Goulburn Valley Football Association


The Goulburn Valley Football Association was first established in 1888 with the foundation clubs being - Cobram, Muckatah, Nathalia, Numurkah, Wunghnu and Yarroweyah, with Numurkah winning the inaugural premiership in 1888.
This football competition was completely separate to the Goulburn Valley District Football Association that was formed in 1893, that is still active today and now called the Goulburn Valley Football League.

History

The GVFA was a football association that catered for the smaller rural towns of the Goulburn Valley region at that time and was a strong and vibrant football competition for many years until it folded, when it was superseded by the Murray Football League when it was first established in 1931.
There was also another Goulburn Valley Football Association, in 1890 and 1891, comprising of the following teams - Baldwinsville, Mooroopna, Shepparton, Tatura and Undera, with Mooroopna winning the title in 1890 and Undera defeating Mooroopna to win the 1891 - Elder's Hotel Medals.
Between 1901 and 1906, Drumanure Football Club won an incredible six premierships in a row. A remarkable achievement for such a small rural community at that time!
In 1911, Muckatah went through the season undefeated when the Muckatah Bombers defeated Numurkah in the grand final on "the pretty tree embowered Drumanure ground" and Muckatah player, George Grant had the distinction of playing in three premiership teams in 1911, with Essendon Football Club VFA team, Tocumwal and Muckatah!
In 1911, a Goulburn Valley Junior Football Association was established with the following clubs competing - Boomanoomana, Burramine South, Cobram, Katamatite and Muckatah.
Between 1904 and 1920, the GVFA comprised enough teams to divide it into two divisions to minimise travel for clubs to away matches, which was a big issue around 1900. At its peak the GVFA was comprised of 14 teams in 1906.
The GVFA went into recess from 1916 to 1918 due to World War One.
In 1932, an attempt was made to revive the GVFA, but a lack of interest from clubs meant the association folded for good.
At the AGM of the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association it was proposed to change the name of the association to just the Goulburn Valley Football Association and this was approved at the next delegates meeting in March, 1937.
At the March, 1937 meeting of the GVFA, it was voted in favour of retaining the junior status of the competition in favour of a senior football competition.
During this era, the "new" GVFA was played on Saturday's and the Goulburn Valley Football League was played on Wednesday's, with the new GVFA a more Shepparton based competition, with the grand final being played on the Shepparton Recreation Reserve each year.
In 1940, Shepparton Imperials' committee decide to drop the "Imperials" from its name and would be known as just the Shepparton Football Club.
The GVFA went into recess between 1942 and 1944 due to World War Two.
During the late stages of World War Two, the GVFA was revived in 1945, with the following teams competing - Ardmona, Dookie, Dookie College, Katandra, Mooroopna, Shepparton, Shepparton East, SPC & Tatura. Sheppparton East defeated SPC in the grand final and John McLeish from Dookie College won the 1945 - GVFA Best and Fairest / Shepparton Advertiser Trophy.
The GVFA changed its name to the Central Goulburn Valley Football League at the 1946 GVFA - AGM, when the Goulburn Valley Football League was re-established in 1946.
The Central Goulburn Valley Football League officially went into recess at their AGM, in March, 1953, but was never refomed.
This history section is a continuous work in progress.

Former GVFA Clubs:1888 to 1930

ColorsClubYears in GVFAEstablishedPremiershipsRunners Up
Barooga 1907 to 1908189400
?Barwo 1906190600
Boomanoomana 1914, 1919-21191100
?Bunbartha1910-11, 1919-21191000
?Burramine/Boosey1910191000
Cobram1891-92, 1904-1910, 1912-14, 1919-30188764
Congupna1891-92,1897-07189105
Drumanure1896-1923,189672
?Drumanure / Wunghnu1924 to 1928192400
?Kaarimba1896 - 1902189600
Katamatite1906-09,1914, 1920-21188800
Katunga1895-1907, 1911-15, 1919189340
?Koonoomoo1904 - 1908190400
Muckatah1888, 1895, 1898 - 1900, 1902 - 301888511
?Naring Dip1905 & 1906190500
Nathalia1888 - 89, 1892, 1895-97, 1900, 1906, 1921-30188743
Numurkah1888 to 1930188284
Shepparton1892 & 1915189610
? Shepparton Imperials1930192601
Strathmerton1903-10, 1913-15, 1919-30188800
Tallygaroopna1904 & 05, 1907-15, 1919-29189412
Tocumwal1905, 1907, 1909 & 1912189400
Waaia1896, 1898-1902, 1906-08, 1911, 1921 & 22189401
Wunghnu1888-90, 92, 96&97, 99, 1901-06, 08-11, 13-15, 19-23, 28-30188801
Yarroweyah1888 to 1892188800

GVFA Clubs: 1937 to 1945

The following clubs participated in the GFVA between 1937 and 1945. The GVFA was in recess between 1942 & 1944, due to World War Two.
ColorsClubYears in GVFAEstablishedPremiershipsRunners Up
blue & goldArdmona1937, 38, 39, 40, 41, 45192001
purple & whiteDookie1940, 41, 45188700
red & blueDookie College1941, 45190800
Lemnos1937, 38, 39, 40, 41192930
red & whiteKatandra1937, 38, 39, 40, 41, 45191100
blue & whiteMooroopna1937, 38, 39, 40, 45187712
maroon & goldShepparton1940, 41, 45194011
yellow & blackShepparton East1945194010
Shepparton Imperials1937, 38, 39192600
crimson & blueSPC1945192601
blue & redTatura1945190400
navy & blueTallygaroopna1937, 38, 39, 40,190400
Toolamba1937, 38, 39, 40,188800
Undera1937, 38, 39188801
black & whiteWunghnu1937, 38, 39187400

