Osborne Park Football Club collection

The Osborne Park Football Club has a proud tradition which dates back to the 1920s. The year of establishment for the club is formally recognised as 1922, but there are some indications that the Club existed in some form prior to this date. The earliest written account of the Club is a set of minutes from the 1922 season, which are held in the Battye Library of Western Australia. It is interesting to note that the colours of blue and gold were worn during these early years, and it was not until the 1940s that the traditional colours of red and white were adopted. The Osborne Park Football Club is now amalgamated into the Stirling Amateur Football Club and known as the Stirling Saints.

(Information courtesy of the Stirling Amateur Football Club)

Perth Suburban Football Association – 1922 to 1924

1922 - The Club first took to the field in the 1922 season as one of seven clubs competing in the newly formed Perth Suburban Football Association (PSFA). The inaugural president was John Tyler and the inaugural captain was Reg Johns. The Club played and trained at the Osborne Park Showgrounds (later known as Robinson Reserve). It took six games into the season to register the Club’s first win, which was against West Subiaco by 17 points.

1923
The Club goes through the season without a win and finishes on the bottom of the ladder.

1924
The Club continues to compete in the PSFA, but the lack of on-field success and drop in player numbers results in the Club having to withdraw from the association after Round 10.

Social – 1925 to 1946

From 1925 onwards, the Club does not compete in regularly scheduled fixtures, but plays numerous 'social' games against clubs from local metropolitan leagues (including Wanneroo, Wembley and Mt Hawthorn) and nearby country leagues (including Sawyers Valley, Mt Helena, Bindoon and Gin Gin).

West Australian Amateur Football Association – 1947 to 1956

1947
The Club joins the West Australian Amateur Football Association (WAAFA) and commences regular competition in C-Grade. The Club scores just one behind in its first game against Swanbourne (which remains the Club’s lowest score of all time). The first victory comes the following week with a 32-point win against Teachers Training College. The Club finishes its first season in 4th position but is eliminated in the First Semi Final by East Perth – the final scores being East Perth 11.18 (84) to Osborne Park 7.11 (53).

1948
A restructure of the divisions in the WAAFA sees the Club placed in B-Grade East. The Club finishes the season in 5th place.

1949
The club remains in B-Grade East and finishes the season in 7th place.

1950
Another restructure of the divisions in the WAAFA sees the Club compete in B2-Grade. The Club finishes the season in 2nd place on the ladder but loses the Second Semi Final to Maylands by12 points and the Preliminary Final to Banks by 12 points.

1951
The Club is promoted to B1-Grade and finishes the season in 6th place. Mick Nanovich wins the Essex Medal for the WAAFA Fairest & Best player in B1-Grade. Mick Nanovich also won his second consecutive club Fairest & Best award (known as the Johns Medal).

1952
The Club makes the finals in B1-Grade, but is eliminated in the First Semi Final by Commonwealth Bank by 24 points.

1953
The Club finishes the B1-Grade season as minor premiers, but loses the Second Semi Final to University by 26 points and the Preliminary Final to West Perth by 3 points. Ray Okely wins the WAAFA B1-Grade Fairest & Best Medal.

1954
The Club wins its first ever premiership competing in B1-Grade. Coached by former West Perth champion, Doug Lind, the Club defeats Claremont-Nedlands by 34 points - the scores being Osborne Park 13.11 (89) to Claremont-Nedlands 7.13 (55). Ray Okely wins the WAAFA B1-Grade Fairest & Best Medal for the second consecutive year