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HOW IT ALL BEGAN
In 1894 there were two football teams in Coolgardie.
The stature of the captains shows the game certainly got off on the right foot in the gold rush town. James (Carbine) Gullan led Rovers, while Archie Smith was Coolgardie’s captain and in subequent years they were to distinguish themselves with East Fremantle and Collingwood respectively.
A youngster named Ted Rowell was an interesting member of the Coolgardie lineup.
Football became more organised in 1895 with the formation of the Yilgarn Football Association. Three teams were represented at the meeting – Bayleys, Union and Rovers – and another proposed team, Hopetouns, were not.
Things were similar in Kalgoorlie with games being arranged between teams from Boulder, Kalgoorlie and Kanowna during 1895.
A meeting at the Great Boulder Hotel on July 12, 1896, led to the formation of the Hannans District Football Association. The first president was SE Ward and secretary HG Draper.
Teams in the initial year were Hannans and Victorians from Kalgoorlie, White Feather from Kanowna and Boulder City. Only the Boulder club has survived.
The fact many fine Victorian and South Australian footballers made their way to the Goldfields meant the game was played at a high standard from the start.
At different times the Goldfields football governing body has been known as HDFA, Goldfields Football Association, Goldfields National Football League and, currently, the Goldfields Football League Inc.
Twenty-one clubs have taken part in the top level of the game in the Goldfields since 1896.
At a function at the end of the 1896 season the HDFA presented the first premiership trophy to John (Chunker) Considine, captain of the Boulder City team and one of the most important football pioneers in the district.
The tradition continues and the GFL premiership trophy remains the most sought after award in team sport in the Goldfields.
(By football historian Les Everett).