"Once a Westie Always a Westie"
The Formation of the West Whyalla Football Club.....

The genesis of the West Whyalla Football Club was undoubtedly the Army team and the later characteristics of the West team were those development by the Army team in their short but notable period in the Whyalla Football Association.

These early days were recalled by Ian McKay who as a fresh faced 18 year old came to Whyalla on February 13th 192 as part of the 26th Anti-Aircraft Battery. The function of this Army group was to operate the 3.7" (94mm) heavy anti-aircraft guns sited on Hummock Hill and protect the BHP shipyards and the iron ore loading jetty from possible Japanese air attacks. Ian McKay later went on to a noteworthy career with North Adelaide, and won the 1950 Magarey Medal.

The Officer in charge of the Battery was a Victorian, Captain Roy Moorfoot. Roy was keen to form an Army football team to participate in the Whyalla competition. He approached Reg "Snow" Kleenman, Superintendent of BHP Whyalla, who was also the Patron of the Whyalla Football Association. "Snow" put the request to the Association Committee, who readily agreed. This meant that there would be four teams in the competition which eliminated the weekly bye.

The first game the Army team played was on 19th April 1942 against the previous years Premiers North Whyalla. The Army team wore the Whyalla Football Association representative guernseys which the Association loaned them. They were the national colours of green guernsey with a gold vee, collar and cuffs. The match resulted in a victory to the new Army team 16.9 (105) to 10.17 (77) with Ian McKay kicking 10 goals. Many of the Army side did not have football boots so they played in ther Army boots.

The surface of the Whyalla Forshore Oval, opposite the Whyalla Technical High School, consisted mainly of small round pebbles, so the football boots had to be fitted with leather bars as sprigs would have been ineffective. Gravel rashes on legs and arms were the order of the day. Winds were either strong south or strong north.

The Army side was captained by Roy "Blue" Teakle who had played for West Torrens "B" Grade. Other players in the team who later played Adelaide League football were "Stew" Teague and Sam Walker for Norwood, Jack Wallis for Glenelg, Ian McKay (1950 Magarey Medallist) and Jack Carvosso for North Adelaide. Other regular members were Jack "Butch" Clarke, Dave Mugford, Jeff "Slicker" Payne, Jack Attrill, Norm Pearce, Frank Osborne, Lyall Palmer, Keith "Charley" Shand, Bill Bristow, Les Whitehorn, Harry Gates, Max Baker, "Bluey" Nolan, Noel "Nick" Williams, Kevin "Paddy" Dundon, John "Magic" Cave, Bob Anderson, Phil Robinson and "Bunter" Hall.

Just prior to the start of the 1943 football season, some 30-40 members of the Battery were transferred to a NSW anti-aircraft regiment which saw service at Buna in New Guinea and were also involved in the landing of Tarakan in the Borneo campaign. this of course greatly weakened the Army team.

In 1943 the Battery Captain Roy Moorfoot, who had played with Geelong A-Grade Amateurs, (led by Australian Cricket Captain Lindsay Hassett) decided to approach the Geelong VFL Football Club for permission to use their jersey design - they were so pleased to receive the request that they decided to send over a set of jerseys for the Army team, which became their official uniform from then on. In August 1943 a second group of 30-40 Army personnel left Whyalla and saw service at Port Moresby in New Guinea. This meant that a large percentage of the Army team had left, so itwas decided in season 1944 to form Army-West and to use the Geelong design jersey for this new club. Additional players in the 1943/44 seasons were Eric Hockridge, Dick Wright, Brian Addicoat, Pat Wallis, Hurtle Dahlenburg, Don "Bluey" Dewar, Des Symonds and Bill Footer.

During the war years, Whyala was an isolated but privileged community, employment was guarenteed, overtime was high and there was no shortage of beer or other essential foodstuffs. Travel was difficult- permits were needed to fly, buses restricted to a 35mph limit. Therefore it took 3 hours to travel to Port Pirie and a further 5 hours to Adelaide.

At the beginning of the 1944 season, the indications were that the Whyalla Football Association would revert to a three team competition, as the Army would not be able to continue to field a team. A number of sportsmen gathered together with the object of forming a fourth club to replace the Army team with a team to be named West Whyalla.

Considerable controversy was raised as to the relative strength of this proposed team. At the same time, Army enthusiasts were still eager for their team to participate in the 1944 season. As each individual team did not appear to have sufficient strength, it was decided to amalgamate and thus the Army-West Club was formed.

