Item #122466 An original invitation from the Committee of the United Football Association of South Australia 'for a drive in the Hills on Sunday next, the 15th inst., in honor of the English Footballers'. 1888 United Football Association of South Australia.

An original invitation from the Committee of the United Football Association of South Australia 'for a drive in the Hills on Sunday next, the 15th inst., in honor of the English Footballers'

A gilt-edged card (77 × 115 mm), printed in red, with manuscript insertions; in excellent condition.

The invitation, issued to 'Mr R Burton' and initialled 'DGE' [D.G. Evan] is undated, but the English footballers arrived in Adelaide on 5 July 1888. The South Australian 'Weekly Chronicle', on Saturday 14 July 1888, under the headline 'International Football', has an account of the first match played the previous Saturday. 'The English football team initiated their series of matches on the Adelaide Oval [last] Saturday, when they met the South Adelaides. The venture of bringing to the colonies more than half a score of British players was a bold one, perhaps the boldest that Mr Lillywhite and his associates had yet undertaken. Not only were the expenses of the tour nearly twice as great as those incurred in bringing out a team of cricketers, but they had also to risk the possibility of the game, as played by the visitors, not taking the popular fancy. The very great difference between the Rugby and the Australian games made the task of playing the latter well by men who had practiced the former all their lives an almost impossible one. The visitors could scarcely have hoped to hold their own against the best twenties of the colonies in a game which is peculiarly their own, being the only national sport evolved by the people of these lands, but still they have done as well as could be expected. It is less than a month since they first took the field to do battle under the Australian rules, and they have still many opportunities before them of practising the game. In point of physique they far outshine any team that either of the colonies puts into the football arena ... and their appearance when they emerged from the pavilion was the theme of general admiration. In fact they impressed the onlookers so favorably that many people accepted freely the twos and threes to one offered against them. The confidence of their backers was, however, misplaced, as they were unable to hold their own against the lightweights opposed to them. The 5,000 spectators appeared to greatly enjoy the game, which was played in the best possible spirit'. A greatly improved side defeated Port Adelaide on the following Tuesday, and although they lost their third and final match against Norwood on the following Saturday, the 'Advertiser' reported 'there was one of the largest attendances witnessed on the oval this season, there being about 8,000 spectators in the pavilion and around the chains.... Interest was maintained in the game during the whole afternoon, the Englishmen playing in a most determined fashion. Those spectators who had only witnessed the match on the previous Saturday were greatly struck with the wonderful improvement in the Englishmen's play, and the opinion was freely expressed that they will make matters very warm for the clubs in Victoria on their return to that colony'. A very early reference to the United Football Association of South Australia appears in a report in the 'South Australian Weekly Chronicle' on Saturday 12 May 1888: 'The first meeting of the newly-formed football association was held at the Trade Exchange on Wednesday evening, May 9, when there was a full attendance. Mr H.S. Wyatt occupied the chair, and explained to the delegates of the Norwood, North Adelaide, and Gawler clubs that their application to join the association had been formally laid before the committee, and had been received. The clubs represented at the meeting were the Adelaides, Port Adelaides, South Adelaides, Medindie B, Norwoods, North Adelaides, and Gawlers. The draft rules were first considered, and it was resolved that the name of the association should be the United Football Association of South Australia "or such other name as the association may in committee from time to time determine." Some objection was taken to this, and it was urged that as the South Australian Football Association would now be dissolved its name might be taken. In answer to that it was pointed out that the name could afterwards be altered'. History suggests this was soon to be the case; not least, 'The officers elected were the same as those appointed in the South Australian Football Association'. Richard Burton (1863-1933) was a Gawler school teacher who played a prominent active role in cricket in the district at the time, and was evidently a keen football fan, with membership to several clubs. A short notice in the Adelaide 'Express and Telegraph' on Thursday 16 March 1893 announced the death that morning of D.G. Evan, 'quite a young man ... well known in cricket and football circles. At one time he was a prominent player for the North Adelaide Juniors and was also connected with the Adelaide club. For some years he was secretary to the South Australian Football Association, a position which he resigned about two years ago'.

Item #122466

Price (AUD): $650.00