The Albury & District Football League was established at a delegates meeting in Culcairn in 1930 from the following Australian Rules Football clubs – Albury Rovers, Culcairn, Henty and Holbrook and folded after the 1957 football season.
History The Albury & District Football League was established at a delegates meeting in Culcairn in 1930 from the following Australian Rules Football clubs – Albury Rovers, Culcairn, Henty and Holbrook. The first season saw 12 games played, plus semi finals and a grand final which was won by Henty.
Brocklesby had a famous grand final victory over Henty to win the 1939 Albury & District Football League premiership after Wally Crooks kicked a goal after the siren, from a free kick to win by two points, under captain / coach, Jim Steigenberger. Henty then lodged an appeal to the Albury & DFL, which was defeated then appealed to the Murray District Football Council, which was then upheld, awarding the premiership to Henty. Brocklesby then appealed that decision to the Victorian Country Football League, which was up held, allowing Brocklesby to finally be declared the 1939 premiers. Brocklesby's full forward, Shadrach "Shady" James kicked 82 goals in the home and away series plus 16 goals in the finals, for a total of 98 goals in 17 games in 1939.
In August 1943, Mr. A D S Vivian, the league's foundation president from 1930 to 1935 died in Sydney. Vivian was the driving force behind the Albury Rovers FC and a former club president too. He was the vice president of the NSW branch of the National Football League.
In 1950 the Albury & District Football League introduced a Reserve Grade Competition,
North Melbourne visited Bolton Park, Wagga in 1952 and defeated a combined Albury & DFL side, with North's Jock Spencer kicking 18 goals.
The 1952 A&DFL Reserves competition was divided into two division – North (Wagga) and South (Albury).
Culcairn's Henry "Splinter" Liston kicked 91 goals in the 1953 home and away series, plus 8 more in the finals, to finish on 99 goals!
In June 1954 the Albury & DFL played an inter-league match against the South Western DFL at Wagga, resulting in a win to Albury & DFL, 12.20 – 92 to 10.7 – 67.
Culcairn's Henry "Splinter" Liston kicked 102 goals in 1954, which included the finals series.
In 1955, Ron Clegg was captain-coach of the North Wagga Football Club in the Albury & DFL, winning the £50 – Border Mail Newspaper / Albury & DFL Footballer of the Year Award, before returning to South Melbourne in 1956.
In 1957 the Farrer Football League was first formed as a breakaway from the Albury & District Football League. Culcairn, Henty, Holbrook and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United competed in the first season. In 1958 all remaining clubs from the Albury & District Football League moved across to the Farrer Football League.
Clubs
Final ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in compSFNL/SESFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalMost recentJuneeBulldogsLaurie Daley Oval, JuneeWSFL191919570 -Moved to Farrer FL following 1957 seasonLockhartBombersLockhart Recreation Ground, LockhartCRFL189819570 -Moved to Farrer FL following 1957 seasonNorth WaggaSaintsMcPherson Oval, North Wagga Wagga–195719570 -Moved to Farrer FL following 1957 seasonThe RockMagpiesVictoria Park, The RockTR&DFL, CRFLc.1920s1939-1940, 1948-19570 -Moved to Farrer FL following 1957 seasonWaggaTigersRobertson Oval, Wagga WaggaWAFL19281949-195711957Moved to Farrer FL following 1957 seasonYerong CreekYerong Creek Sports Ground, Yerong CreekCRFLc.1910s1956-19570 -Moved to Farrer FL following 1957 season
