1920
From Snoutslouts
In 1920 Glenelg fielded a "B Grade" level side with the South Australian Football League (SAFL). The League was keen to admit an eighth side, thereby avoiding a Bye in the Program.
The Glenelg area had by 1920 developed to the stage where it had ambitions to represent its area in sporting adventures. Glenelg Oval had been secured and development commenced and a League football club seemed a logical progression.
1920 started with promise, as reported by The Mail in March:
POSSIBLE NEW LEAGUE CLUB.
As a result of negotiations conducted by the Glenelg Oval Association, Incorporated, the South Australian Football League have separated the territory west of the South Road from the Sturt Football Club, and constituted a new district for purposes of football. The main residential centres within the new district are Black Forest, Edwardstown, Sturt, Brighton, and Glenelg, and each of the clubs at these places have promised support in forming a representative club. Delegates from the dubs have formed themselves into a committee, and are engaged in carrying out necessary preliminary business. The Mayor of Glenelg (Mr. J. Mack) has convened a public meeting to inaugurate the club, and this will take place in the Glenelg Town Hall on Wednesday, March 10, at 8 o'clock, under the presidency of His Worship. The prospects of securing admittance to the Football League in the near future are too good for those interested to proffer any but their best support.
Despite early optimism, the path to being admitted was not smooth as indicated in the following article from The Register in September 1920:
GLENELG FOOTBALL CLUB SOCIAL.
The first annual smoke social of the Glenelg District Football Club was held at Kenny's Family Hotel, Glenelg, on Saturday evening, when the President (Mr. G. K. Soward) occupied the chair.
Mr. A. T. Haddrick, in proposing 'The Glenelg District Football Club,' spoke of the efforts that had been made by local football enthusiasts to obtain the admission of a Glenelg team into the A grade section of the Football League. They had not been successful, but had been offered inclusion in the B grade, which had been accepted. During the past season the new club had had many setbacks to contend against. The support which had been promised by other teams in the district had not been forthcoming'. Many players of repute who would have joined an A grade team had declined to join a B grade one, and in this way they had been further hampered. The utmost good feeling had characterised the matches of the young club during the season, and he was certain that if they were successful in the appeal that was again being made to the league for inclusion in A grade Glenelg would be able to provide a team that would be a credit to the district (Applause.)
Mr. H. G. McKittrick responded, and commented on the unsportsmanlike attitude of other clubs in the district in declining to assist the Glenelg District Football Club simply because they had been allotted a position in the B grade. It they were successful in their present application for inclusion in the A grade, he said, those very players who had "turned them down" would be falling over one another in their efforts to be selected for the higher grade team. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. R. G. Kappler submitted "The B Grade League" and Mr. A. De Laine, secretary of the B Grade League, responded. He eulogized Mr. Ern Rugless (secretary of the Glenelg Club) for the energy he had displayed in forcing the claim of the Glenelg district team, and announced, amid applause, that the judges had awarded the Carr Medal for the best all-round player in B grade, to Mr. S. V. James, the Captain of the Glenelg Club.
Mr. McKittrick then presented, on behalf of the club, to Mr. Rugless a silver teapot in recognition of his services during the season. Ald. Kneebone proposed "Kindred clubs," which was responded to by Messrs. G. Hele (West Torrens), P. Ganley (North Adelaide), S. Cope (Norwood), J. Dixon (South Adelaide), and D. Kenny (West Adelaide).
An excellent musical programme was provided by Messrs. Stan Lane, Hedley Rowe, Alf Cross, and Ferguson. Mr. V. Leake acted as accompanist.
The Advertiser reported that in October that:
"At a meeting of the Football League on Monday evening it was unanimously decided to admit the Glenelg club to the League next season."
and that:
"There is some surprise that Glenelg, who did not do conspicuously well in B grade, have been promoted, but it is explained that a number of the best players in the new seaside district preferred to remain with their old clubs rather than go into B grade. Glenelg hope to place a much stronger team in the field next year."
References
2, The Register 27 September 1920
