Latest Article (click to read)
Recent Articles
Fancy Dress Charity Football- Published At: 2019-08-11 17:58 - (1028 Reads)Australian Rules Football has a long history of Charity Matches where the players have dressed up in fancy dress and played football. These games were not played by elite footballers but by a wide range of everyday people. While researching old football matches these dress up games regularly appear, to the point where they deserves some attention.
Local hospitals frequently received the football fundraising and women as well as men got a go. These games might not be ‘elite’ but they provide a fascinating insight into history. Firstly the outfit trends over time changed as the world around changed. Secondly, what caused the end of this phenomena? Was it Television, or changes in attitudes? A New Association – Formation of the VFL 1896-1897- Published At: 2019-08-11 14:14 - (1261 Reads)In 1896, after a proposal by VFA Secretary T.S. Marshall, a group of teams broke away and formed the VFL. Why did they do this? why were some teams in and some teams out?
The Evolution of ‘the Premiership’ 1870-1888- Published At: 2019-08-11 09:47 - (1342 Reads)Winning the AFL Premiership is the height of Australian football, but what is it’s origin story. This article explains how in the early years of football in Victoria, the premiership evolved from a newspaper acclimation in an ad-hoc season of football in the early 1870s, into a points system run by the Victorian Football Association and finally into the winner of the Grand Final of a national competition that it is today.
Bendigo Football Association 1901 to 1906- Published At: 2019-03-10 15:15 - (39287 Reads)Turmoil, argument, teams folding and teams appearing,even new competing competitions. The final years of the gold mining boom in Bendigo were interesting times for football in the town.
A Favourite Not Forgotten – the football biography of Geelong’s John Haygarth- Published At: 2019-02-23 11:16 - (66628 Reads)John Haygarth was an exciting Geelong footballer in the fifties. This article is the story of his football life, including his controversial departure from Geelong in 1959. The article includes an interview with John and photographs from his personal collection.
|
Random Articles
Jock Spencer ‘The Flying Kangaroo’- Published At: 2015-04-05 10:18 - (8347 Reads)When Jock Spencer was selected to play full forward for Victoria in 1952, the news stunned football fans and caused a degree of angst in certain quarters of VFL football.
John Coleman was said to have had a ‘mortgage’ on the position and Jock’s selection was both unexpected and highly controversial. However, time would prove beyond doubt that Jock was a rare talent and would become one of the most celebrated and admired players of his generation. This is Jock’s story… CATASTROPHE – Winning the Wooden Spoon (1957-1958)- Published At: 2017-10-06 13:59 - (2934 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. A Record Streak: Geelong's 26 games without a loss- Published At: 2013-08-26 08:27 - (6234 Reads)Between Round 9 1952 and Round 13 1953, Geelong had a famous run of 26 games without a loss. This passed the previous record of 21 games by Collingwood's 1928/29 side and is still today a VFL/AFL record. This period in Geelong's history has been widely written about. This article attempts to describe the streak, demonstrate that it was more than a random fluke never to be repeated and finally fits the streak into a wider context within Australian football outside the VFL/AFL.
Advertising from the VFL Football Record 1949-51- Published At: 2013-01-29 03:54 - (9608 Reads)The advertisements in the Football Record provide an insight into the period. Unlike the 1930's where there was advertising for dance halls, the early 1950s advertising includes many of the new consumer products of the time such as portable radios, washing machines, radio shows and due to the high employment levels, even employment advertisements.
Attitudes have changed and a number of examples would not be used today. Cigarette advertisements also stand out as unusual as they are banned in modern advertising. Ken Mansell discussion with Harley Boyles, Tuesday October 16, 2012- Published At: 2012-11-02 13:04 - (7799 Reads) |
Historical Articles (Reprinted)
Recent Articles
Dan Minogue Tells Why He - Gave Up Mining for Football- Published At: 2019-03-10 14:22 - (1809 Reads)Dan Minogue begins today his own story of his distinguished career. And a human, gripping story this great football personality has to tell! It is brimming with all the incident, thrills, humor and pathos which he has encountered during a quarter of a century as crack player and successful captain and coach. Turning back Time, Dan takes readers behind the scenes with him; into club rooms and on to playing fields as he lives again his hours of triumph —and disappointment.
Former Umpire writes His Reminiscences- Published At: 2018-12-15 09:58 - (2254 Reads)Famous South Australian Umpire Johnny Quinn's reminiscences appeared in the News (Adelaide) in 1940. Quinn was famous for his smile and his gestures. He also took part in redrafting the rules of the game.
Melbourne’s Chief Play Grounds - No. 9— The Old East Melbourne Ground- Published At: 2018-12-15 08:36 - (1505 Reads)Old Football Days. Teams and Men.- Published At: 2018-11-16 08:33 - (1490 Reads)Originally appeared in The Argus 2-May-1908. Observer (Donald McDonald) the great Australian Journalist looks back at the best players in his 30 years writing on football.
|
Random Articles
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 - (2534 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.
Great Football Dramas No. 10 - When Collingwood And Fitzroy Thrilled Sydney In 1903- Published At: 2017-11-10 12:49 - (1999 Reads)In this, the tenth of a series of great football dramas, is described how, in 1903, Collingwood and Fitzroy made football history by contesting a League premiership match in Sydney, and how, in the Rugby stronghold, a crowd of 20,000, seeing a big Australian rules game for the first time, was thrilled by the fast, spectacular play.
Great Football Dramas — No. 6 Tempestuous Welcome To 1925 Premiers- Published At: 2016-06-17 12:14 - (2512 Reads)This is the sixth or a series of great football dramas, retold by an eye-witness. It describes Geelong's tumultuous welcome home to the League Premiers of 1925 —a welcome fit for Royalty!
Former Umpire writes His Reminiscences- Published At: 2018-12-15 09:58 - (2254 Reads)Famous South Australian Umpire Johnny Quinn's reminiscences appeared in the News (Adelaide) in 1940. Quinn was famous for his smile and his gestures. He also took part in redrafting the rules of the game.
|
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
|
Kew Sub Districts 1939 - State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
|
North West Suburbs Police Team circa 1935 - State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
|
Carlton Seconds, 1956 - State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
|
|
Bob Wilkie - St Kilda - State Library of Victoria Photographic Collection
|