Recent Articles
1925 - The First VFL Grand Final Radio Call- Published 2016-06-17 11:17 - (6902 Reads)The 1925 VFL Grand Final was the first Australian Rules Grand Final to be broadcast over a newfangled device, usually called the wireless. 1925 was still the infancy of radio in Australia, broadcasting had only officially started in 1924. Outdoor broadcasts were new and exciting. It seems fitting that ‘out of town’ers Geelong won this historic encounter. This is the story of the evolution of Australian Radio leading to this historic game. Ron Todd 188 Goals in a Season (+82 in other games)- Published 2013-03-16 14:56 - (11463 Reads)In 1945, Ron Todd kicked a record 188 goals in a season. This was a remarkable achievement in skill, accuracy, endurance and luck. This article attempts to put this record into a wider context. Ambrose Dyson - The Herald 1909-1911- Published 2018-11-17 14:22 - (2970 Reads)Ambrose Dyson was one of the earliest regular football cartoonists in Melbourne. He worked a brief few years before the First World War before tragety struck. Football links in the Australian Dictionary of Biography- Published 2013-02-19 04:47 - (7580 Reads)The Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) attempts to provide biographies of prominent Australians who have contributed to Australia. This article provides a brief overview of who the Australian Dictionary of Biography regard as the most important footballers, as well as identifying a substantial number of other prominent Australians with links to Australian Rules Football. Football Humour- Published 2013-01-28 23:01 - (4691 Reads)While researching information for this website I often come across odd football stories. The stories vary from funny, to odd, to 'what the..?' moments. I have seen many variations on a theme. There are many stories of stolen goal posts or of kicking a ball into a moving train. I have tried to include a list that is not repetative. |
Random Articles
The Longest Kick in Football History....or not- Published 2013-09-01 14:44 - (36806 Reads)One of the most rubbery statistics in Australian Rules football is the ‘Longest Kick’. An investigation of a set of records, referred to in this article as the 3AW records, shows that many the records listed are not as clear cut as they first appear. This article examines a few of these records and uncovers some interesting stories behind them. Photos of Thomas Quinlan – Flemington CYMS- Published 2014-04-16 12:32 - (8044 Reads)Neither Thomas Quinlan (left) nor his mate Clem (right) made it to the big leagues. But the Y.C.W. and C.Y.M.S. football were large and popular competitions, and Catholic Youth teams played sport all around the country. In Melbourne, Flemington was a strong team with a strong reputation. Toms' Flemington photos taken from 1944-47 were taken just as the League Thirds (Under 19s) in 1946 and when North Melbourne won the inaugural premiership. These snapshots supplied by grand-daughter Veronica Poynton provide a window into this forgotten world. Vic Lawrence- The Big Hearted Shinboner- Published 2017-10-19 12:18 - (5571 Reads)Victor (aka Vic) Lawrence (born: 1928) played more than 100 VFL games; and although a steadfast defender, club captain and Victorian representative, he appears to be another ‘forgotten man’ of VFL football. This story attempts to remind football followers of Vic’s achievements and the key role he played in rebuilding the NMFC during the 1950’s. Alex Duncan - The Brilliant Aerialist Of Carlton- Published 2015-07-02 16:00 - (6205 Reads)The pity of yesteryear is that it is often lost in the glitz and razzmatazz of modernity. It would be wonderful if there were films to assist in showing the high marking skills of players like Alex Duncan in those earlier days of VFL football. Word pictures can never really do such players justice; however this story tries to shine a light on one of the best overhead marks in the history of the game. Advertising from the VFL Football Record 1929-32- Published 2012-09-13 10:24 - (5662 Reads)The State Library of Victoria's digitized version of the VFL Football Record is a useful primary source for football research. As I searched the Football Record for other purposes, the advertisements kept catching my eye. After a while I began to collect them. Below I have reproduced the most interesting advertisements of the 1929-32 period. Many of the advertisements in the Football Record incorporated a football theme, and I hope you find them of similar interest. |
Historical Articles (Reprinted)
Recent Articles
'Tracker' Forbes - Footballer And Comedian- Published 2023-07-01 00:27 - (0 Reads)Reginald William Ernest Wilmot, wrote under the pseudonym ‘Old Boy’ in the Australian and the Argus for over 30 years from the early 1900s through to the late 1930s. He was a keen sportsman. He had played for Essendon in the premiership years of the early 1890’s, and was later a strong supporter of school and amateur sports. He was secretary of the Melbourne Athenaeum 1909 to 1949. In 1922 the the death of Charles ‘Tracker’ Forbes led him to pen an obituary under his own name, a rare occurrence. Queerest Final Of All! Only Three Goal For Whole Match- Published 2023-06-18 18:05 - (0 Reads)1927 VFL grand final - Collingwood - Richmond. Torrential rain and freezing winds before and during the match. Lowest scoring VFL game in the 20th or 21st century. Women, Boxes and Barrackers- Published 2023-06-18 18:01 - (0 Reads)Dan Minogue Tells Why He - Gave Up Mining for Football- Published 2019-03-10 14:22 - (3148 Reads)Dan Minogue begins today his own story of his distinguished career. And a human, gripping story this great football personality has to tell! It is brimming with all the incident, thrills, humor and pathos which he has encountered during a quarter of a century as crack player and successful captain and coach. Turning back Time, Dan takes readers behind the scenes with him; into club rooms and on to playing fields as he lives again his hours of triumph —and disappointment. |