The first meeting of interested parties was held at the Battery, where everyone was enthusiastic about the coming season.

The Battery was located on top of Hummock Hill with four 3.70" (94mm) high angle anti-aircraft guns firing to over 20,000 feet. The German equivalent was the famous 88mm Ack Ack which Rommel converted to anti-tank with disastrous results for the 8th Army. A predictor and director control completed the Battery. No radar was available and lookout posts were manned continually with a naval patrol (Dad's Army) also operational.

It was decided that the Army guernsey's of blue and white hoops, obtained by Captain Roy Moorfoot from Geelong Football Club, be used until such time as was thought desirable to review the situation.

The Coach Jim Single formerly of the East Fremantle WA League spared no effort to have the side in a fit condition. Several new players were expected to show good football ability, these included Bill Morphew, Joe Markham, Bronte highet and mick raymond.

The elected officers of the Army-West Football Club were: Patron- L. Leahy, President - Roy Moorfoot, Chairman - Tony Houden, Secretary and Treasurer - Len Atkins and Dave Mugford. Delegates to the Association, Pat Wallis and Lance Ward, Timekeeper - Horrie English, Coach - Jim Single, Trainers -  Bert King, Jack Dickenson, "Sandy" Harris and R. Jones.

The first Army- West team went down to South Whyalla 12.22 (94) to Army-West 2.2 (14). Members of the team were: Roy Morcom, Pat Wallis, Bronte Highet, Joe Murray, Jim Single, L.Edge, E.D.Petherick, Mick Raymond, C.Vinall, G.Roberts, Tony Houden, Jack Oliphant, Peter Bond, F.Wake, Bill Morphew, Bill Stephens, Jack Wallis, Keith Crack, Dave Mugford, Keith Whitford. The second match was another loss but described as an improved game, Central 11.16 to Army-West 4.7.

The Whyalla Football Association called for applications for the following positions for season 1944, Field Umpires at 35/- per match, Boundary at 15/- and Goal Umpires at 5/-. Applications were to be forwarded to that stalwart of Whyalla Football Alf Aikman Hon.Secretary.

Although the team was keen and turned out, it was overwhelmingly defeated in those early games.

However the characteristic of the say die attitude of the future West Whyalla teams was undoubtebly born at this time.

During this season the B grade competition was reformed and after a struggle a Junior eighteen was laos achieved. A second oval located near the Aerodrome became the training headquarters for the B Grade.

The seasons first victory for the senior team was against North Whyalla. Although military duties restrcted his time for the game, the enthusiasm of the President, Captain Roy Moorfoot, played a big part in the first victory.

This initial victory was followed by a win against South Whyalla by six points in which 9 goals were kicked in the last quarter.

For the early rounds of the season the standard of football had been a mediocre, until the final stages of he minor round. With the players in great condition Army-West defeated Central and North in succession. From a weakened side they had risen in a few short weeks to be contenders for premiership homours.

Just prior to the first semi-final, to meet the demands of war, the Army transferred most of the teams leading players to Darwin and NEw Guinea. The loss of the Captain Pat Wallis, Vice Captain Dave Mugford, as well as Jack Wallis, J.Galley, Bill Morphew, P.Leake and Claude "Snow" Bartram was a devastating blow. The resultant reshuffle of the A and B Grade teams weakened both teams chances and they were both beaten in their first semi-finals after playing grand lead-up games.

The voting for Whyalla's highest football award the Whyalla News Medal was overwhelmingly in favour of Army-West's tenacious centreman tony Houden. Throughout the year Tony's performances were such that he set up a commanding lead, and even if he had missed the last series in the minor round, he would have still won this conveted trophy.

Tony was not a flashy footballer, but for consistency and meritorious team work he had no equal in the Whyalla Association. His courage, tenacity, being a safe mark, a ferocious tackler and will to win second to none made him the best trained footballer playing in Whyalla at that time.

Tony;s stab pass worked wonders in opening up the game to Army-West's advantage, especially when combined with fast leading half forwards like Lawson and Leake. He came to Whyalla from Kalgoorlie and initially played for North Whyalla and the Whyalla combined side against Sturt-South Adelaide.

Tony Houden was not only Army-West's star player he was also their Charimen. He was regarded as the hardest working and best informed chairman in club circles at this time. He was also the guided star of Army-West affairs, filling the chair admirably, and he had the unenviable task of steering the club through a very difficult period. From the outset, "Dark" as he was affectionately known, had visions of a fourth permanant team becoming affiliated with the Whyalla Association. Working to this end, with a handful of sporting enthusiasts, his ambition was achieved initially with the amalgamation of the Army-West side and finally by the formation of West Whyalla.

