42) 1963 - Rossarden 11.12 (78) d St Helens 9.11 (65) 1964 - Rossarden 13.16 (94) d Swansea 9.9 (63) 1965 - Rossarden 10.13 (73) d Mathinna 6.14 (50) 1966 - Swansea 13.8 (86) d Rossarden 5.16(46) 1967 - Rossarden 10.17 (77) d Swansea 4.8 (32) 1968 - Avoca 7.12 (54) d Rossarden 7.5 (47) 1969 - Fingal 7.7 (49) d St Marys 5.14 (44) 1970 - St Helens 7.5 (47) d St Marys 6.7 (43) 1971 - Fingal 10.8 (68) d St Marys 8.10 (58) 1972 - St Marys 16.5 (101) d Avoca 12.15 (87) 1973 - Campbell Town 15.17 (107) d St Helens 4.8 (32) 1974 - Campbell Town 8.12 (60) d St Marys 8.5 (53) 1975 - Fingal 13.18 (96) d Campbell Town 11.20 (86) 1976 - Campbell Town 18.20 (128) d Fingal 10.9 (69) 1977 - Campbell Town 14.12 (96) d Fingal 10.9 (69) 1978 - Swansea 16.14 (110) d St Helens 11.12 (78) 1979 - Campbell Town 11.19 (85) d Avoca 11.11 (77) 1980 - Avoca 17.12 (114) d Campbell Town 11.10 (76) 1981 - Campbell Town 14.9 (93) d Avoca 13.11 (89) 1982 - Swansea 19.12 (126) d Fingal 13.10 (88) 1983 - St Marys 10.9 (69) d Fingal 8.10 (58) 1984 - St Helens 7.6 (48) d St Marys 5.16 (46) 1985 - St Helens 17.9 (111) d Swansea 8.8 (56) 1986 - Avoca 14.9 (93) d St Helens 13.8 (86) 1987 - St Helens 14.5 (89) d Campbell Town 12.10 (82) 1988 - Fingal 11.16 (82) d Swansea 7.10 (52) 1989 - Avoca 18.16 (124) d St Helens 14.14 (98) 1990 - St Marys 14.14 (98) d Fingal 8.11 (59) 1991 - St Marys 17.14 (116) d Fingal 9.10 (64) 1992 - St Helens 15.17 (107) d St Marys 3.2 (20)
Note: In the 1928 Grand Final, St Marys won the first grand final but the game was ended with ten minutes to go. Fingal protested and the Fingal FA determined that the game had to be replayed and it took place two weeks later. In 1936 Avoca were awarded the premiership over Rovers after Rovers refused to play in the grand final replay after the original game was drawn. In 1937 Avoca were awarded the premiership over St Marys after St Marys refused to play in the grand final replay after a protest against St Marys was upheld and the replay ordered.
Best and Fairest Best and fairest in the seniors was presented the Athol "Curly" Ellis Memorial Trophy
1951 – John Francis (Fingal) 1952 – John Francis (Fingal) 1953 – John Francis (Fingal) 1954 – Eric Furley (Avoca) 1955–1960 – unavailable 1961 – Richard Press (Swansea) 1962 – Max Davidson (Avoca) 1963 – Wayne Freeman (Fingal) 1964 – John Smith (Fingal) 1965 – John Smith (Fingal) 1966 – Stan Graham (Swansea) 1967 – Bob Bye (St Marys) CHS 4 Jack Donnelly Collection, QVMAG, Launceston 1968 – Bob Bye (St Marys) CHS 4 Jack Donnelly Collection, QVMAG, Launceston 1969 – unavailable 1970 – Colin Cruickshank (Rossarden) The Examiner, 20 August 1970 Cruickshank takes award 1971 – Kevin Youd (Avoca) 1972 – Graeme White (Avoca) 1973 – Scott Marshall (Fingal) 1974 – Derek Chapple (St Helens)
1975 – Terry Freeman (Fingal) 1976 – Scott Marshall (Fingal) 1977 – Brendan Manion (St Marys) 1978 – Robert Simpson (St Helens) 1979 – Scott Marshall (Fingal) 1980 – Scott Marshall (Fingal) 1981 – Stephen Cook (St Marys) 1982 – Leon Grice (Swansea) 1983 – Mark Donnellan (Fingal) 1984 – John Thurley (St Helens) 1985 – Andrew Bryan (Avoca) 1986 – Mark Harris (Avoca) 1987 – Ambrose McDonald (Campbell Town) 1988 – Kerry Murfett (Avoca) 1989 – Andrew Viney (St Marys) 1990 – Patrick Cusick (Swansea) 1991 – Lyndon Dakin (St Marys) 1992– Patrick Cusick (Swansea)
Leading Goal Kickers
Year Player H&A goals Finals goals Total Goals 1966 Lavelle (Swansea) 56 6 62 1967 D Criukshank (Rossarden) 62 7 69 1968 C Criukshank (Rossarden) 28 5 33 1969 Pennington (Avoca) 34 6 40 1970 Clark (Fingal) 40 4 44 1971 Robert Bye (St Marys) 88 14 102 1972 Robert Bye (St Marys) 57 9 66 1973 Wayne Freeman (St Helens) 65 12 77 1974 John Smith (Fingal) 41 0 41 1975 John Smith (Fingal) 55 5 60 1976 Gregory Jestremski (St Helens) 55 12 67 1977 Robert Colgrave (Campbell Town) 31 3 34 1978 Stephen Cleaver (Swansea) 41 3 44 1979 David Lowe (Campbell Town) 36 7 43 1980 Paul Smith (Avoca) 41 6 47 1981 Dale Brown (Campbell Town) 47 4 51 1982 Philip Wickham (Campbell town) 56 1 57 1983 Mark Donnellan (Fingal) 44 4 48 1984 John Thurley (St Helens) 42 7 49 1985 Mark Donnellan (Fingal) 61 6 67 1986 Ian Donnaghy (Avoca) 59 11 70 1987 Squires (St Marys) 48 5 53 1988 Stephen Richards (St Helens) 49 2 51 1989 M.Kean (Swansea) 58 0 58 1990 Michael Viney (St Marys) 57 7 64 1991 Andrew Viney (St Marys) 58 0 58 1992 Andrew Viney (St Marys) 68 2 70
Cullenswood Football Association (1932-35)