North Footscray FC

[Webby]

Just a quick one that I'd like to settle in my mind once and for all. I'd appreciate greatly if someone can settle this for me:

North Footscray FC: The Devils who play in red and white at Hansen Reserve. Hansen Reserve is just near where EJ grew up and not far from Kingsville.

The thing that's always made me curious is that Hansen Reserve is pretty much geographically in south-west Footscray... Nth Footscray FC is located almost precisely 2km due south of West Footscray FC.

For those who are old school FDFL people, was the NFFC started up in this location, or did it relocate? And if so, when? Any responses would be appreciated. As I say, it's always made me slightly curious...

Cheers.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: North Footscray FC

I can go back to the late 60's when I played for North Footscray and we played in Hansen Reserve, Roberts Street Webby. Further back than that I can't help you unfortunately.

[Webby]

Re: North Footscray FC

I can go back to the late 60's when I played for North Footscray and we played in Hansen Reserve, Roberts Street Webby. Further back than that I can't help you unfortunately.

Thanks B4L. That at least gives me some idea that it's been at least 45-50 years since they've been there. North Footscray Primary is logically located in the Northern part of Footscray. I thought maybe they'd have started up in that area and been ushered by the council towards Hansen Reserve at some point or something. I see that they started up in the 30's and heard that there used to be a trotting track with a cricket/footy ground in the middle of it just north of NF Primary School.

[Remi Moses]

Re: North Footscray FC

Often wondered the same thing.
I played junior cricket at North Footscray primary school, and you're right North Footscray is nowhere near their actual ground.
There is now a nursing home next to North Footscray P.S, and they've turned all the manufacturing sites into suburbs.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: North Footscray FC

Thanks B4L. That at least gives me some idea that it's been at least 45-50 years since they've been there. North Footscray Primary is logically located in the Northern part of Footscray. I thought maybe they'd have started up in that area and been ushered by the council towards Hansen Reserve at some point or something. I see that they started up in the 30's and heard that there used to be a trotting track with a cricket/footy ground in the middle of it just north of NF Primary School.

There also was an asphalt cycling track south of the oval in Hansen Reserve. Whether that is still there I am not sure. Maybe it belonged to a Cycling Club many years ago.

[Bornadog]

Re: North Footscray FC

There also was an asphalt cycling track south of the oval in Hansen Reserve. Whether that is still there I am not sure. Maybe it belonged to a Cycling Club many years ago.

I remember riding my bike around there - about 1969. I thought that area was Tottenham?

[Bulldog4life]

Re: North Footscray FC

I remember riding my bike around there - about 1969. I thought that area was Tottenham?

Right on the border I would think Bad.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: North Footscray FC

I remember riding my bike around there - about 1969. I thought that area was Tottenham?

It is bounded by Sunshine Road to the north, Sredna Street, Paramount Road and Tottenham Parade to the east, Geelong Road to the south and the Newport–Sunshine railway line.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham,_Victoria

[Bornadog]

Re: North Footscray FC

It is bounded by Sunshine Road to the north, Sredna Street, Paramount Road and Tottenham Parade to the east, Geelong Road to the south and the Newport–Sunshine railway line.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham,_Victoria

Thanks for that. I had some high school friends who lived in the area. There was one particular girl that lived near the cycling track.... memories

[Webby]

Re: North Footscray FC

It is bounded by Sunshine Road to the north, Sredna Street, Paramount Road and Tottenham Parade to the east, Geelong Road to the south and the Newport–Sunshine railway line.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham,_Victoria

Yeah, that's right. West Footscray stops at Sredna St south of the rail line and Ashley Street north of the rail line. Totty North PS was always in South Rd, Braybrook, funnily enough. I think Douggie H went there but could be wrong.

Just as another aside, I always understood that EJ Whitten grew up on Exhibition Street, West Footscray - just east of Hansen Reserve.
I've put a few things together but just can't work out for the life of me why a team in Southwest Footscray is called North Footscray. The other thing is, if the club started in 1932 and are located literally 200m from the Whitten's front door, why EJ would've played his footy in Braybrook. Logic tells me the club must've moved to Hansen at some point.

[Mantis]

Re: North Footscray FC

My dad & grand-father both either played or were heavily involved at Nth Footscray.. I'll sound my dad at about the clubs history.

[Bornadog]

Re: North Footscray FC

Just as another aside, I always understood that EJ Whitten grew up on Exhibition Street, West Footscray - just east of Hansen Reserve.

That is correct his parents Ted and Edna lived there and EJ of course grew up there. He started at Braybrook juniors as a 14 year old.

Funny thing my first four years (1956 to 1960) we lived in Wales st, the other side of Geelong Rd from EJ.

[Webby]

Re: North Footscray FC

My dad & grand-father both either played or were heavily involved at Nth Footscray.. I'll sound my dad at about the clubs history.

Cheers for that. I thought someone on WOOF might have a connection. It's nothing terribly important, I guess, but it's something that's just built up and chipped away at me over the years. Every time I drive past I'm reminded that I've never gotten to the bottom of it.

[Twodogs]

Re: North Footscray FC

Yeah, that's right. West Footscray stops at Sredna St south of the rail line and Ashley Street north of the rail line. Totty North PS was always in South Rd, Braybrook, funnily enough. I think Douggie H went there but could be wrong.

Just as another aside, I always understood that EJ Whitten grew up on Exhibition Street, West Footscray - just east of Hansen Reserve.
I've put a few things together but just can't work out for the life of me why a team in Southwest Footscray is called North Footscray. The other thing is, if the club started in 1932 and are located literally 200m from the Whitten's front door, why EJ would've played his footy in Braybrook. Logic tells me the club must've moved to Hansen at some point.

Maybe they had moved to Braybrook to live by that stage? I think they must have because it's a fair hike from Kingsville to Braybrook I live on the other side of the railway line and I'd hate to have to walk from here to Bratbrook.

Or maybe they were living in Braybrook when he started playing. Or it could have been that Braybrook was the better club to play for.

Charlie Sutton travelled from Spotswood to Braybrook to play, and Wally Donald lived in Kingsville and played for Braybrook so EJ wouldn't have been the only player who didnt live in Braybrook.

[Bornadog]

Re: North Footscray FC

Maybe they had moved to Braybrook to live by that stage? I think they must have because it's a fair hike from Kingsville to Braybrook I live on the other side of the railway line and I'd hate to have to walk from here to Bratbrook.

Or maybe they were living in Braybrook when he started playing. Or it could have been that Braybrook was the better club to play for.

Charlie Sutton travelled from Spotswood to Braybrook to play, and Wally Donald lived in Kingsville and played for Braybrook so EJ wouldn't have been the only player who didnt live in Braybrook.

He went to school at St Augustines in Yarraville and the teacher there was a big influence in his footy. Maybe the teacher had a connection to Braybrook?

don't forget he played on Sundays for Collingwood Amateurs, so didn't mind the travel