Brief version of the History of The Mitcham Football Club
The Mitcham Football Club ‘s first known game was against Unley Gents at Unley Oval on 12th July 1907, and Mitcham were a member of the Royal Association, wore double blue colours and were based at The Long Paddocks in Mitcham.
Mitcham joined The Metropolitan Association in 1910, and moved to Latty’s Paddock in Hawthorn , and then joined newly formed Sturt District Football Association in 1912, moved to Hawthorn Oval, and were undefeated premiers in the first year. Mitcham won a second premiership in 1914.
During World War One, Mitcham Football Club joined the Patriotic Association, and competed against league sides in 1918 and changed its colours to green and black
At the end of WW 1, Mitcham was one of the 4 local sides of the area, that endorsed the restart of Sturt Football Club.
In 1920 Mitcham joined the United Suburban Association, had a 1921 premiership, then moved to The Mid Southern Association in 1922, and winning another premiership that year.
In 1922, Mitcham played in the historic trial game against Sturt at Unley Oval, whereby Sturt threatened to strike, and the police were called in to reduce spectator calm. This match is widely documented.
The Mitcham Football Club’s senior history is obscure from 1925 onwards, although Mitcham had a junior side in the South Suburban Colts Association , and were based in Barren Reserve , and were thought to later play against Church teams right up until the start of the great depression, in the early 1930’s The great depression, led into WW2, and no documented history is available, and no doubt the Club was in recess.
In 1945 Mitcham Football Club, was reformed by the boys and men at Mitcham Gymnasium , with the assistance of Sturt Football Association, and The Mitcham Council.
In 1946, Mitcham adopted the Blue and Gold Guernsey, and returned to Hawthorn Oval and completed in the Sturt Football Association, and remained in that association until 1962, winning premierships in 1954, 1956, 1959, and 1960.
In 1963, Mitcham transferred into the Adelaide Metropolitan League.
In 1968 Mitcham joined the SA Amateur League, in A4 and was undefeated, thus progressing into A3 in 1969 and then A2 in 1970.
In 1976 Mitcham was asked to leave the SAAFL, over a dispute, and joined the Glenelg South Adelaide football Association, for 9 years winning 2 premierships
In 1985 Mitcham rejoined the Amateur League and were premiers in 1987 and 1996, and also lost 3 grand finals, but have advanced to Grade A3 in 2009.
In all Mitcham senior side has won 12 premierships and had 77 football seasons on Hawthorn Oval , and over the past ten years, MFC has establish a strong junior presence with 6 under age teams.
Mitcham Football Club, remains one of Adelaide metro areas most durable and historic clubs, without merger or loss of identity.
Five players have played over 300 games, and club record is Ray Murray with 427 games.