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Vic Lawrence- The Big Hearted Shinboner- Published At: 2017-10-19 12:18 - (54 Reads)Victor (aka Vic) Lawrence (born: 1928) played more than 100 VFL games; and although a steadfast defender, club captain and Victorian representative, he appears to be another ‘forgotten man’ of VFL football. This story attempts to remind football followers of Vic’s achievements and the key role he played in rebuilding the NMFC during the 1950’s.
CATAPULT – On Top And Loving It (1950-1956)- Published At: 2017-10-07 09:01 - ( Reads)GEELONG IN THE FIFTIES
CHAPTER ONE: After struggling for success in the immediate post-war period, Geelong Football Club had risen to the top of the VFL ladder by 1951 and dominated the competition for several years. This article describes the fortunes of the Cats in the period from 1948 to 1956 and is the first of three detailed articles tracing Geelong's rise, fall and rise again in the decade of the fifties. CATASTROPHE – Winning the Wooden Spoon (1957-1958)- Published At: 2017-10-06 13:59 - (261 Reads)GEELONG IN THE FIFTIES
CHAPTER TWO: This article is a continuation of Ken's forensic examination of Geelong Football Club's matches in the 1950's. Here we see Geelong plummet to the bottom of the VFL ladder. A neglected period of Geelong's history. CATACOMB – Struggling Along in the Gloom (1959)- Published At: 2017-10-05 17:57 - (182 Reads)GEELONG IN THE FIFTIES
CHAPTER THREE: The story of Geelong continues. After two years at the bottom of the VFL ladder the Cats began to rise again. Thirteen-year-old Ken was ready with his notebook and pencil. Here, displayed before you, are all the facts and figures of a more promising year. |
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H.V. ‘Vic’. Cumberland ~ A Giant of His Era- Published At: 2014-06-15 20:30 - (7481 Reads)At the time of writing (2014) Dustin Fletcher’s longevity in AFL football continues to amaze the football public. Even at the ripe old of 39 years of age, there are those who believe that Dustin is capable of playing next season. It is a remarkable achievement in modern day football. Time will tell but Dustin has written his name into the record books as one of the oldest players to play AFL football.
This story is about H.V. Cumberland who was 43 years and 50 days when he played his last game for St Kilda in 1920. The following account tells of the times, travels and achievements of the oldest player to have ever played at VFL/AFL level. Footy Stats – A Short History- Published At: 2016-07-05 20:00 - (1159 Reads)Football statistics are a key part of the modern game, but statisticians around the country have innovated since the 1920's in finding categories and perfecting the art. This article gives an insight into the history of Australian Rules football statistics.
Harley Boyles interviewed by Ken Mansell and Michael Riley - November 16, 2012 (telephone interview).- Published At: 2012-12-02 12:46 - ( Reads)The Ballad of Haydn Bunton- Published At: 2012-12-06 09:07 - (7890 Reads)The 'Ballad of Haydn Bunton' was written (words and music) by Ken Mansell in August 1999. It was released as a CD, with vocals performed by Ken and the late Peter Bell, in July 2003.
This article about the song was originally published by Ken around 2003 in a variety of sources and is republished here due to its relevance to the site. |
Historical Articles (Reprinted)
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Roy Cazaly Tells Of Football Ring-in with £500 at Stake- Published At: 2017-10-19 06:39 - ( Reads)1920 Colbinabbin versus Elmore
Great Football Dramas No. 3 - North Broke-But They won With 18 Amateurs- Published At: 2017-10-18 19:19 - ( Reads)1922 V.F..A. Second Semi-Final
Haydn Bunton's Football Story- Published At: 2017-10-08 08:39 - ( Reads)Today, “The Mail” published the first of a series of articles by Bunton, which should prove of absorbing interest to all football followers and other sport fans. The first tells how he nearly became a cricketer instead of an ace footballer. Others will tell of the trafficking stir in which he was involved, personalities he has played against in three States, and other highlights of his career.
Forty Years of Football: Turning back the Pages of Time- Published At: 2017-09-30 17:35 - ( Reads)Reminiscences of Tommy Wilson, captain of North Melbourne and a founder of East Fremantle. Covering the period from the 1890's to WW1.
