Scotch College

Support for Scotch football

The primary purpose of the 1858 Club is to contribute to the development of Australian Rules Football at Scotch College.

Words: Jon Long • 1858 Club Committee

Deriving its name from the first gazetted game of Australian Rules football played in 1858, between Scotch and Melbourne Grammar, the 1858 Club comprises parents of Scotch footballers, teachers, coaches and others with close ties to the Scotch football fraternity.

The primary purpose of the 1858 Club is to contribute to the development of Australian Rules football in the School. In doing so, it aims to help provide amenities and opportunities for all boys to maximise their potential and enjoyment of the game.

The 1858 Club provides direct assistance to the School in five main areas:

• Football trips
• Coaching staff and equipment
• Pre-season football clinics
• Year 7 players’ introduction, and
• Game-day support

Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of parents, relatives and friends, and of course, sponsors. The value of our sponsors’ financial contribution to football at Scotch cannot be overstated. In return, they receive exposure to a captive audience, which is the envy of every five-star advertiser in the country.

Scotch football people will become familiar with these companies and brands when they see their messages in the Year 2007 Football Handbook, at the 1858 Club annual breakfast, at the mid-year function, in the home game marquee, at the spectacular fashion parade and at other events.

The five areas of assistance provided by the 1858 Club can be briefly summarised as follows:

• Football trips: Financial support of the annual Year 9 trip to Adelaide to play St Peter’s College, and the widely acclaimed biennial Tiwi Island trip for Years 10 and 11 to play at Darwin and Bathurst Island. 1858 Club members also accompany the group on the Tiwi trip to assist with travel, training and game-day duties.
• Coaching staff and equipment: 1858 Club contributions support the role of Director of Coaching, Chris Naish, and his team of recent school leavers. Last year the 1858 Club also provided the school with an up-to-date computer and software for game-day analysis.
• 1st XVIII and recently introduced Years 8-12 pre-season clinics are heavily supported and planned by the 1858 Club.
• Year 7 players’ introduction: this is an insightful and valuable introduction to the Scotch way of football by the school’s leading administrators, coaches and players. It is arranged annually.
• Game day help: team managers, boundary umpires, goal umpires and scoreboard officials are organised for all games throughout the season.

Success breeds success – but not without foresight, planning, persistence and players. Every Scotch footballer must be encouraged to play the nation’s greatest game at one of the game’s greatest institutions. Scotch College has been instrumental in developing Australian Rules football and producing top-line players for many generations, and the 1858 Club intends to enhance this enviable position in every way possible.

The 1858 Club wishes every Scotch footballer, both at School and in the Old Scotch Football Club, a fulfilling, enjoyable and successful 2007 season.

If you have any enquiries, know of sponsorship opportunities or require more information, please contact the 1858 Club President, Steve Bull on 9822 3292 or email webcons@bigpond.net.au