Stanley Football Association


The Stanley Football Association was an Australian rules football competition based in the Clare Valley region of South Australia, Australia. It operated between 1915 and 1936 with breaks in 1916-17 and 1919 due to World War I.

Brief history

The Stanley Football Association was formed in 1915 and featured teams from North Clare, South Clare, Blyth, Stanley Flat, Sevenhill, Farrell Flat, Watervale, Kybunga and Snowtown. The three foundation clubs were North Clare, South Clare and Blyth, all located in the cadastral County of Stanley, a historic administrative area, centred on Clare, from which the association drew its name. The association joined the Mid North Association following the 1936 season. The three original foundation clubs now compete in the North Eastern Football League.

Awards

The premiers of the competition won the Stanley Shield. It was first awarded in 1921.
The "A. E. Fryar" medal, was awarded to the player judged the fairest and most brilliant footballer during the regular season. The award was given by Albert Fryar, a well-known philatelist and sportsman originally from Clare and first awarded in 1926.
Jack Cockburn won the Fryar Medal a record three times. He would go on to win the Magarey Medal for the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football League in 1935. He was also inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2003.
YearPremiersA. E. Fryar MedalReferences
1915North ClareNo award
1916No competitionNo award
1917No competitionNo award
1918North ClareNo award
1919No competitionNo award
1920South ClareNo award
1921South ClareNo award
1922North ClareNo award
1923WatervaleNo award
1924South ClareNo award
1925BlythNo award
1926South ClareG. V. Tilbrook
1927South ClareR. Banwell
1928BlythW. Hogan
1929BlythJack Cockburn
1930BlythJack Cockburn
1931BlythWalter Blight
1932North ClareJack Cockburn
1933BlythPercy Abbott
1934Farrell FlatFred Steinhardt
1935BlythLen Monaghan
1936Farrell FlatSyd Cockburn