Collegians Football Club
Encyclopedia
Collegians Football Club ("The Lions") is the oldest club in the VAFA, formed in 1891. Their home ground is the Harry Trott
Oval in the Melbourne
suburb of Albert Park
.
In 1891, L.A.Adamson
established an Wesley College
Old Boys’ XVIII which formally became Collegians Football Club in 1892. Adamson, who was for thirty years the Headmaster of Wesley College, was the President of the club for its first forty years. In 1892, Adamson established the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (of which he was President for thirty-seven years), which in 1932 became the Victorian Amateur Football Association. Their 16 "A" grade premierships is more than any other club.
The club's theme song is based on the first verse and chorus of "The Old Collegians Song", which appears in the Wesley College Songbook in all editions from 1893. The lyrics were written by Lawrence Arthur Adamson set to the tune of a traditional Irish Folk Tune, "Irish Jaunting Car", and the later tune "The Bonnie Blue Flag"
, a song from the US War of Independence. The original lyrics refer to the interim school colours "Blue and White", which returned to "Gold and Purple" at the end of 1902.
Harry Trott
George Henry Stevens "Harry" Trott was an Australian Test cricketer who played 24 Test matches as an all-rounder between 1888 and 1898. Although Trott was a versatile batsman, spin bowler and outstanding fielder, "... it is as a captain that he is best remembered, an understanding judge of...
Oval in the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb of Albert Park
Albert Park
Albert Park may refer to:In Australia:* Albert Park, Lismore, home to international baseball stadium Baxter Field* Albert Park, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne** Albert Park and Lake, the park itself...
.
In 1891, L.A.Adamson
Lawrence Adamson
Lawrence Arthur Adamson, CMG, was a schoolmaster of Wesley College, Melbourne, Australia.-Early life:Lawrence Adamson was born at Douglas, Isle of Man the second son of Lawrence William Adamson. LL.D., Grand Seneschal of the IoM and his wife Annie Jane née Flint...
established an Wesley College
Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne is an independent, co-educational, Christian day school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1866, the college is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia. Wesley is the largest school in Australia by enrolment, with 3,511 students and 564 full-time staff...
Old Boys’ XVIII which formally became Collegians Football Club in 1892. Adamson, who was for thirty years the Headmaster of Wesley College, was the President of the club for its first forty years. In 1892, Adamson established the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (of which he was President for thirty-seven years), which in 1932 became the Victorian Amateur Football Association. Their 16 "A" grade premierships is more than any other club.
A Section
- 1892, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1902, 1904, 1936, 1937, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1986, 1992, 1993, 2011
Club Song
Bonnie Blue Flag
The Bonnie Blue Flag, a single white star on a blue field, was the flag of the short-lived Republic of West Florida. Decades later, during the Civil War, it became an unofficial banner of the Confederacy, inspiring the song "The Bonnie Blue Flag," which was often sung by Southern troops.The flag...
, a song from the US War of Independence. The original lyrics refer to the interim school colours "Blue and White", which returned to "Gold and Purple" at the end of 1902.