The coach of Army-West towards the latter end of the 1944 season was Doud Warhurst (ex- North Adelaide rover) who immediately made his presence felt. Doug was a firm believer that matches were won on the training track and he made fitness of his players his first objective.

Doug's thorough knowledge of the game was imparted with exactitude and his coaching of the art of turning in particular, had great results. Under his guidance results were immediate and the team forged ahead in leaps and bounds to make themselves formidable opponents. Doug's quiet demeanour and unassuming manner made him immensely popular with the players.

The trophy winners for Army-West for 1944 were:
Tony Houden - Fairest and Most Brilliant ( Mr T J Pierce Trophy)
Keith Crack - Best Utility Player ( Mr W F Vickers Trophy)
E D Petherick - Most Improved Player ( Mrs G Wakefield Trophy)
E J Maloney - ( Mr H K English Trophy)
J Jacobs - Most Improved Junior ( Mr L Gilling's Trophy)

Following the Army-West teams missing the Grand Final, Jack Fargher and Cyril Clark suggested that a new team be formed and the new name be West Whyalla.

A meeting, chaired by Jack Fargher, was held at the Foreshore Oval in January 1945 to accept the recommendation from the 1944 meeting, that the West Whyalla Football Club be formed. Others in attendance were Harry "Hap" Heward, Reg "Rex" George, Dick Selby, Norm Murray, "Aspro" Edwards, Allan Green, "Tiny" Prenzel, Tony Houden, Cyril Clark, Frank Dunn, George Harvey, "Nugget" Hynes, Lance Ward, Allan Smith, Horrie English, Roy Bolto, "Nugget" Yendall, Len Atkins, peter Bond, Sandy Harris, George Gosling, Laurie "Shorty" Heath and Tom Ryan.

The first officials were:
Mr Alan Dalziel - Patron
Mr Seymour Matthews - President
Tony Houden - Chairman
Lance Ward & Len Atkins - Joint Secretaries
J Marsh - Treasurer

The Management Committee were: Bill Muller, "Nugget" Hynes, Horrie English, Doug Warhurst, J Marsh, George Gosling, Lance Ward, Jack fargher, Reg George, Sandy Harris, Tony Houden, A K Harris, C Rowe, Earl Winstanley.
Associate delegate:
J marsh, Tony Houden and Doug Warhurst
Doug Warhurst - Coach
George Gosling - Head trainer
Reg George and R Finlay - Auditors

The Whyalla Football Association required that the West Whyalla Football Club would have to have 5 nominated members to represent the club. Tony Houden ran a book on who would be the five nominated "Foundation Members" accepted by the Whyalla Football Association. Those nominated as the Foundation Members were Norm Murray, Mick Rontaunay, Peter Skelton, George Harvey and Frank Clark.

In 1945 the Whyalla Football Association accepted the West Whyalla Football Club as the new team. They were given the Whyalla Football Association combined jerseys by WFA Secretary Alf Aikman, the colours being light green jumper and gold vee, collar and cuffs, with white shorts.

The Army-West colours had been 2 blues, due to the fading of the original Geelong jumpers. The early name of the club as the "Bone-yarders", due to the clubrooms being located alongside the Cemetery. The club had a League and Seconds team and the core of these teams were the previous Army-West players.

The majority of the club members and players came from the Playford Avenue, Syme Street, Hambidge Terrace, Essington Lewis Avenue area and the single mens quarters.

At the time of formation, there was another football competition in existence based on Crete Park (SIngle Mens Quarters), Iron Knob, Railways and Townshops. Games were played at the Crete Park Oval built by BHP at the Singles Mens Quarters. Players included Roy Bolto, Des Wittwer, Allen Green, Freddy Lehman, "Nugget" Hynes and Len Charlesworth who later played for or were officals of Westies.

Recruiting of players from other clubs was encouraged by the Association, and there were no such things as clearances. Army-West coach Doug Warhurst was appointed the first Coach of the West Whyalla Football Club.
Club History
Slee Street, Whyalla  S.A.  5600
Postal Address: P.O. Box 22, Whyalla S.A. 5600 
Phone/Fax: (08) 8645 9909   Email: admin@westwhyallafootballclub.com
"The Price of Victory is Dedication"
West Whyalla Football Club