GVFA Honourboard

YearPresidentSecretaryTreasurerPremiersScoreRunners UpScoreVenue / Comments
1888???NumurkahNo G FinalMuckatahNo G FinalNumurkah only lost 1 game
1889G E GreigNumurkah4.8 - 32Cobram0.3 - 3At Cobram
1890J W HouseG E GreigJ SloleyNumurkah4.10 - 34Yarroweyah1.7 - 13At Numurkah
1891Yarroweyah3.12 - 30Congupna1.1 - 7At Congupna
1892?Shepparton6.6 - 42Congupna3.4 - 22At Shepparton
1893Katunga?GVDFA formed
1894D CarlisleA H KearneyA H KearneyKatunga?
1895D CarlisleA H KearneyA H KearneyKatungaMuckatahAt Nathalia
1896D CarlisleP MarkamNathalia?
1897Nathalia5.8 - 38Congupna2.6 - 18At Nathalia
1898Muckatah5.5 - 35Congupna1.2 - 8At Muckatah
1899KatungaNo G FinalDrumanureNo G FinalKatunga declared premiers
1900Muckatah6.6 - 42Waaia4.3 - 27At Numurkah
1901Drumanure9.18 - 72Numurkah2.3 - 15At Wunghnu
1902Drumanure? G FinalMuckatah? G Final
1903Drumanure6.8 - 44Congupna1.3 - 9At Numurkah
1904Drumanure4.9 - 33Tallygaroopna1.7 - 13At Numurkah
1905Clive MorrisonDrumanure7.10 - 52Muckatah7.9 - 51At Numurkah
1906Drumanure4.8 - 32Cobram3.10 - 28At Numurkah
1907W TeareMr BignallCobram5.6 - 36Numurkah5.5 - 35At Numurkah
1908Jas TyresMr BignallDrumanure4.5 - 29Muckatah2.11 - 23At Numurkah
1909Mr. GrantJ BradstreetCobram5.5 - 35Muckatah2.16 - 28At Numurkah
1910Muckatah6.8 - 44Drumanure2.5 - 17At Cobram
1911C McDonaldMuckatah11.15 - 81Numurkah5.14 - 44At Drumanure. MFC unbeaten.
1912F FirmanJ NoonanMuckatah10.13 - 73Numurkah7.12 - 54At Cobram
1913Mr GordonWilliam CarterCobram18.21 - 129Tallygaroopna3.6 - 24At Numurkah
1914T J LeaveyWilliam CarterF W CoopCobram6.8 - 44Muckatah3.4 - 22At Numurkah
1915G WilcoxWilliam Carter JnrF W CoopTallygaroopnaNo G FinalMuckatahNo G FinalSeason abandoned
1916In recess WW1
1917In recess WW1
1918In recess WW1
1919P ParnellWilliam Carter Jnr?Influenza Pandemic
1920H V HowellNumurkah5.6 - 36Cobram4.7 - 31At Numurkah
1921J E HarperMuckatah7.15 - 57Drumanure8.2 - 50At Numurkah
1922J E HarperNumurkah9.13 - 67Nathalia8.8 - 56At Numurkah
1923J E Harper?Les A DockeryNathalia12.10 - 82Cobram11.13 - 79At Nathalia
1924J E HarperNumurkah9.14 - 68Nathalia9.8 - 62At Cobram
1925J E HarperNumurkah12.8 - 80Muckatah7.9 - 51At Strathmerton
1926J E HarperLes A DockeryNumurkah11.12 - 78Muckatah8.2 - 50At Strathmerton
1927J E HarperLes A DockeryH B L SmithNathalia12.12 - 84Muckatah10.9 - 69At Numurkah
1928J E HarperCobram27.16 - 162Wunghnu8.8 - 56At Strathmerton
1929J E HarperLes A DockeryCobram7.9 - 51Nathalia5.7 - 37At Numurkah
1930J E HarperNathalia13.14 - 86Shepparton Imperials9.8 - 62At Numurkah
1931-36GVFA disbands & in recess
1937E T PoppinsJ PearsonJ PearsonLemnos12.12 - 84Undera7.14 - 56At Shepparton
1938E T Poppins  J Pearson    J Pearson  Lemnos12.11 - 83  Mooroopna  12.11 - 83At Shepp. Drawn G Final
1938E T PoppinsJ PearsonJ PearsonLemnos18.18 - 126Mooroopna7.14 - 56At Shepparton. Grand Final Replay
1939Cr N J FairlessJ PearsonJ PearsonMooroopna10.15 - 75Lemnos10.14 - 74At Shepparton
1940Cr N J FairlessJ PearsonJ PearsonLemnos7.18 - 60Shepparton7.14 - 56Neo Cafe Cup
1941Cr N J FairlessJ PearsonJ PearsonShepparton11.9 - 85Ardmona9.7 - 61At Shepparton
1942-44In recess WW2
1945Cr. N W FairlessJ PearsonJ PearsonShepparton East10.9 69S.P.C.9.5 - 59At Shepparton. GVFA revived
1946Cr. N W FairlessJ PearsonJ PearsonGVFA changed to CGFL
YearPresidentSecretaryTreasurerPremiersScoreRunner UpScoreVenue / Comments