Very first reported game in Hobart

A club by the name of New Town was formed in 1864, albeit somewhat dubious as a ‘so called’ club. These were basically groups of men that made up teams that would in turn challenge each other to a game.

On 21st April 1866, 11 members of New Town Football Club played a team of 14 boys from the Hutchins School. The match was the first reported game by the Mercury Newspaper on Tuesday 24th April. The eleven played well considering their want of practice, and for the School, E. Nairn (captain) and J. Buckland, distinguished themselves in all points of the game, while the forward play of Nicholas, a little man, but a ‘big’ player, Fisher, Butler and O’Connor were worthy of mention.