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Great Football Dramas—No. 8 Association Coup which Brought 40,000 to the M.C.G. £1000 Gate for Final- Published At: 2016-08-06 12:43 - (1309 Reads)In this the eighth of a series of football dramas is described the Association’s greatest coup of 1908, by which, in American Fleet Week, they secured the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a public holiday for their final match, and attracted a crowd of 40,000 and a £1000 “gate” – both records that still stand.
Roy Cazaly Tells Of Football Ring-in with £500 at Stake- Published At: 2017-10-19 06:39 - ( Reads)1920 Colbinabbin versus Elmore
History of the Australian Game on the Goldfields from 1894 to 1912- Published At: 2017-08-11 15:57 - ( Reads)Great Football Dramas — No. 13 Fitzroy First To Smash Collingwood's Great System- Published At: 2016-08-28 18:02 - (1621 Reads)How Collingwood's famous system, then brand-new, was first smashed by Fitzroy in a memorable League semi-final in 1902, is retold in this, the thirteenth of a series of great football dramas.
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Article Archive...
An Introduction to Charles Boyles
Charles Boyles SLV2008.122/451 (Cropped) Source: State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
The website is centred around the photos of Charles Boyles, a Melbourne-based photographer. Boyles primarily took photos of Australian Rules Football teams and players. He appears to have started this football work in the late twenties. He continued through the 1930's, the years of the Second World War, and then right up to his final photos in the early sixties. Unlike most commercial photographers, Charles Boyles did not wait for customers to come to him. Boyles set up his camera on training nights, and on game days took posed team photos after the players had run onto the ground. These were sold directly to the clubs, players and general public. On Saturdays, at the games, the photographer's son Harley Boyles (and others) would take a satchel of mixed photos and sell them throughout the game. Unlike newspaper photos, therefore, a Boyles photo was something you could own, take home, and treasure. There are no action shots or photos of games in progress. Boyles specialised in team photos and player portraits, with the players looking directly to camera. Today these photos are used by clubs, by family historians, and by those interested in football history. They often appear uncredited in football history books. Boyles did not restrict himself to the leading football competition of his era, the Victorian Football League. During his working life he attended many different competitions. He covered the VFA, Wartime Services matches, the various Victorian workplace competitions, the Sunday leagues, and other competitions. Learn More about the Life of Charles Boyles
Read Ken's article on the methods, motives and life of Charles Boyles. The article includes notes from an extensive interview with Harley Boyles about his father. See Charles Edward Boyles: From Tripod to Website. |
Website Aims and Objectives
This website contains work by two independent researchers, Ken Mansell and Michael Riley. Our objective is to share our own passion for history and provide a friendly resource for family historians, football buffs and others who have an interest in the Charles Boyles photos and more generally in football photography from the 1920's to 1960's.A Football History Website
This site has grown to cover more than just football photos. There is an amazing amount to explore. You can start with articles, player pages, ground pages, team and league pages as well as information on players careers outside football.All Football Photographers Not Just Charles Boyles Photos
This site contains photos from many of Boyles's contemporaries. These contrast Boyles's style, and add to an understanding of sport, photography, and the football of the time.Football Outside the VFL
Charles Boyles took photos of VFL teams, but also took photos of VFA teams, Workplace Teams and teams in Junior Leagues. Also, for many players the VFL was just a small part of their footballing story. This site attempts to build a picture of the football world during Boyle's working period. This world is worth explored through articles and the pages thoughout the website. Sources of Images on this Website
We are not associated with any library or institution. We have received permission from a variety of people and institutions to include their images on this particular website. Each photo is labelled as to it's source. Please contact the relevant source for permission to reproduce any images. The appearance of an image on this website does not mean that it is public domain. Although many (not all) photos are out of copyright, many images are available here under 'Terms of Use' agreements with the relevant organisation. We credit the photographer and the photo source wherever possible, |
Examples of Boyles Photos
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Kew Sub Districts 1939 - State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
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North West Suburbs Police Team circa 1935 - State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
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Carlton Seconds, 1956 - State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
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Bob Wilkie - St Kilda - State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
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