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Ballarat Imperial Football Club

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Ballarat Imperial Football Club
Names
Full nameBallarat Imperial Football Club
Nickname(s)Blues[1] / Imps / Tricolours
Club details
Founded1876
Dissolved1955; 69 years ago (1955)
Colours      [2]
CompetitionBallarat Football League
Premierships20 (1884, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1922, 1929, 1935, 1936, 1937)
Uniforms
Home

The Ballarat Imperial Football Club was an Australian rules football club which formerly competed in the Ballarat Football League. The club was one of the most successful teams in the league, winning 17 premierships before it was dissolved in 1955.

History

[edit]
1921 - BFL Runner Up: Ballarat Imperial FC defeated by Golden Point FC
1913: Club Colours

The club was formed in the mid-1870s as the "Galatea Football Club" before becoming known as "Ballarat Imperial" in 1878[3] with the first practice match taking place on Saturday 4th May 1878.

In 1882, Ballarat Imperial FC and City FC agreed to merge clubs and become known as the Ballarat City Imperial FC and retain the colours of Ballarat Imperial FC.[4]

In 1883, Ballarat Imperials FC captain, Mr. John Williams Mills, was struck in the abdomen, but played out the game. Mills unfortunately died the following morning, aged 25 years of age.[5][6]

In 1885, a second twenty (reserves) team was formed.[7]

The club was a provincial playing member of the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1885 until 1888,[8] taking part in the Association's administration and competing regularly against Melbourne-based VFA clubs.

The club's VFA positions were as follows - 1885 - 10th, 1886 - 15th, 1887 - 13th, 1888 - 14th.[9]

The club played against the touring British footballers in 1888.[10]

George McKenzie was captain of Ballarat Imperials when they won six consecutive premierships between 1891[11] and 1896[12] and were runners up in 1897 and 1898.

Ballarat Imperial was a founding member of the Ballarat Football Association in 1893, and was its dominant club through its early years, winning eleven of the first fourteen premierships. The club returned to prominence in the 1930s, winning three premierships in a row from 1935 to 1937.[13] In 1937, it made an attempt to rejoin the VFA as a full member. However, it was felt that a second Ballarat-based team would have to be included to ensure that one VFA game could be played in Ballarat each weekend, and no willing co-applicant could be found.[14]

In 1905, Ballarat Imperials player, F James won the Ballarat Football League's most popular player award, the Hutton Cup, receiving 40,514 votes via returned Hutton coupons.[15]

In 1938, The Ballarat Football League and Ballarat Football Association merged[16] and Ballarat Imperials FC then merged with the East Ballarat FC and played as Ballarat Imperials, finishing runner up to Sebastopol.[17]

The club went into recess just prior to the start of the 1939 Ballarat Football League season,[18] although it played in the Ballarat Football League B. Grade competition from 1948 to 1952 after World War Two, it never returned to the Ballarat Football League senior football competition and folded.

Football Timeline

Premierships

[edit]
Seniors[23]
  • Ballarat / Western Districts (4)
    • 1884 - Ballarat Imperials: [24]
    • 1890 - Ballarat Imperial & Ballarat tied[25]
    • 1891 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[26]
    • 1892 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[27][28]
  • Ballarat Football League (13)
    • 1893 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Sebastopol: 2nd[29]
    • 1894 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[30]
    • 1895 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, South Ballarat: 2nd[31]
    • 1896 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[32]
    • 1899 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[33]
    • 1900 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[34]
    • 1901 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[35]
    • 1902 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[36][37]
    • 1903 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd[38]
    • 1905 - Ballarat Imperial: 5.12 - 42 d South Ballarat: 3.6 - 24[39][40][41]
    • 1906 - Ballarat Imperial: 4.17 - 41 d Ballarat: 0.4 - 4[42][43]
    • 1922 - Ballarat Imperial: 5.3 - 33 d Golden Point: 3.7 - 25[44]
    • 1929 - Ballarat Imperial: 9.12 - 66 d Ballarat: 8.10 - 58[45]
  • Ballarat Wimmera Football League (2)
    • 1935 - Ballarat Imperial: 14.8 - 92 d Golden Point: 9.19 - 73[46]
    • 1936 - Ballarat Imperial: 15.9 - 99 d Ballarat: 6.4 - 40[47]
  • Ballarat Football League (1)
    • 1937 - Ballarat Imperial: 13.9 - 87 d Golden Point: 4.5 - 29 (undefeated premiers)[48]

Runners Up

[edit]
Seniors

VFL Players

[edit]

The following footballers played with Ballarat Imperial FC prior to playing senior VFL football, with the year indicating their VFL debut.

The following footballers played senior VFL football prior to playing and / or coaching with Ballarat Imperial FC with the year indicating their first season at the BIFC.


