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Ambrose Dyson - The Herald 1909-1911- Published At: 2018-11-17 14:22 - (227 Reads)Ambrose Dyson was one of the earliest regular football cartoonists in Melbourne. He worked a brief few years before the First World War before tragety struck.
Tom O'Halloran - The Tiger From Timaru- Published At: 2018-11-11 14:49 - (757 Reads)Tom O'Halloran’s dedication and love for his club should be acknowledged and it is hoped that this story may stimulate new interest in the dynamic high flyer from Punt Road. Roger's article lets you see why Tom O’Halloran was introduced into the Richmond FC Hall of Fame in 2013.
Fred Phillips - The Tragic Tale Of A True Champion- Published At: 2018-10-23 17:15 - (345 Reads)Fred Phillips, one of St Kilda’s best-ever footballers, died in the most tragic circumstances at the age of 27 years.
“…A great footballer, a true sportsman-and a man. That was Fred Phillips. Need more be said?” Cheer, Cheer on Our Camberwell - Tricolours, Wells, Cobras - Part One- Published At: 2018-10-12 10:39 - (906 Reads)Ken's book-length (three-part) celebration of Camberwell Football Club and its uniquely fascinating history.
A tour de force, meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated. Completed with the technical and research assistance of Michael Riley. Dedicated to Thelma Baker - she whose heart beats true. Part 1 - From the Junction to Nashville 1886-1941 Cheer, Cheer on Our Camberwell - Tricolours, Wells, Cobras - Part Two- Published At: 2018-10-11 17:53 - (1080 Reads) Ken's book-length (three-part) celebration of Camberwell Football Club and its uniquely fascinating history.
A tour de force, meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated. Completed with the technical and research assistance of Michael Riley. Dedicated to Thelma Baker - she whose heart beats true. Part Two - Cock of the Walk to Rock Bottom |
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Ron Barassi’s First VFL Game- Published At: 2016-02-27 17:43 - (3590 Reads)In 1953, a 17 year old Ronald Dale Barassi entered the M.C.G. for his first ever VFL game, he would later become a legend of the game. The story of how Ron arrived at this first game in 1953, involves war, tragedy, rule changes and help from others. Ron was also not just the only youngster starting in 1953 and others came together to make the 1950's a golden era for the Melbourne Club. This is the story of Ron's first VFL steps.
Bryan Clements~Fitzroy FC - A Day To Remember At The Brunswick Street Oval.- Published At: 2014-05-18 14:16 - (13867 Reads)Bryan Clements (born 1942) played 23 senior games of VFL football for Fitzroy between the years 1961 and 1964. In that time he played in only two winning teams for Fitzroy. However, one of those wins was the most memorable victory of the 1963 season and one of the biggest upsets in that decade of VFL football. This is Bryan’s story.
Cheer, Cheer on Our Camberwell - Tricolours, Wells, Cobras - Part One- Published At: 2018-10-12 10:39 - (906 Reads)Ken's book-length (three-part) celebration of Camberwell Football Club and its uniquely fascinating history.
A tour de force, meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated. Completed with the technical and research assistance of Michael Riley. Dedicated to Thelma Baker - she whose heart beats true. Part 1 - From the Junction to Nashville 1886-1941 1940 Patriotic Cup - St. Kilda's First Premiership- Published At: 2013-02-11 16:31 - (4840 Reads)In 1940, in the week set aside for the cancelled interstate football carnival, (which was to be held in Tasmania), the VFL ran a 12-team, one-day lightning carnival. St Kilda received a good draw, but still had to defeat 1940 Grand Finalists Richmond to win their first ever VFL Premiership, 26 years before the more famous occasion in 1966.
Team Photos in the Weekly Times and Australasian 1928-29 - The link to Football Cards and the Football Record- Published At: 2012-11-26 03:06 - (15464 Reads)In 1928 and 1929, the Weekly Times newspaper (part of the Herald group of newspapers) published two series of colourised football team photos. In 1929, the rival weekly, the Australasian (published from the Argus building) produced its own series. Both newspapers had colour sections each week.
The team photos appearing in the 1928-29 Weekly Times and Australasian were chopped up and converted into individual player portraits. These individual portraits were later used in a number of football cards series. They also appeared in the VFL Football Record. |
Historical Articles (Reprinted)
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Former Umpire writes His Reminiscences- Published At: 2018-12-15 09:58 - (116 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 - (111 Reads)Old Football Days. Teams and Men.- Published At: 2018-11-16 08:33 - (208 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.
Great Football Dramas No. 10 - When Collingwood And Fitzroy Thrilled Sydney In 1903- Published At: 2017-11-10 12:49 - (871 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.
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Forty Years of Football: Turning back the Pages of Time- Published At: 2017-09-30 17:35 - (934 Reads)Reminiscences of Tommy Wilson, captain of North Melbourne and a founder of East Fremantle. Covering the period from the 1890's to WW1.
Former Umpire writes His Reminiscences- Published At: 2018-12-15 09:58 - (116 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.
Great Football Dramas No. 2 - Footscray's Dramatic Win Over Essendon Sensation of 1924- Published At: 2017-11-05 10:36 - (734 Reads)Re-told by an eye-witness, this, the second of a series of stories of stirring football dramas enacted on League grounds, describes how, in 1924, Footscray, Association premiers, paralysed Essendon, League premiers, in a memorable contest for the championship of Victoria.
Great Football Dramas — No. 13 Fitzroy First To Smash Collingwood's Great System- Published At: 2016-08-28 18:02 - (2262 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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