Former ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in compSFNL/SESFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalMost recentAlbury RoversRoversT&DFA, C&DFA19261930-1937, 194611933Played in Chiltern & District FA between 1938-40. Merged with East Albury to form East Albury Rovers following 1946 seasonBrocklesbyKangaroosBrocklesby Recreation Reserve, BrocklesbyC&DFL, CHFA19071931-1932, 1935-194011939Played in Central Hume FA between 1933-34. Moved to Hume FL following WWIICookardiniaTR&DFL1934-19540 -Merged with Mangoplah to form Mangoplah-Cookardinia United following 1954 seasonCulcairnLionsCulcairn Sportsground, CulcairnRFA18951930-195631952, 1953, 1954Formed Farrer FL following 1956 seasonEast Albury Rovers–194719470 -Moved to Hume FL following 1947 seasonHentySwans, SwampiesHenty Showground, HentyRFA18951930-195631930, 1935, 1937Formed Farrer FL following 1956 seasonHolbrookBrookersHolbrook Sports Complex, HolbrookRFA18821930-195651931, 1932, 1934, 1951, 1955Formed Farrer FL following 1956 seasonMangoplahMangoplah Sports Ground, MangoplahWFA1937-195471938, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950Merged with Cookardinia to form Mangoplah-Cookardinia United following 1954 seasonMangoplah-Cookardinia UnitedGoannasMangoplah Sports Ground, Mangoplah–19551955-195611956Formed Farrer FL following 1956 seasonMarrarBombersLangtry Oval, Marrar19180 -Moved to Central Riverina FL following 1956 seasonNorth Wagga SaintsSaintsMcPherson Oval, North Wagga Wagga1940s1948-19560 -Merged with North Wagga Stars to form North Wagga following 1956 seasonRAAF secondsHornetsRAAF Base Oval, Forest Hill194819500 -?RandPigeonsRand Recreation Reserve, Rand19251939-19400 -Moved to Hume FL following WWIISt Patricks 1934-19360 -Folded in April 1937Turvey ParkBulldogsMaher Oval, Wagga Wagga19540 -Moved to Central Riverina FL following 1954 seasonWoomargama-Mullengandra19480 -Folded after 1948 season
Grand Finals Seniors YearPremiersScoreRunners upScoreCaptainCoachVenueGatePremiership Cup1930Henty14.12 – 96 Holbrook 8.14 – 62 Culcairn Kennedy Gold Cup1931Holbrook13.11 – 89 Brocklesby 5.7 – 37 Cec Field Culcairn Kennedy Memorial Cup1932Holbrook 9.11 – 65 Albury Rovers 8.10 – 58 Culcairn Kennedy Memorial Cup1933Albury Rovers 16.12 – 108 Henty 9.10 – 64 Charlie Kolb Charlie Kolb Albury Showgrounds £40 Kennedy Memorial Cup1934Holbrook 10.11 – 71 Albury Rovers 7.14 – 56 Culcairn £55 Kennedy Memorial Cup1935Henty 18.14 – 122 Holbrook18.12 – 120 W W Paech W W Paech Culcairn £67 Ballarat Brewery Cup1936Culcairn 12.13 – 85 Henty 11.13 – 79 Jack Clarke Jack Clarke Cookardinia £56 1937Henty 14.12 – 96 Mangoplah11.10 – 76 W W Paech W W Paech Culcairn £127 Shugg Cup1938Mangoplah 20.10 – 130 Culcairn 12.11 – 83 Russell Madden Russell Madden Henty £120 Mackie Cup1939Brocklesby 14.10 – 94 Henty 13.14 – 92 Jim Steigenberger Jim Steigenberger Culcairn 1940Mangoplah 16.18 – 114 Culcairn 13.13 – 78 Ray Roberson Ray Roberson Cookardinia Mrs F A Parker Cup1941-5 In recess – WW21946Mangoplah 12.13 – 85 Culcairn 9.20 – 74 Allan Klimpsch Ray Roberson Henty £184 1947Mangoplah 16.11 – 107 Holbrook 14.10 – 94 Ray Roberson Ray Roberson Culcairn £204 1948Mangoplah 18.13 – 121 The Rock 11.18 – 84 Ray Roberson Ray Roberson Culcairn £169 Cannon Cup1949Mangoplah 14.15 – 99 Wagga 9.18 – 72 Allan Klimpsch Allan Klimpsch Culcairn £394 Cannon Cup1950Mangoplah 12.9 – 81 Holbrook 11.11 – 77 Allan Klimpsch Allan Klimpsch The Rock £406 Cannon Cup1951Holbrook 12.9 – 81 Culcairn 9.8 – 62 Mangoplah £400 1952Culcairn 8.20 – 68 Wagga 9.9 – 63 Ted Hill Ted Hill Mangoplah £499 1953Culcairn 8.13 – 61 Wagga 6.9 – 45 Frank O'Leary Frank O'Leary The Rock £7771954Culcairn 19.30 – 144 Wagga 4.9 – 33 Frank O'Leary Frank O'Leary Henty £650 1955Holbrook 11.9 – 75 M C U 8.9 – 57 Stan Rule Stan Rule Culcairn 1956M C U 12.11 – 83 The Rock 7.13 – 55 Bill Byrne Bill Byrne 1957Wagga 14.14 – 98 The Rock 5.12 – 42
MCU – Mangoplah Cookardinia United FC Cannon Cup: Donated by John Cannon from the Culcairn Hotel.
