Text Box: THE EARLY YEARS

 The exact date of the formation of the Coolamon Football Club is not known. But it can be established that the Australian Game was played in the Coolamon district in the eighteen-nineties. The earliest reference to a football team from Coolamon appears in the Wagga Wagga Advertiser of July 31, 1894, "Mrs. G Riley has given a medal as a trophy to be competed for by Coolamon, Methul and Boggy Creek". There are also reports of a competition based at Ganmain from 1895. 

 In 1898 the teams reputed to be in this Association were Ganmain, Methul, Warri (Ardlethan), Grong Grong and Coolamon. A.S. "Poddy" Slade's earliest recollection of football in Coolamon is 1904. He recalls that the Coolamon team used to respond from challenges from teams in the neighbouring districts for a game. In this way they would play up to 5-6 games each year against various teams including Ganmain, Cottee, Matong, Methul, Temora and Tooyal. There was no formal or fixed competition as such. According to "Poddy" there was "no actual prize" and all games were played in a "real sporting spirit". Apparently anyone could and did do the umpiring. And the footballs mostly came up from Melbourne …….

Click on Poddy Slade to see the rest of the history


Text Box: History of the Hoppers