Ballarat Imperial Football Club Explained

Clubname:	Ballarat Imperial Football Club
Color1:	ffffff
Color2:	B50000
Color3:	solid #1F89BE
Fullname:	Ballarat Imperial Football Club
Nicknames:	Blues^[1] / Imps / Tricolours
Founded:	1876
Former Names:	Galatea Football Club (1876–78)
Colours:	^[2]
Premierships:	20 (1884, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1922, 1929, 1935, 1936, 1937)
Pattern B1:	_collarred_2
Body1:	ffffff
Shorts1:	ffffff
Socks1:	1F89BE

The Ballarat Imperial Football Club was an Australian rules football club which formerly competed in the Ballarat Football League. The club was one of the most successful teams in the league, winning 17 premierships before it was dissolved in 1955.

History

The club was formed in the mid-1870s as the "Galatea Football Club" before becoming known as "Ballarat Imperial" in 1878^[3] with the first practice match taking place on Saturday 4th May 1878.

In 1882, Ballarat Imperial FC and City FC agreed to merge clubs and become known as the Ballarat City Imperial FC and retain the colours of Ballarat Imperial FC.^[4]

In 1885, a second twenty (reserves) team was formed.^[5]

The club was a provincial playing member of the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1885 until 1888,^[6] taking part in the Association's administration and competing regularly against Melbourne-based VFA clubs.

The club's VFA positions were as follows - 1885 - 10th, 1886 - 15th, 1887 - 13th, 1888 - 14th.^[7]

In 1883, Ballarat Imperials FC captain, Mr. John Williams Mills, was struck in the abdomen, but played out the game. Mills unfortunately died the following morning, aged 25 years of age.^{[8] [9]}

George McKenzie was captain of Ballarat Imperials when they won six consecutive premierships between 1891^[10] and 1896^[11] and were runners up in 1897 and 1898.

Ballarat Imperial was a founding member of the Ballarat Football Association in 1893, and was its dominant club through its early years, winning eleven of the first fourteen premierships. The club returned to prominence in the 1930s, winning three premierships in a row from 1935 to 1937.^[12] In 1937, it made an attempt to rejoin the VFA as a full member. However, it was felt that a second Ballarat-based team would have to be included to ensure that one VFA game could be played in Ballarat each weekend, and no willing co-applicant could be found.^[13]

In 1905, Ballarat Imperials player, F James won the Ballarat Football League's most popular player award, the Hutton Cup, receiving 40,514 votes via returned Hutton coupons.^[14]

In 1938, The Ballarat Football League and Ballarat Football Association merged^[15] and Ballarat Imperials FC then merged with the East Ballarat FC and played as Ballarat Imperials, finishing runner up to Sebastopol.^[16]

The club went into recess just prior to the start of the 1939 Ballarat Football League season,^[17] although it played in the Ballarat Football League B. Grade competition from 1948 to 1952 after World War Two, it never returned to the Ballarat Football League senior football competition and folded.

Football Timeline

• 1875 - Galatea Football Club formed
• 1878 - 1882: Club known as Ballarat Imperial FC & played against other local teams.
• 1883 - 1892: Played in the unofficial Ballarat Football Association.
• 1885 - 1888: Victorian Football Association^{[18] [19]}
• 1893 - 1914: Ballarat Football League
• 1915 - 1918: In recess due to World War One
• 1919 - 1938: Ballarat Football League
• 1939 - 1945: In recess due to World War Two
• 1948 - 1952: Ballarat Football League - B. Grade^{[20] [21]}

Premierships

Seniors^[22]

• Ballarat / Western Districts (4)
  • 1884 - Ballarat Imperials: ^[23]
  • 1890 - Ballarat Imperial & Ballarat tied^[24]
  • 1891 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^[25]
  • 1892 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^{[26] [27]}
• Ballarat Football League (13)
  • 1893 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Sebastopol: 2nd^[28]
  • 1894 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^[29]
  • 1895 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, South Ballarat: 2nd^[30]
  • 1896 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^[31]
  • 1899 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^[32]
  • 1900 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^[33]
  • 1901 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^[34]
  • 1902 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^{[35] [36]}
  • 1903 - Ballarat Imperial: 1st, Ballarat: 2nd^[37]
  • 1905 - Ballarat Imperial: 5.12 - 42 d South Ballarat: 3.6 - 24^{[38] [39] [40]}
  • 1906 - Ballarat Imperial: 4.17 - 41 d Ballarat: 0.4 - 4^{[41] [42]}
  • 1922 - Ballarat Imperial: 5.3 - 33 d Golden Point: 3.7 - 25^[43]
  • 1929 - Ballarat Imperial: 9.12 - 66 d Ballarat: 8.10 - 58^[44]
• Ballarat Wimmera Football League (2)
  • 1935 - Ballarat Imperial: 14.8 - 92 d Golden Point: 9.19 - 73^[45]
  • 1936 - Ballarat Imperial: 15.9 - 99 d Ballarat: 6.4 - 40^[46]
• Ballarat Football League (1)
  • 1937 - Ballarat Imperial: 13.9 - 87 d Golden Point: 4.5 - 29 (undefeated premiers)^[47]

