CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB - HOME OF THE SEAGULLS

HISTORY OF NFC - 1900 - 1909

1900
Football attendance showed a further increase, due in the main to the public's interest in its' district
team, so Electoral Football was here to stay.
Although the club began the season well, Norwood ended in fourth position with 8 wins and 7 losses.


1901
Norwood won their 12th premiership, and first since 1894, winning 14 games and losing 5.
Norwood Oval used for the first time as home ground. First match May 4, Norwood 10-11, Sturt 3-8.
Jim Gosse won the first Best & Fairest award.
William Miller was the S.A.F.A. Lead Goalkicker with 44 goals.
In the Grand Final, Norwood defeated Port Adelaide, 4-9 to 4-5.
The Team:
Garsham Barnes (cc), Frank Cowan, Horace Cowan, Leslie Cowan, Percy Crump,
Dean Dawson, Arthur Gilchrist, Jim Gosse, Frank Hill, Harold Kirkwood, Horace McFarlane,
Michael Murphy, Michael Plunkett, William Plunkett, Stanley Robinson, Ernest Smith,
William Trembath, George Webb.


1902
Norwood finished fifth, having won 6 games and losing 6.
A permanent grandstand was built in the north-western pocket (now part of the RSL Clubrooms).
Norwood moved its training base from the East Parklands to the Norwood Oval.


1903
Norwood finished fourth, having won 8 games and losing 5.

1904
Norwood won their 13th premiership, winning 12 games and losing 2 and drawing 1.
William Miller was the S.A.F.A. Lead Goalkicker with 35 goals.
In the Grand Final, Norwood defeated Port Adelaide, 9-8 to 8-10, trailing 3-5 to 8-10 at 3/4 time.
The Team:
John 'Alby' Bahr, Garsham Barnes, Leslie Cowan, Dean Dawson, Tommy Gibbons,
Jim Gosse, Norman Gryst, Charles GC Gwynne, Leslie 'Roy' Hill, Lionel L Hill, Harold Miller,
William Miller, Jack Morison, Phil Newland (c), Stanley Robinson, Ernest Smith,
Richard Townsend, George Webb.


1905
Norwood finished third, having won 8 games and losing 5.
The lease of the Norwood Oval was transferred to the Norwood & Kensington Corporation on the
proviso that the area was maintained as a recreation ground for the general public.


1906
Norwood finished third, having won 12 games and losing2.
Club Founder, and former Secretary and Treasure Arthur J Diamond passed away, June 22.
Official opening of Norwood Oval on March 14 by the SA Governor, Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven.


1907
Norwood won their 14th premiership, winning 12 games and losing 3.
In the Final, Norwood defeated Port Adelaide 7-14 to 6-6, then repeated the dosage in the
Challenge Final, 8-7 to 3-9.
The Team:
John 'Alby' Bahr (c), Garsham Barnes, Leonard Chamberlain, Darcy Cowan, Tommy Gibbons,
Charles GC Gwynne, Leslie 'Roy' Hill, Lionel L Hill, Essington Lewis, Lance Lewis,
Harold Miller, William Miller, Jack Morison, Oswald Murphy, William Padman, Ernest Smith,
William Stoddart, Richard Townsend.

Norwood went on to win the Champions of Australia, defeating Carlton 13-12 to 8-10 at Adelaide
Oval, September 28.
Phillip Robin won the Reserves Magarey Medal.


1908
Norwood finished runner up with 11 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw.
They lost to West Adelaide in the Challenge Final, 6-13 to 7-10.
John 'Alby' Bahr was selected as captain of the South Australian team for the inaugural 1908 NFC
Carnival in Melbourne.
Other Carnival members were Charles Gwynne, John Chamberlain, Richard Townsend, Alfred
Bennett and Harrold Stoddart.
Record membership sales (1,150) to become the first club in the state to attain 1,000 members.
Norwood played 3 games against visiting team Sydney at Norwood Oval in June.
Match details were:
Match 1: Norwood 13-9, d. Sydney 3-6, June 13
Match 2: Norwood 12-13, d. Sydney 6-9, June 17
Match 3: Norwood 12-12, d. Sydney 6-8, June 20


1909
Norwood finished third, having won 8 games and losing 6.
The club named a coach, John J Woods, for the first time.
Richard Townsend was the S.A.F.A Lead Goal Kicker with 22 goals.
The club registered its' lowest ever score (0-5) against Port Adelaide (1-4) at Alberton Oval, May 15.
Entrance into Norwood Oval changed from Osmond Tce to the Parade to accommodate the new
electric tram from the city to the Parade.