The Fitzroy Reds was an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. The club was formed in 1954 as the University Reds (or simply Uni Reds), competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).

In December 2008, the Reds merged with the Fitzroy Football Club, which became officially known as "Fitzroy Football Club (incorporating the Fitzroy Reds)".

History University Reds

University Reds was formed in 1954, joining the University Blacks and University Blues as the Melbourne University Football Club's third team in the VAFA for the 1955 season.

The club, which was originally in E Section and was known as "University (E)", provided opportunities for Blacks and Blues players who were not selected in either of those sides to get a regular match.

In 1964, the VAFA mandated reserves teams for all clubs. This forced the Reds to go into recess at the end of the season, however they soon returned and joined the Federal Football League (FFL) before returning to the VAFA in 1973 after two seasons in the FFL.

The Reds won their first seniors premiership in F Section in 1980.

Split from Melbourne University Following the 1997 season, under increasing pressure from the Melbourne University Sports Union to meet the required number of undergraduate and post graduate registrations to obtain funding, the club split from the university and were renamed to Fitzroy Reds, with 1998 their first season competing under the new name.

In 2003, the Reds played a curtain-raiser match against West Brunswick at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before the Brisbane Lions met during AFL Heritage Round.

Merger with Fitzroy

On 2 April 2008, Reds president Craig Little announced a plan to merge the club with the Fitzroy Football Club. Fitzroy had left the AFL following the 1996 season, but had not entirely disbanded and had a sponsorship arrangement with the Reds.

In December 2008, the Reds formally transferred all its assets to the Fitzroy Football Club. The Reds terminated its membership of the VAFA and was wound up as an incorporated company and football club.

By special dispensation from the VAFA, the Fitzroy Football Club then replaced the Reds in Division 1 of the VAFA, beginning in the 2009 season, fielding a senior and reserves side, as well as two under-19s sides and a Club XVIII side.

Honours Team of the Century (1955−2000) Back Peter O'Keefe Greg Cook (vice-captain) Stephen Drury Half-Back Andrew White Chris Anderson Greg Thomas Centre Russell Heddles Greg Roughsedge Daniel Cahir Half Forward Paul James Jack Clancy Denis Fossa Forward Bruce Dare Marc Marsden Justin Doyle Followers Peter Clayden Gerry Hardy Michael Smale (captain) Interchange Charlie Hosking Peter Barone Patrick Jackson Ian Jennens Coach Andrew McNair

Seasons

Source: PremiersGrand FinalistMinor premiersFinals appearanceWooden spoon

Seniors YearLeagueDivisionCoachCaptainBest and fairestLeading goalkicker 1955 VAFA E Section 1956 VAFA Marc Marsden 102 1957 VAFA 1958 VAFA E Section 2nd 16 2 0 Marc Marsden 52 1959 VAFA 1960 VAFA L. Walker 48 1961 VAFA E Section G. Hardy 1962 VAFA 1963 VAFA 1964 VAFA E Section J. Clancy 1965 VAFA (In recess) 1966 VAFA (In recess) 1967 VAFA (In recess) 1968 VAFA (In recess) 1969 VAFA (In recess) 1970 VAFA (In recess) 1971 FFL 1972 FFL 1973 VAFA K. Frencham D. King G. Courtis P. Lipshut 45 1974 VAFA K. Frencham S. Maule J. Clarke; G. Lipshut D. King 37 1975 VAFA K. Frencham R. Sheppard R. Grigg L. Lachal 29 1976 VAFA N. Sharpe N. Sharpe N. Sharpe N. Sharpe 42 1977 VAFA D. Cole D. Cole S. Bayley; G. Long J. Sturm 30 1978 VAFA Andrew McNair R. Wright M. Smale Peter Hille 42 1979 VAFA Andrew McNair R. Wright M. Smale Peter Hille 71 1980 VAFA 1st 16 2 0 Andrew McNair M. Smale Chris Anderson Peter Hille 103 1981 VAFA Andrew McNair M. Smale P. Clayden 1982 VAFA A. Holloway G. Thomas P. Clayden 1983 VAFA G. Mahoney Chris Anderson Russell Heddles 1984 VAFA I. Steward I. Steward G. Funston 1985 VAFA I. Steward I. Steward Greg Roughsedge 1986 VAFA R. Chitty R. Chitty Greg Roughsedge 1987 VAFA F Section 9th 6 12 0 L. Duffus Charlie Hosking Greg Roughsedge 1988 VAFA L. Duffus Charlie Hosking 1989 VAFA L. Duffus Andrew White Ian Jennens 1990 VAFA L. Duffus Andrew White F. Godschan 1991 VAFA G. Burgen B. Condon B. Kane 1992 VAFA I. Ewing G. Cook P. Curry 1993 VAFA I. Ewing G. Cook J. Doyle 1994 VAFA I. Ewing Andrew White J. Doyle 1995 VAFA E Central M. Farrell B. Pickett G. Wright 1996 VAFA M. Farrell B. Pickett Stephen Drury; S. Rowland 1997 VAFA J. Doyle A. Jackson Paul James 1998 VAFA G. Hammond M. Farrell Peter Jackson M. Farrell 23 1999 VAFA G. Hammond Stephen Drury Jeremy Rawlins C. Farrell 32 2000 VAFA G. Hammond Stephen Drury Stephen Drury; S. Addicott T. Mitchell 21 2001 VAFA 1st 0 Graham Burgen Stephen Drury Stephen Drury D. Ronchi 65 2002 VAFA 6th 8 10 0 Graham Burgen Stephen Drury Stephen Drury J. Tornese 65 2003 VAFA 2nd 15 3 0 Graham Burgen Stephen Drury T. Clarke J. Tornese 59 2004 VAFA Graham Burgen T. Clarke; B. Atherton K.P. Cianci 35 2005 VAFA Division 1 1st 17 1 0 Graham Burgen V. Cahill; P. Diacogiorgis V. Cahill; M. Zika Phil Cianci 80 2006 VAFA 6th 8 10 0 Graham Burgen V. Cahill; Jeremy Rawlins C. Meighen K. Maghamez 48 2007 VAFA Steve Maus Tim Davis C. Meighen Nick Shuttleworth 22 2008 VAFA Division 1 11 James Taylor Jimmy O'Reilly Matthew Biggs Leon Holderhead 18