Runners Up

Seniors

• Ballarat Football League (14)
  • 1885,^[48] 1886,^[49] 1887, 1889,^[50] 1897, 1898, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1914, 1919, 1920, 1921,^[51] 1938^[52]

VFL Players

The following footballers played with Ballarat Imperial FC prior to playing senior VFL football, with the year indicating their VFL debut.

• 1897: Peter Burns -
• 1897: Harry Wright -
• 1898: Bill Jackson -
• 1901: Leo S. Morgan -
• 1902: Tom Fox -
• 1904: Harry Gibson - South Melbourne
• 1905: Glyn Thomas -
• 1906: Horrie Bant -
• 1906: Harold Stanley -
• 1906: Edgar Stubbs -
• 1907: Chris Bant -
• 1911: Jack Gray -
• 1913: Bill Eastick - South Melbourne
• 1925: George Waterhouse - South Melbourne
• 1932: Joe Hogan -
• 1934: Frank Finn -
• 1936: Lou Reiffel -
• 1938: Dick Hingston -

The following footballers played senior VFL football prior to playing and / or coaching with Ballarat Imperial FC with the year indicating their first season at the BIFC.

• 1911: Ray Ritchie -
• 1924: Wally Johnson -
• 1926: Stan McKenzie -
• 1929: Charlie Clymo -
• 1931: Max Pitchford -
• 1932: Alec Eason -
• 1935: Jack Wunhym -

Links

• / 1891 - Premiers: Ballarat Imperial FC team photo
• / 1901 - Ballarat FL Premiers: Ballarat Imperial FC team photo
• 1921 - Ballarat FL Runner Up: Ballarat Imperial FC team photo
• 1929 - Ballarat FL Premiers: Ballarat Imperial FC team photo
• 1930 - Ballarat FC & Ballarat Imperial FC team photos
• 1922 - Hereditary Footballers via The Herald newspaper
• 1931 - Clymo well thought of in Ballarat via The Sporting Globe newspaper
• 1941 - Ballarat Veteran's all round record in sport via The Weekly Times newspaper
• 1942 - Bill Roff's colourful career in Ballarat sport via The Weekly Times newspaper
• 1942 - Ballarat's man's 35 years of fire fighting via The Weekly times newspaper
• 1946 - Career of Late Mr. Herb Giddings via The Horsham Times newspaper
• 1952 - Peter Burns dies via The Record newspaper

