In 1962, Port Hedland was a sleepy little port with around 1,500 residents. A new postal officer arrived in town. It was none other than Colin Peter Matheson.
Shortly after he arrived, Colin set about meeting the locals to start a football match. Originally an umpire, he organised games for the locals until 1967 when the Port Hedland Football Association was formed between three clubs:
- Finucane Island
- Rovers
- Towns
Included among the matches were challenge games against Marble Bar and Goldsworthy. It was after one of these matches that Colin Matheson and the President of the Marble Bar Football Association discussed the possibility of forming one association.
In 1969 the De Grey Football Association was formed with five teams:
- Port Hedland Rovers (The Esplanade)
- Port Hedland Panthers (Pier Hotel)
- Goldsworthy Tigers
- Marble Bar
- Finucane Island
In 1971 Marble Bar disbanded.
In 1975 two other teams were admitted:
- South Hedland Swans
- Shay Gap Hawks
In 1977 the De Grey Football League (formed by Colin Matheson) and West Pilbara Football League combined to form the De Grey West Pilbara Football League under separate constitutions.
In 1983 one constitution was agreed to and the name changed to the North Pilbara Football League.
Find out more about history of #Pilbara #football in Colin Matheson’s book “Johnny Come Lately”,1997, available by post for $20. Contact the editors of this site for more information.
Also see this website dedicated to Pilbara football: http://northpilbarafootballleague.wordpress.com/
Hi Julie,
I’m interested in the old photo of the rovers players and your dad. I was wondering if you had a list of the players names. I’ve picked out a few faces and names. I have enjoyed reading your column and I remember your dad very well. We use to work together at the Post Office.
My name was Lesley Jacoby.
Cheers
Lesley
The only player I recognise is Roger Richardson. It would be great to know the other names. Perhaps some of the readers of this post may know the others.
I just did a reunion for the 70’s and Roger Richardson was there. It was held at the Swan Yacht Club on the 26th May 2017 and a hundred people attended. I did the group photographs and you can have a look at these on my website http://www.reunionphotos.net. I have just put them on line now although I haven’t done the cover page as yet. But you can still view them. I just thought you might like to have a look.
Julie it has been to long since that photo was taken and other than roger I cant remember any of there names. but I can help with the one to the right of col and his name was ted murray and he used to train with them . I know this because that is me in that photo. you and I also went to school together and I used to live in trembath street in spinifex hill . sorry I cant be of any more help. cheers Ted murray