1890s - 1918
A very fair success for a first attempt
1890s
Early social football is played mostly on the New Recreation Ground (the Esplanade), Weld Square and Russell Square. Piles of rubbish are often used for goals.
1892
Letters to newspapers by Willem Siebenhaar leads to the English Association and Rugby Union Football Club being formed on Thursday 5th May at the United Service Hotel in central Perth.
The first recorded game of association football in Western Australia takes place on Wednesday 25th May between the ‘whites’ and the ‘whites with black sash’ on the New Recreation Ground.
Although support for football soon diminishes, impromptu games continue in and around Perth for the next few years.
1896
Western Australia’s first recorded association football club is formed in the country town of Southern Cross.
Further letters to newspapers, including those from brothers Frederick and Archibald Burt, result in the formation of the British Football Association of Western Australia on Wednesday 13th May at the United Service Hotel.
The inaugural Association Committee consisting of Harry Brown (chairman), John Davies (president), Henry Saunders, Thomas Hardwick, J.L. Jones (vice-presidents) and Edward Pope (secretary) is elected.
Organised football arrives on Saturday 30th May with a league fixture between Perth and Civil Services at Towton’s Paddock in East Perth. Perth win 2-0 with both goals coming from 16-year old Reg Burt.
A Southern Cross team visits Perth in July to play two social matches. They lose to Fremantle Wanderers before defeating a Perth XI.
Fremantle Wanderers win the first league championship ahead of Civil Services, Perth BAFC and Crusaders. Fremantle, who play at the Halfway House in Cottesloe, collect further league titles in 1897, 1900 and 1901.
1897
League champions Fremantle Wanderers are presented the first football trophy, donated by Perth BAFC member James W Harrison.
1898
Civil Service are the first recipients of the Wilson Cup, donated by WAFA (Australian Rules) secretary Edward L Wilson. Civil Service are awarded the trophy as league champions, having gone through the season undefeated.
1899
Fremantle Wanderers win the first knock-out competition, the Wilson Challenge Cup, by defeating Civil Service. The games’ solitary goal is a second half finish by Bristow.
1900
A player registration system commences. All clubs are required to submit lists to the Association.
Boulder City, Boulder Mines, Coolgardie Pioneers and Kalgoorlie compete in the first Goldfields league.
High School are the first champions of the inaugural Schools League, which also features James Street, Fremantle, St Peter’s and East Perth.
1901
The Junior British Football Association of Western Australia is formed under the guardianship of the BFAWA.
1902
International football comes to Western Australia when the State team faces an England Test Cricket XI. A crowd of nearly 5,000 turn up to Fremantle Oval to watch the visitors win 4-0 on Monday 24 March 1902.
Perth are the first recipients of a new League champions trophy, which is gifted to the BFAWA by Septimus Burt.
1903
A meeting at the residence of Aleck Peters, WABFA secretary, on Hay Street leads to the formation of a Referees Association on Saturday 7 February.
The Charity Cup semi-final between Civil Services and Casuals is Perth’s first recorded floodlit game. Played at the WACA Ground with a ball painted white, Civil Service win 5-0 on Thursday 3 September.
Olympic defeat Civil Service 2-0 in the inaugural Charity Cup final.
Captain Robert J White receives the first Life Membership of the BFAWA.
1904
Regulation line markings are seen for the first time on Loton’s Paddock in East Perth, using tar.
Former Chairman, Secretary, referee and newspaper writer Aleck Peters receives the second BFAWA Life Membership.
The Challenge Cup & Shield competition starts, replacing the Wilson Challenge Cup. The silver cup and accompanying jarrah shield, donated by WC Thomas and RB Pettigrew respectively, are contested for together through to 1959.
Country teams Collie Boomerangs and Yarloop enter the Charity Cup. Collie prove to be the surprise of the tournament by reaching the semi-finals.
1905
The first tour by a State team takes place when players representing the Junior British Football Association of WA visits South Australia. The squad of fifteen plays an exhausting seven games inside twelve days, winning three and losing four.
1907
The association changes its name to the Western Australia British Football Association.
Royston Evans scores all six goals in Perth Rangers’ 6-0 mid-season thrashing of Fremantle Rovers. He puts away another four goals when Rangers defeat City United 5-2 in the final of the Charity Cup.
1908
A Metropolitan XI visits Bunbury for a friendly on the Bunbury Recreation Ground. The visitors win 5-1.
1909
Western Australia embarks on its first senior interstate tour. Wearing dark green shirts, white shorts and dark blue socks, the fifteen-player squad picks up three wins and five draws from ten-games played in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
1910
South Australia reciprocates the previous year’s visit by journeying to Western Australia. The tourists play five games with their sole victory a 1-0 success over a Perth District XI.
1912
An off-season fire destroys the records of the junior association. A perpetual trophy is also lost to the blaze.
1914
Frank Matthews, David Jackson, WS Blair (Training College), Mackey, Chris Ewing, Skinner and Booth (Austral) are among the first footballers to join the Australian Forces following the outbreak of war in Europe. Over the next few years around 400 players and officials of the local leagues will enlist.
A charity competition involving local players representing England, Scotland and Australia kicks off. The games prove popular and continue for many years.
1916
As World War I rages in Europe, the local league season is brought to an end after 10 rounds. Claremont and Thistle are declared joint champions ahead of Perth Combined.