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1884 - Football . The Ballarat Courier (Vic) . 23 May 2024 . 3 . 4 October 1884.
2. News: The Ballarat Star. Ballarat, VIC. South Ballarat v. Ballarat Imperial. 20 July 1885. 4.
3. News: The Ballarat Star. Melbourne, VIC. News and notes. 2. 6 May 1878.
4. Web site: 1882 - Football . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 18 May 2024 . 3 . 31 May 1882.
5. Web site: 1885 - BALLARAT IMPERIAL FOOTBALL CLUB. . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 20 May 2024 . 4 . 26 March 1885.
6. Web site: 1886 - BALLARAT IMPERIAL FOOTBALL CLUB . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 20 May 2024 . 4 . 27 March 1886.
7. Web site: The VFA Project . VFA Project . 20 May 2024.
8. Web site: 1883 - A FATAL FOOTBALL ACCIDENT. . The Age (Melbourne, Vic) . 18 May 2024 . 6 . 18 September 1883.
9. Web site: 1883 - Another Death in the Football Field . Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic) . 18 May 2024 . 5 . 22 September 1883.
10. Web site: 1893 - FOOTBALL GOSSIP . Leader (Melbourne, Vic) . 23 May 2024 . 17 . 20 May 1893.
11. Web site: 1922 - Old time captain . Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic) . 21 May 2024 . 4 . 7 October 1922.
12. Web site: Ballarat Football League. 22 April 2016.
13. News: The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, VIC. Lack of interest and lost prestige. H. A. deLacy. 31 March 1937. 8.
14. Web site: 1905 - Country Football . The Age (Melbourne, Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 6 . 25 September 1905.
15. Web site: 1938 - FOOTBALL MERGER IN BALLARAT . The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic) . 20 May 2024 . 38 . 18 March 1938.
16. Web site: 1938 - Why Football Has Slumped In Ballarat . Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic) . 20 May 2024 . 61 . 10 September 1938.
17. Web site: 1939 - Ballarat League . The Age (Melbourne, Vic) . 20 May 2024 . 13 . 12 April 1939.
18. Web site: 1887 - Sporting Life . Melbourne Punch (Vic) . 18 May 2024 . 9 . 13 October 1887.
19. Web site: 1887 - THE PREMIERSHIP CONTESTS . Leader (Melbourne, Vic) . 18 May 2024 . 21 . 1 October 1887.
20. Web site: 1948 - NEWS IN SPORTS SPOTLIGHT . Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic) . 20 May 2024 . 28 . 18 February 1948.
21. Web site: 1949 - Football in the country . Google . The Age newspaper . 20 May 2024 . 6 . 25 April 1949.
22. Web site: The Grand Final: Premiership List . The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) . 1 May 2024 . 6 . 26 September 1921.
23. Web site: 1884 - Football . The Ballarat Courier (Vic) . 23 May 2024 . 3 . 7 October 1884.
24. Web site: 1890 - The Ballarat Clubs . The Age (Melbourne, Vic) . 23 May 2024 . 7 . 29 September 1890.
25. Web site: 1891 - Football at Ballarat . The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 10 . 21 September 1891.
26. Web site: 1892 - SPORTING NEWS . Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 6 . 1 October 1892.
27. Web site: 1892 - IMPERIAL FOOTBALL CLUB SOCIAL . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 22 October 1892.
28. Web site: 1893 - Final Premiership List for 1893 . The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 18 . 7 October 1893.
29. Web site: 1894 - The Ballarat Star . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 2 . 3 September 1894.
30. Web site: 1895 - Football . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 16 September 1895.
31. Web site: 1896 - Football . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 28 September 1896.
32. Web site: 1899 - Football . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 4 September 1899.
33. Web site: 1900 - POINTS FOR THE PREMIERSHIP. . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 3 September 1900.
34. Web site: 1901 - THE PREMIERSHIP LIST. . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 2 September 1901.
35. Web site: 1902 - THE SEASON’S RECORD . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 1 September 1902.
36. Web site: 1902 - SPORTING NEWS THE FOOTBALL SEASON . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 18 August 1902.
37. Web site: 1903 - Ballarat Football . The Ararat Advertiser and Chronicle for the Stawell and Wimmera Districts (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 3 . 15 September 1903.
38. Web site: 1905 - Country Football . The Age (Melbourne, Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 6 . 25 September 1905.
39. Web site: 1905 - A TIE FOR PREMIERSHIP . Geelong Advertiser (Vic) . 21 May 2024 . 4 . 12 September 1905.
40. Web site: 1905 - IMPERIAL WIN THE PREMIERSHIP . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 22 May 2024 . 4 . 14 September 1905.
41. Web site: 1906 - Ballarat & District . The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) . 21 May 2024 . 8 . 3 September 1906.
42. Web site: 1906 - Football: Tricolours Victorious . The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) . 21 May 2024 . 4 . 6 August 1906.
43. Web site: 1922 - Imperial Win Final . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 21 May 2024 . 2 . 2 October 1922.
44. Web site: 1929 - Ballarat Premiers: Imperial Succeeds! . Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic) . 21 May 2024 . 78 . 12 October 1929.
45. Web site: 1935 - BALLARAT IMPERIAL'S PREMIERSHIP: POINT'S FORWARDS FAIL . The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) . 21 May 2024 . 13 . 30 September 1935.
46. Web site: 1936 - BALLARAT IMPERIAL WIN PENNANT . Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic) . 21 May 2024 . 72 . 3 October 1936.
47. Web site: 1937 - CHAMPIONS FOR 1937 . Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic) . 20 May 2024 . 89 . 18 September 1937.
48. Web site: 1885 - Football . Leader (Melbourne, Vic) . 23 May 2024 . 21 . 3 October 1885.
49. Web site: 1886 - THE FOOTBALL PREMIERSHIP . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 23 May 2024 . 4 . 1 October 1886.
50. Web site: 1889 - Country Football . Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic) . 23 May 2024 . 2 . 9 October 1889.
51. Web site: 1921 - Grand Final List . The Ballarat Star (Vic) . 18 May 2024 . 6 . 26 September 1921.
52. Web site: 1938 - Ballarat . The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) . 20 May 2024 . 14 . 12 September 1938.