TEM History
The Victorian Amateur Hockey Association
In this issue we are going to have a look at the early years of the Victorian Amateur Hockey Association, one the precursor organisations to what we know today as Hockey Victoria.
“An association has been formed and any other club wishing to join may do so by communicating with the hon secretary 121 Hotham Street, East StKilda.”
With these few words contained in a hockey article to be found on page 7 of the Argus, 19 June 1906 the formation of the Victorian Amateur Hockey Association was announced.
1906
The first competition involved six teams, with the first premiership rounds being played on 26 July, 1906. The six teams were:
- Iona (A)
- Iona (B)
- Waitangi
- Regent Park
- Chetwynd, and
- Nondescript.
Iona was said to represent Elsternwick, with Waitangi representing Balaclava.
The VAHA was emphatically a men's only association. (At that time there were mixed teams and women’s teams, as well as men’s teams. A women’s competition, playing for the Dunraven Cup, had been in existence for three years.)
VAHA matches were played on Saturdays at Brighton Cricket Ground, Orrong Road, Caulfield, Middle Brighton and Elsternwick.
The ladder at the end of the home and away season after the last game on the last Saturday in August, 1906 was:
Team
| Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Points |
| Iona (A) | 5 | 4 | - | 1 | 18
|
Waitangi
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
Regent Park
| 4 | 2 | 2 | - | 8 |
Nondescript
| 4 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Iona (B) | 4 | - | 4 | - | - |
Chetwynd seems to have fallen by the wayside.
The final, played between Iona (A) and Waitangi, at the Brighton Cricket Ground, on the first Saturday in September, was a draw.
It was replayed the following week. Iona (A) won 4-nil and called themselves “The Champions of Victoria”.
1907
Before the 1907 season commenced, the president of the VAHA, Mr TG Watson , who was also the secretary of the Iona Hockey Club, presented a cup to the VAHA as a trophy for the winning team.
The 1907 season commenced on Saturday 20 April with eight teams:
- Iona
- Haileybury
- Worrigoleen
- Waitangi
- Etcetera*
- Auburn
- Iona Rovers, and
- Fairfield
Matches were played on Saturdays. Players would take a train to the ground where the match was to be played and they would agree beforehand on which train to catch so that they all arrived together.
Haileybury played its games at Haileybury school in South Road, Brighton, Woorigoleen played in Windsor, Etcetera* played in East Malvern, Auburn in Auburn, Ioan and Iona Rovers appeared to share the ‘Drill Hall’ ground in Brighton and Fairfield played in Fairfield Park.
In early July the ladder was:
| Team | Played | Won | Loss | Drawn | Goals for | Goals against | Points |
| Iona | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 17 | 18
|
| Woorigoleen | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 19 | 14
|
| Etcetera* | 11 | 7 | 4 | - | 44 | 26 | 14
|
| Haileybury | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 21 | 14
|
| Waitangi | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 14 | 13
|
| Fairfield | 11 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 17 | 10
|
| Auburn | 11 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 23 | 5
|
| Iona Rovers | 11 | - | 11 | - | 16 | 28 | - |
* Etcetera evolved into what we know today as TEM. More on this in future issues.
Iona continued its dominance and was on top of the ladder after the last round on 14 September 1907 and went on to became premiers.
Happily, Iona Rovers did record a 2-1 victory against Woorigoleen in the last round.
Apart from Iona and Waitangi, it is unclear whether any of the 1907 teams had any connection with the 1906 teams.
This article has been sourced from a variety of newspaper articles including:
- Age 11 Sept 1906
- Argus 19 June 2006, 16 Mar 1907, 15 Apr 1907 & 9 July 1907
- Brighton Southern Cross 20 Apr 1907
- Herald 13 Sept 1907
- Leader 21 July 1906 & 21 Sept 1907
- Punch 26 July 1906, 9 Aug 1906, 13 Sept 1906 & 6 June 1907