Random Articles
Forty Years of Football: Turning back the Pages of Time- Published 2017-09-30 17:35 - (2318 Reads)Reminiscences of Tommy Wilson, captain of North Melbourne and a founder of East Fremantle. Covering the period from the 1890's to WW1. Haydn Bunton's Football Story- Published 2017-10-08 08:39 - (3787 Reads)Today, “The Mail” published the first of a series of articles by Bunton, which should prove of absorbing interest to all football followers and other sport fans. The first tells how he nearly became a cricketer instead of an ace footballer. Others will tell of the trafficking stir in which he was involved, personalities he has played against in three States, and other highlights of his career. Great Football Dramas No. 10 - When Collingwood And Fitzroy Thrilled Sydney In 1903- Published 2017-11-10 12:49 - (2580 Reads)In this, the tenth of a series of great football dramas, is described how, in 1903, Collingwood and Fitzroy made football history by contesting a League premiership match in Sydney, and how, in the Rugby stronghold, a crowd of 20,000, seeing a big Australian rules game for the first time, was thrilled by the fast, spectacular play. Former Umpire writes His Reminiscences- Published 2018-12-15 09:58 - (8799 Reads)Famous South Australian Umpire Johnny Quinn's reminiscences appeared in the News (Adelaide) in 1940. Quinn was famous for his smile and his gestures. He also took part in redrafting the rules of the game. |
An Introduction to Charles Boyles
The website is centred around the photos of Charles Boyles, a Melbourne-based photographer. Boyles primarily took photos of Australian Rules Football teams and players. He appears to have started this football work in the late twenties. He continued through the 1930's, the years of the Second World War, and then right up to his final photos in the early sixties. Unlike most commercial photographers, Charles Boyles did not wait for customers to come to him. Boyles set up his camera on training nights, and on game days took posed team photos after the players had run onto the ground. These were sold directly to the clubs, players and general public. On Saturdays, at the games, the photographer's son Harley Boyles (and others) would take a satchel of mixed photos and sell them throughout the game. Unlike newspaper photos, therefore, a Boyles photo was something you could own, take home, and treasure. There are no action shots or photos of games in progress. Boyles specialised in team photos and player portraits, with the players looking directly to camera. Today these photos are used by clubs, by family historians, and by those interested in football history. They often appear uncredited in football history books. Boyles did not restrict himself to the leading football competition of his era, the Victorian Football League. During his working life he attended many different competitions. He covered the VFA, Wartime Services matches, the various Victorian workplace competitions, the Sunday leagues, and other competitions. Learn More about the Life of Charles Boyles
Read Ken's article on the methods, motives and life of Charles Boyles. The article includes notes from an extensive interview with Harley Boyles about his father. See Charles Edward Boyles: From Tripod to Website. |
Website Aims and Objectives
This website contains work by two independent researchers, Ken Mansell and Michael Riley. Our objective is to share our own passion for history and provide a friendly resource for family historians, football buffs and others who have an interest in the Charles Boyles photos and more generally in football photography from the 1920's to 1960's.A Football History Website
This site has grown to cover more than just football photos. There is an amazing amount to explore. You can start with articles, player pages, ground pages, team and league pages as well as information on players careers outside football.All Football Photographers Not Just Charles Boyles Photos
This site contains photos from many of Boyles's contemporaries. These contrast Boyles's style, and add to an understanding of sport, photography, and the football of the time.Football Outside the VFL
Charles Boyles took photos of VFL teams, but also took photos of VFA teams, Workplace Teams and teams in Junior Leagues. Also, for many players the VFL was just a small part of their footballing story. This site attempts to build a picture of the football world during Boyle's working period. This world is worth explored through articles and the pages thoughout the website. Sources of Images on this Website
We are not associated with any library or institution. We have received permission from a variety of people and institutions to include their images on this particular website. Each photo is labelled as to it's source. Please contact the relevant source for permission to reproduce any images. The appearance of an image on this website does not mean that it is public domain. Although many (not all) photos are out of copyright, many images are available here under 'Terms of Use' agreements with the relevant organisation. We credit the photographer and the photo source wherever possible, |
Examples of Boyles Photos
Do you have a Boyles Photo?
Read Michael's article on characteristics of Boyles photos that may help you identify one in your own collection. See Identifying Boyles Photos - Style and Format of Charles Boyles Photographs.