Start of the game
During the early convict period in Van Diemens Land, some work gangs played a form of ‘Football’ on almost a daily basis. For example, Samuel Snow, an American prisoner transported after the Canadian Rebellion of 1839, played a game of ‘Ball’ with British convicts on his road gang, during the 1840s and 1850s.
Football was often among the activities included in public holiday sports meetings. Generally, scratch teams played these games and rules were likely to have been minimal (H. T. Courier 23rd Dec. 1848 – Colonial Times 20th Dec. 1850).
An article appeared in the Tasmanian Telegraph Newspaper on Wednesday 16th March 1859 that referred to a game of football to be played on the following day: ‘St. Patrick's Day’:
There will be a grand Football Match between two elevens; selected by T. G. Gregson and John Stokell, Esquires for 10 Pounds ($20.00), some private matches and a hack race etc.
For the convenience of the inhabitants of Hobart Town, Guy’s Stage Coach will leave the Rock Hotel on the morning of Thursday and Friday at 8.00am. Returning each evening at 7 O’clock.
Fares if booked throughout: 10 shillings, and single fares 5 shillings, the former available for Friday if required.
Very first reported game
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.
First reported organised game
The first newspaper report on an organised game played was when the Mercury gave a short account of a game played between New Town and the Hobart Town Football Club, on Saturday, 26th May 1866 at the Battery Ground in Hobart. The game was conducted over two Saturday’s with the match finishing in a tie, one goal apiece, and a Mr. G. Wright was New Town’s goal scorer. It was a rudimentary affair with each team providing voluntary people to act as umpires and there were no boundary umpires, so when the ball went ‘out-of-bounds’ the closest player to the ball would be deemed the person to throw the ball back into play. Sometimes it would be kicked into play.
New clubs were formed, Stowell team, playing in a paddock near Battery Point, took the field about 1866, and a club with the magnificent name of Break O’Day appeared.
1879 Football progress
The first organised senior football competition in Hobart, known as the Southern Tasmanian Football Association (STFA) was established on 21st June, 1879.
The association adopted Melbourne rules and matches were played on upper and lower cricket grounds and on the old battery ground. other clubs to join the new competition were: Holbrook, Cricketers, Railway and City.
a. In the first season of the STFA there were only six roster matches played, with 15 players per team and New Town had a total of just 27 players to represent the club over the course of the season.
City Football Club and New Town Football Club played the very first official game in 1879, under the banner of the STFA . the match took place on 21st June.