Most Senior Premierships / Runners Up ClubMost PremiershipsRunners upMangoplah 7 2Holbrook 5 4Culcairn 4 4Henty 3 3Albury Rovers 1 2Brocklesby 1 1M C U 1 1Wagga 1 4 The Rock 2Totals 23 23
Reserves The Albury & DFL Reserves competition ran from 1950 to 1957. YearPremiersScoreRunners upScoreCaptainCoachVenueGatePremiership Cup1950RAAF Blues11.12 – 78 Henty 4.11 – 35 1951Holbrook 1952Marrar 105 Army 66 1953Culcairn v Holbrook Unsure who won 2nds G Final1954Turvey Park 8.12 – 60 Culcairn 4.8 – 32 1955Culcairn 11.4 – 70 M C U 7.10 – 52 1956Wagga 3.17 – 35 Culcairn 4.6 – 30 1957Wagga d The Rock
League Best & Fairest Award In 1932, Mr. D M Stavley of Wodonga donated a medal for the best and fairest player to be decided on by the umpires votes. The Carlton Brewery Medal was first donated in 1936. The Baz Medal was first donated in 1952 by Mr. Mick Baz of Culcairn. YearWinnerClubVotesRunner upClubVotes1930no record of award 1931no record of award Stavley Gold Medal 1932W Carroll Culcairn 1933Charlie Kolb Albury Rovers 1934Dinny Ryan Albury Rovers 1935Tom Eames Albury Rovers Carlton Brewery Medal 1936Ron Nolan Cookardinia Bert Clarke Brocklesby 1937Merv CooperMangoplah 31 Vin Smith Brocklesby 22 1938Jim KendallHolbrook 27 Merv Cooper Mangoplah 22 Albert Bert Clay * Henty (27) Vin Smith Brocklesby 22 1939Albert Bert Clay Henty 21 Jim Kendall Holbrook 19 1940A R "Ray" Roberson Mangoplah 1941-5 In recess WW2 1946Alan Papworth Culcairn Charlie Craig Cookardinia 1947Charlie Craig Cookardinia 17G Bedggood Henty 15 1948J Mullarvey Woomargrama 1949Brian Brennan Holbrook 1950Des Donkin The Rock 16 H Clark Mangoplah 15 Brian Brennan * Holbrook (16)Charlie Craig Cookardinia 15 1951Jim Stockton North Wagga 29 Brian Brennan & Holbrook 18 Ron Bunyan Cookardinia18 Baz Medal 1952Ron Bunyan Cookardinia 26 Tim Robb * The Rock (26) 1953Merv PieperNorth Wagga Tim Robb The Rock 1954Harry Gardiner Culcairn 16 Neale Rutzou & Wagga 14 Sid Ruhe Henty 14 1955Len Wornes Holbrook 20 Ron Bunyan M C U 17 1956Hayden HenselCulcairn 1957E Feeney The Rock
1938 – Albert Clay (Henty) lost on a count back. 1950 – Brian Brennan (Holbrook) lost on a count back. 1952 – Tim Robb (The Rock) lost on a count back.
VFL Players
The following footballers from the Albury & DFL went onto to play senior VFL football, with the year indicating their VFL debut. 1935 – Dinny Ryan – Albury Rovers to Fitzroy 1940 – Albert Clay – Henty to Fitzroy 1940 – Shadrach "Shady" James – Brocklesby to Fitzroy 1941 – Ivor Clay – Henty to Fitzroy 1950 – Neale Rutzou – Wagga to Fitzroy 1957 – Percy Appleyard – Culcairn to South Melbourne 1957 – Bill Byrne – Mangoplah / Cookardinia United to Melbourne, and Wagga Wagga.
Office Bearers YearPresidentSecretaryTreasurer1930A D S Vivian Gordon Davidson A Smith 1931A D S Vivian Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1932A D S Vivian Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1933A D S Vivian Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1934A D S Vivian Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1935A D S Vivian Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1936G A Gray Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1937T E Kendall Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1938T E Kendall Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1940T E Kendall Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1941-5 In recess – WW2 1946J J Newman Gordon Davidson Gordon Davidson 1947 J J Newman Alan F Fifield L Wilksch 1948David Cox Alan F Fifield L Wilksch 1949David Cox Alan F Fifield L Wilksch 1950David Cox Alan F Fifield L Wilksch 1951David Cox Alan F Fifield L Wilksch 1952 David Cox Alan F Fifield L Wilksch 1953 David Cox Alan F Fifield L Wilksch 1954David Cox Alan F Fifield L Wilksch 1955 1956 1957
Links 1930 to 1956 – Albury & District Football League Premierships & Best & Fairest Lists 1937 – Albury & DFL Premiers: Henty FC team photo 1938 – Albury & DFL team: Holbrook FC team photo 1939 – Albury & DFL team: Rand FC team photo 1939 – Mangoplah FC & The Rock FC team photos 1939 – Albury & DFL semi final team: Brocklesby FC team photo 1939 – Albury & DFL semi Final team: Henty FC team photo 1940 – Albury & DFL Premiers: Mangoplah FC team photo 1947 – Albury & DFL team: Cookardinia FC team photo 1947 – Albury & DFL team: Culcairn FC team photo 1947 – Albury & DFL Runners Up: Holbrook FC team photo 1948 – Albury & DFL grand final teams: Mangoplah FC & The Rock FC team photos 1949 – Albury & DFL Premiers: Mangoplah FC team photo