Football on the North West Coast commenced

Football on the North West Coast commenced when Formby and Latrobe clubs formed a 12 a side teams. Results of this first match: Latrobe 3.20 to Formby 0.15.

First recorded game at Burnie

Latrobe club, on the North West Coast, played a team from Waratah in the first recorded game at Burnie, on the old Montello racecourse, now a housing development.

Devon Football Association (DFA)

Formed on 4th May 1891 at Latrobe, the Association operated for three seasons with the following member clubs: Brittania, Devonport, Latrobe Juniors, Latrobe Seniors, Railton, Sheffield and Ulverstone.

Latrobe club won the first two premierships in 1891 and 1892. Unfortunately, there is no information available as to which club won the last premiership played in 1893.

NWFA Clubs

Foundation teams included: Mersey, Latrobe, Devonport, Wesley Vale, and Ulverstone.

NWFL Clubs

Teams in the League were: Latrobe, Penguin and Ulverstone.

Turmoil on North West coast

At a special ‘Disputes’ meeting of the North Western Football Association (controlling body on North West Coast) the Ulverstone club was disqualified and Latrobe, which supported Ulverstone in the dispute, withdrew from the competition. When no reconciliation was possible, Ulverstone and Latrobe combined with Penguin to form the North Western Football League.

The NWFA continued with its member clubs from the Western end of the coast.

On 17th April, both the NWFA and NWFL applied to the TFL for affiliation. The NWFA was accepted, but the NWFL was refused because Ulverstone and Latrobe were disqualified clubs.

After the TFL had sent a delegate to the coast to help resolve the dispute. The TFL finally recognised the NWFL only for the purpose of transfers and clearances and not as the controlling body of football on the coast.

TFL delegates heard appeals from both clubs and the Association and after several weeks made the following decision, (a) Appeal from Ulverstone was upheld on the grounds that the disqualification was imposed after the resignation had been accepted by the NWFA. (b) Latrobe: That the TFL considers that the fine imposed on the Latrobe club, having been paid, such club disqualification should upon application to the NWFA, be forthwith withdrawn by such Association and failing removal, the appeal be upheld and the disqualification be removed by the TFL.

Following this, the TFL advised both the NWFA and NWFL to get together and form a new strong Union. In 1910 the North Western Football Union was formed as the governing body of football on the North West Coast.

NWFU Roster started 14 May

First roster matches played on 14th May. With teams from Latrobe, Mersey, Ulverstone, Penguin and Wesley Vale competing. Although Wesley Vale withdrew early in the season.

NWFU Clubs

The make-up of the NWFU had chanced from the previous season ie: Mersey, Latrobe, Ulverstone and Devonport joined from a local Junior association. Penguin withdrew from the Union and entered the Burnie Football League.

Greater Northern League (GNL)

The NTFA had several disruptions over the years it operated in the Northern region of the State. One major change took place in 1981 when the NTFA merged with the NWFU to form the Greater Northern League (GNL).

The GNL came about by a merger of Northern Tasmanian Football Association and the North Western Football Union in 1981. The concept was to have the top teams from the two major Northern competitions (NTFA & NWFU) play in one strong competition (GNL).

However, the move quickly found it had several challenges, such as a financial strain for both the Leagues and its clubs. Logistical problems of extensive travel across the Northern region of the State, and a lack of support from clubs and governing bodies. As a consequence of this, the GNL folded after two seasons.

The GNL competition was supported by the following competing clubs:

From NTFA:
City South Redlegs, East Launceston Demons, Launceston Blues, Longford Tigers, North Launceston Robins, Scottsdale Magpies.

From NWFU:
Burnie Tigers, Cooee Bulldogs, Devonport Magpies, East Devonport Swans, Latrobe Demons, Penguin Two Blues, Ulverstone Robins, Wynyard Cats and Smithton Saints.

Northern Tasmanian Football League (NTFL)

The NTFL was formed in the early part of 1987, by both the NTFA and NWFU merging to become the NTFL. This was caused as a result of the TANFL creating a Statewide competition known as the TFL State-Wide League (TSWL) that commenced in 1986.

The TANFL granted the NTFL Second Tiered Status which was retained until 1998. The home base for the NTFL was in central Devonport.

The NTFL participated in the annual Victorian Country Championships, as it happened the exercise was a financial loss, that cause the NTFL to withdraw after three years in 1989. Instead, the NTFL played matches against the TANFL Under 23’s, the Southern Football League and the Tasmanian Amateur State Team.

Teams that participated in NTFL from 1987 included: Burnie, Deloraine, East Devonport, George Town, Latrobe, Launceston, Longford, Penguin, Scottsdale, Smithton, Ulverstone and Wynyard,