1915 in Victorian soccer explained

Season:1915
Nextseason:1919

The 1915 Victorian soccer season was the seventh competitive season of soccer in the Australian state of Victoria, under association with the governing body of Football Victoria. It would be the last season of soccer prior to what be a three-year hiatus of soccer due to World War I[1] in which approximately ninety percent of registered players were enlisted in the Australian Defence Force prior to the 1916 season,[2] with at least forty percent of the players registering in April during the season.[3] Two leagues were contested, being 'Victorian Division 1' and 'Victorian Division 2' that is now (as of 2020 season) recognized as the NPL & NPL 2 respectively.[4] The calendar season also saw the seventh tournament of the Dockerty Cup, in which Melbourne Thistle were crowned winners.[5]

Overview

There was no relegation at the conclusion of the 1914 season, with three more clubs joining the newly reformed first division that had been split into two sections (conferences).[6] The three debutante clubs consisted of Sandringham who had been promoted from division two, along with the reformed Footscray Thistle, and temporary military sporting team H.M.A.S. Cerberus. Section A consisted of six teams, whereas Section B consisted of seven. A finals series was played between the premiers and runner's up of the two sections to determine the state champions, in which Melbourne Thistle of Section B defeated Albert Park of section A 1–0 to become champions.

It is believed that the second division continued into the 1915 season but not in a section form, but of a single league form. As of May 2020, the official table is incomplete,[7] however it is known that at least four clubs competed in what is now known as the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2. These clubs consisted of the 1914 runner's up Hawthorn,[8] along with debutante clubs Brunswick,[9] Cambrian United,[10] and Windsor.[11] The league premiership team remains unknown, and the division is believed to have recommenced in 1921.[12]

League Tables

Division 1A

Competition:Victorian Division 1A
Season:1915
Premiers:Albert Park (1st title)
Matches:30
Total Goals:91
Prevseason:1914
Nextseason:1919

Division 1B

Competition:Victorian Division 1
Season:1915
Premiers:Melbourne Thistle (2nd title)
Matches:42
Total Goals:105
Prevseason:1914
Nextseason:1919

Division 2

Competition:Victorian Division 2
Season:1915
Premiers:Unknown
Prevseason:1914
Nextseason:1921

While there is no ladder for Division 2 as of May 2020,[7] it is believed that at least eight clubs competed. Windsor is known to have finished third,[11] followed by Hawthorn in fourth,[8] with Brunswick finishing fifth.[9] It is unknown which unknown clubs finished sixth and seventh but it is believed that Cambrian United finished eighth.[10] The premiership and wooden spoon teams are unknown, as well as if a final series was contested. It is known that Windsor was promoted to Division 1 for the 1919 season.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Australian State League Archive - Victoria. www.ozfootball.net.
  2. Web site: The Story of Football in Victoria - Roy Hay & Ian Syson.pdf. Google Docs.
  3. Web site: Soccer also made its sacrifice. Ian. Syson. April 24, 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. Web site: Australian State League Archive - Victoria. www.ozfootball.net.
  5. Web site: Dockerty Cup. www.ozfootball.net.
  6. Web site: Table . www.socceraust.co.uk . 2020-06-03.
  7. Web site: Victorian League Division 2 1915 Season Table . 2020-05-18 . 2022-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215141754/http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/1915D2T.html . dead .
  8. Web site: Victorian Football Club Archive - Hakoah to International Harvester. www.ozfootball.net.
  9. Web site: Victorian Football Club Archive - Balaclava to Burns. www.ozfootball.net.
  10. Web site: Victorian Football Club Archive - Camberwell City to C.Y.M.S. Glenroy. www.ozfootball.net.
  11. Web site: Victorian Football Club Archive - Waterside Workers Federation to Youth United. www.ozfootball.net.
  12. Web site: Australian State League Archive - Victoria. www.ozfootball.net.