Reserves YearLeagueDivisionCoachCaptainBest and fairestLeading goalkicker 1973 VAFA 1974 VAFA 1975 VAFA 1976 VAFA 1977 VAFA 1978 VAFA 1979 VAFA 1980 VAFA 1st 17 1 0 1981 VAFA 1982 VAFA 1983 VAFA 1984 VAFA 1985 VAFA 1986 VAFA 1987 VAFA F Section 10th 3 15 0 1988 VAFA 1989 VAFA 1990 VAFA 1991 VAFA 1992 VAFA 1993 VAFA 1994 VAFA Tim Bell 1995 VAFA E Central 1996 VAFA 1997 VAFA 1998 VAFA D. Kane M. Frisby E. Kyriacou 37 1999 VAFA D. Kane G. Box C. Prior 64 2000 VAFA D. Kane G. Box D. Kane 39 2001 VAFA A. George J. Card D. Kane 56 2002 VAFA 2nd 16 2 0 A. George A. Grant D. Kane 44 2003 VAFA 3rd 15 3 0 D. Kane M. Baker M. Foster; S. Pidotto 19 2004 VAFA C. Tehan Damian Hannam Sam Baillie R. Capodiferro 40 2005 VAFA Division 1 1st 16 2 0 C. Tehan Sam Baillie Sam Baillie R. Capodiferro 70 2006 VAFA C Section 3rd 12 6 0 C. Little N. Evans J. Tornese 59 2007 VAFA F. Cameron C. Sullivan P. Wood; E. Tice D. Hannam 36 2008 VAFA Division 1 F. Cameron J. Nagorka 55

Thirds YearLeagueDivisionCoachCaptainBest and fairestLeading goalkicker 2002 VAFA G. Box J. Hamilton N. Currie 6 2003 VAFA G. Box T. Jackson C. Prior 29 2004 VAFA G. Box J. Grimmett J. Grimmett 54 2005 VAFA A. George S. McCarthy; T. Belleville J. Grimmett; M. Foster; A. Walsh 15 2006 VAFA A. George Tim Campbell D. Hannam A. Dawson 27 2007 VAFA A. George A. Grant R. Trigg Gregg Crane 21 2008 VAFA A. Grant R. Hunter Tim Campbell

Fourths YearLeagueDivisionCoachCaptainBest and fairestLeading goalkicker 2005 VAFA C. Little Tony Jackson Tony Jackson C. Prior 23 2006 VAFA T. Leske Tony Jackson N. Schofield M. Kelly 27 2007 VAFA J. Steer D. Schleibs Nick Auden 27

Under-19s YearLeagueDivisionCoachCaptainBest and fairestLeading goalkicker 2003 VAFA Red (2) 3rd 13 5 0 Tim Bell M. Zika K. Maghamez 100 2004 VAFA Tim Bell M. Zika K. Maghamez 112 2005 VAFA Red (2) 6th 9 9 0 Tim Bell C. Dullard K. McKenzie 32 2006 VAFA Tim Bell K. Donato Christopher Ligris 52 2007 VAFA Tim Bell Matthew Biggs 2008 VAFA Tim Bell A. Harbor Luke Novello 31 Section 2 B. Edwards

Club XVIII YearLeagueDivisionCoachCaptainBest and fairestLeading goalkicker 2002 VAFA North 7th 3 12 0 2003 VAFA North 3rd 9 5 0 2004 VAFA Section 2 3rd 2005 VAFA 4th 10 5 0 Section 3 3rd 10 3 0 2006 VAFA Section 2 3rd 11 4 0 Section 3 2nd 12 3 0 2007 VAFA 2008 VAFA

Grand finals PremiersRunners-upDrawn Year League Division Grade Opponent Score Venue Date Report 1980 VAFA Seniors Thomastown Beaurepaire Centre 1981 VAFA Seniors 1994 VAFA Reserves VUT 1995 VAFA E Central Seniors 2001 VAFA Seniors 2003 VAFA Seniors Central Reserve 2003 VAFA North Old Essendon 11.7 (73) d. 7.2 (44) 2005 VAFA Reserves Box Hill City Oval 2005 VAFA Seniors Ormond Box Hill City Oval 2006 VAFA Section 3 Old Essendon 9.10 (64) d. 5.7 (37) Elsternwick Park 25 August 2006

References

External links Official website (archived 23 July 2008)