Castlemaine Football Club


The Castlemaine Football Netball Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia and is currently a member of the Bendigo Football League.
The club is notable for several reasons. Formed in 1859, it is the List of [Australian rules football clubs by date of establishment|second oldest] documented football club in Australia after the Melbourne Football Club and it has produced many notable Australian rules footballers.

History

Foundation

The first recorded football match on the Camp Reserve was in September 1855 between a team of Army soldiers and a team of goldminers.
The "Castlemaine Football Club" was formed on 15 June 1859 at the Supreme Court Hotel, Castlemaine and chaired by T Butterworth with reference from an article in the Castlemaine Mail newspaper Castlemaine played its first match on 22 June 1859 on the Cricket Ground Barkers Creek.
Records for the foundation date was discovered in 2007 which rewrote history; as many had previously believed that the Geelong Football Club had been formed earlier.

Competition

The club was formed in an era before codified rules organised competition, but according to some sources, including Graeme Atkinson, "football" was popular in the goldfields region; and, without a league to participate in, the club was an irregular competitor during its first decade.
;Timeline

Uniform

The original uniform was a white cap with royal-blue Maltese cross.

1925

In 1925, Castlemaine joined the Bendigo Football League, coached by the West Australian champion Phil Matson, Castlemaine made the 1925 Grand Final, but lost to South Bendigo by 14 Points: 7.12 to 6.4.

Tragedy

In June 1953, Castlemaine footballer, Ian Brown accidentally received a knock to his head in an inter-league match between Bendigo Football League and Ballarat Football League and died in the Ballarat Hospital the following day.

Football Premierships

;Seniors
Bendigo Football League
  • 1926 - Castlemaine: 13.18 - 96 d Sandhurst: 8.16 - 64
  • 1952 - Castlemaine: 15.9 - 99 v Sandhurst: 9.16 - 70
  • 1992 - Castlemaine: 14.13 - 97 d Golden Square: 14.8 - 92
  • 2000 - Castlemaine: 12.11 - 83 d Kangaroo Flat: 9.17 - 71
;Reserves
  • 1956, 1981, 1996,
;Thirds
  • 1960, 1965,

Alumni

Castlemaine players in the VFL/AFL

The following 47 footballers played with Castlemaine FC, prior to playing senior football in the VFL/AFL, and / or were drafted, with the year indicating their VFL/AFL debut. Not 100 percent sure if Jack Titus actually played with Castlemaine FC.
PlayerVFL/AFL ClubsVFL/AFL CareerNotes/References
Arthur CumminsCarlton1897
John Everard1905
Bill Sewart1905-151911 & 1912 VFL Premierships
Len BoweEssendon1907-151911 & 1912 VFL Premierships
Bill Johnson, 1907-121908 VFL Grand Finalist
Norm Oliver1909-111910 VFL Premiership
Gil Ebbott1911
Victor JacksonCollingwood1912
Bob CurtayneSt Kilda1920-21
Frank GleesonSt Kilda1920
Percy Bentley, 1925–401932, 1934 VFL Premierships
Jack TitusRichmond1926–431932, 1934 VFL Premierships
Jack Fincher, 1927-331927-28-29 VFL Grand Finalist
Bert Smedley1928-29
Harry CrapperMelbourne1930–31
Norm McPherson1931-2
Matt Carland, 1932 & 38
Les Bogie1934-36
David Wilkie1934
Ron Barassi, Sr.Melbourne1936–401940 VFL Premiership
Ron McCannCollingwood19361936 Stawell Gift winner
Darrell Wilkins1936
Jack Showell1936-38
Arthur SangerCarlton1938-471945 VFL Premiership
Fred BurgeRichmond1942-501942 & 1944 VFL Grand Finalist
Bert HarperEssendon1943-521946 & 1950 VFL Premierships
Ray Bower, 1944-47
Jeff Patterson1951-54
Vin Williams1952-59
Graham MinihanSt Kilda1953–59
Bud AnnandSt Kilda1956–62
Brian McMillan1962–641962 VFL Night Premiership
Kevin DelmenicoFootscray1966–70
Robert ThompsonEssendon1968–711968 VFL Reserves Premiership
Peter HallCarlton1971
Peter FyffeCarlton1970–73
Mark Cross1974
Warren JonesCarlton, 1978–851982 VFL Premiership
Lazar Vidovic1989–97
Rod Keogh, 1990–981997 AFL Grand Finalist
Adrian BassettCarlton1990-92
Paul StarbuckSydney, Carlton1990
Steven OliverCarlton1992–94
Tom Kavanagh, Fitzroy1993–94
Heath CulpittCarlton1999–2001
Dustin MartinRichmond2010–242017, 2019, 2020 AFL Premierships
Kane FarrellPort Adelaide2018-