[edit]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ballarat Imperial Football Club.
  1. ^ "1884 - Football". The Ballarat Courier (Vic). 4 October 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. ^ "South Ballarat v. Ballarat Imperial". The Ballarat Star. Ballarat, VIC. 20 July 1885. p. 4.
  3. ^ "News and notes". The Ballarat Star. Melbourne, VIC. 6 May 1878. p. 2.
  4. ^ "1882 - Football". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 31 May 1882. p. 3. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  5. ^ "1883 - A FATAL FOOTBALL ACCIDENT". The Age (Melbourne, Vic). 18 September 1883. p. 6. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  6. ^ "1883 - Another Death in the Football Field". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic). 22 September 1883. p. 5. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ^ "1885 - BALLARAT IMPERIAL FOOTBALL CLUB". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 26 March 1885. p. 4. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  8. ^ "1886 - BALLARAT IMPERIAL FOOTBALL CLUB". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 27 March 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  9. ^ "The VFA Project". VFA Project. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Football - Ballarat Imperial v. England". The Ballarat Star. Ballarat: National Library of Australia. 21 July 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  11. ^ "1893 - FOOTBALL GOSSIP". Leader (Melbourne, Vic). 20 May 1893. p. 17. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  12. ^ "1922 - Old time captain". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic). 7 October 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Ballarat Football League". Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  14. ^ H. A. deLacy (31 March 1937). "Lack of interest and lost prestige". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, VIC. p. 8.
  15. ^ "1905 - Country Football". The Age (Melbourne, Vic). 25 September 1905. p. 6. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  16. ^ "1938 - FOOTBALL MERGER IN BALLARAT". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic). 18 March 1938. p. 38. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  17. ^ "1938 - Why Football Has Slumped In Ballarat". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic). 10 September 1938. p. 61. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  18. ^ "1939 - Ballarat League". The Age (Melbourne, Vic). 12 April 1939. p. 13. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  19. ^ "1887 - Sporting Life". Melbourne Punch (Vic). 13 October 1887. p. 9. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  20. ^ "1887 - THE PREMIERSHIP CONTESTS". Leader (Melbourne, Vic). 1 October 1887. p. 21. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  21. ^ "1948 - NEWS IN SPORTS SPOTLIGHT". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic). 18 February 1948. p. 28. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  22. ^ "1949 - Football in the country". Google. The Age newspaper. 25 April 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  23. ^ "The Grand Final: Premiership List". The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924). 26 September 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  24. ^ "1884 - Football". The Ballarat Courier (Vic). 7 October 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  25. ^ "1890 - The Ballarat Clubs". The Age (Melbourne, Vic). 29 September 1890. p. 7. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  26. ^ "1891 - Football at Ballarat". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic). 21 September 1891. p. 10. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  27. ^ "1892 - SPORTING NEWS". Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic). 1 October 1892. p. 6. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  28. ^ "1892 - IMPERIAL FOOTBALL CLUB SOCIAL". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 22 October 1892. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  29. ^ "1893 - Final Premiership List for 1893". The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic). 7 October 1893. p. 18. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  30. ^ "1894 - The Ballarat Star". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 3 September 1894. p. 2. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  31. ^ "1895 - Football". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 16 September 1895. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  32. ^ "1896 - Football". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 28 September 1896. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  33. ^ "1899 - Football". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 4 September 1899. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  34. ^ "1900 - POINTS FOR THE PREMIERSHIP". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 3 September 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  35. ^ "1901 - THE PREMIERSHIP LIST". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 2 September 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  36. ^ "1902 - THE SEASON'S RECORD". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 1 September 1902. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  37. ^ "1902 - SPORTING NEWS THE FOOTBALL SEASON". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 18 August 1902. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  38. ^ "1903 - Ballarat Football". The Ararat Advertiser and Chronicle for the Stawell and Wimmera Districts (Vic). 15 September 1903. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  39. ^ "1905 - Country Football". The Age (Melbourne, Vic). 25 September 1905. p. 6. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  40. ^ "1905 - A TIE FOR PREMIERSHIP". Geelong Advertiser (Vic). 12 September 1905. p. 4. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  41. ^ "1905 - IMPERIAL WIN THE PREMIERSHIP". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 14 September 1905. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  42. ^ "1906 - Ballarat & District". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic). 3 September 1906. p. 8. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  43. ^ "1906 - Football: Tricolours Victorious". The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924). 6 August 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  44. ^ "1922 - Imperial Win Final". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 2 October 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  45. ^ "1929 - Ballarat Premiers: Imperial Succeeds!". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic). 12 October 1929. p. 78. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  46. ^ "1935 - BALLARAT IMPERIAL'S PREMIERSHIP: POINT'S FORWARDS FAIL". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic). 30 September 1935. p. 13. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  47. ^ "1936 - BALLARAT IMPERIAL WIN PENNANT". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic). 3 October 1936. p. 72. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  48. ^ "1937 - CHAMPIONS FOR 1937". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic). 18 September 1937. p. 89. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  49. ^ "1885 - Football". Leader (Melbourne, Vic). 3 October 1885. p. 21. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  50. ^ "1886 - THE FOOTBALL PREMIERSHIP". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 1 October 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  51. ^ "1889 - Country Football". Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic). 9 October 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  52. ^ "1921 - Grand Final List". The Ballarat Star (Vic). 26 September 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  53. ^ "1938 - Ballarat". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic). 12 September 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
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