STORIES OF THE YALLOURN FOOTBALL CLUB (1945-65) FOR VIRTUALYALLOURN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Virtual Yallourn project of researching and writing stories about the Yallourn Football Club (1945-65) commenced in August 2012. The project of some 33 stories is now completed and the stories have been posted/filed on the Virtual Yallourn website.

The project attempted to document the history of the YFC following WWII and place on record some of the players, officials, match results and significant events of that remarkable era in Gippsland football. The project has also unearthed many photographs of past players, club officials and Yallourn FC teams.

The stories could not have been written without the generosity and kind assistance of the following people...

Rohan Bounds( President YYNFC), Grant & Dawn Cowley, John Hutchinson, Heather Norden, Barry & Marion Spurrier, Michael Henderson, Michael Sabbatucci & family, Geoff Shaw, Peter Fanning, Jim Watt (Snr), Jim Watt (Jnr), Laurie & Ross Shipp, Jack & Betty Vinall, Gary Butler, Mike Collins, Wade Presley, Ken Emselle (ex-MFC & PFC) Dr Bob Grogan (former MO-South Melbourne FC), Dr Julie Fenley (Monash University-Churchill Campus), Norm Hall, Dr Andrew Spaull, Jim Richardson, Jack Huxtable, Rod Couling, Peter Cook, Frank Goode, Steve Szabo, Kevin Gould, Ken Hargreaves (Wedderburn), Murray French, Kevin Mitchell (VFLUA), John White (CGCA), Peter Collins, Jane Murtagh, Tanya Barr, Brian & Bev McKenzie, Marion Steele (MPLS), Lance Standfield (NCFL), Moe & District Historical Society, Gordon Cantwell, Kellie Brennan (Tongala FC), Peter Hill (‘Gippsland Times’), Kerry de Vent, Russell Northe (MLA), Staff of State Library of Victoria, Rod Lucas (MGFL), Rob Lyford (Box Hill FC), David Roche (SGSC), Mossie Williams & family, Bob Pollock and Ron Lee.
** Note: Ron Lee passed away 29th May 2014. Ron’s story is published on the website.

Sincere appreciation is expressed to the following football historians for their assistance in validation and clarification of research for the project…
Paul Carter (football historian ~LVFL & GFL).
Col Hutchinson (AFL historian /statistician).
Barb Cullen (AFL historian).
Tassie Deacon (Sale FC Historian).

Special thanks are also extended to Julie George of the Virtual Yallourn website for her support, advice, expertise and IT knowledge with the posting of the articles and to Lyn Spaull for proof reading the draft stories.

There are many more stories that can be written about the people and events of the Yallourn Football Club in its short but significant history. It is hoped that others may write about their memories of YFC and its personalities.

Yallourn FC was a remarkable football club and the role it played in the development of Gippsland football from the early 1920’s was considerable. The club was an important part in the lives of many local people and it was a powerful unifying force within the town.
Rudyard Kipling once wrote…
“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten…”
It is hoped that the stories may give readers some idea of why the Yallourn Football Club held such a special place in the hearts of so many people. Perhaps these stories will allow future generations to revisit and appreciate ‘our field of dreams.’

‘Thank you’ again to all those people who assisted with the project.

Best wishes and kind regards, Roger Spaull.

For an index of the series of YFC (1945-65) stories by Roger Spaull, please see the attached pdf document.

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