History

Demons Club History

When the Bentleigh McKinnon Youth Centre (BYMC) Football Section was formed in 1960, St. Paul's was one of the inaugural clubs. This competition was strictly limited to local boys and included competition for under 11's,13's & 15's age groups. Other clubs competing were McKinnon Demons, Bentleigh Tigers, St. Catherine's, St. Peter's, Ormond Blues and Glen Orme.

St. Paul's had enough Under 11's to field two teams ־ the Saints and Tigers. The BMYC supplied the Guernseys, (which were given out at the beginning of each season and collected at the end, they were replaced only when the management of BMYC saw fit) footballs and umpires.

Players paid a small Registration fee to cover these costs. For many seasons the Under 11 Saints wore St. Kilda Guernseys, the Tigers wore Richmond, the U/13's wore green/yellow stripes, while the U/15's wore black/red stripes.

It was not until about 1978 that all St. Paul's teams were in the same colours ־ black and red stripes.

There was no such thing as a Committee or Office Bearers at St. Paul's in the early days, just interested dads who organised a Registration Day for a Sunday after 10.30 Mass when all those wishing to play gathered at St. Paul's school ground in a seething mass and had their names and ages registered for the coming season.

Coaches and helpers were either fathers, older brothers or players from the Senior St. Paul's club which had been formed in 1949 to accommodate the young men of St. Paul's Parish. They played in the Young Christian Workers Competition with McKinnon No. 2 oval as their home ground and a little shed (long gone) as their rooms.

Matches were played on Saturday mornings commencing at 9.00 a at various venues including a hospital, where there were at least 3 ovals on the present Moorabbin Hospital site, Bailey Reserve, King George Reserve and various other open spaces.

The U/15's played on big grounds. Each Saturday morning from about 8.00 am to 8.30 am the school ground at St. Paul's was full of seemingly hundreds of boys of all ages waiting to get a lift to their ground of the day. There were never enough cars!

Thank Heavens seat belts had not been introduced as yet, because there could be any number up to 10-12 squashed into one car. The boys left home ready to fun onto the ground. There were no luxuries such as change cooms in those days. Can you imagine what it was like taking these boys home after a wet, muddy Saturday morning?

The first job for the helpers, on arrival at the ground was to put out the Witches Hats to mark the boundaries.

By 1970 things were becoming more sophisticated and it was decided that St. Paul's needed a Committee to run the club, and so began the official St. Paul's Junior Football Club.

In 1973 the number of youngsters in the vicinity of St. Paul's had decreased somewhat and a decision was made to field only one Under 11 team wearing the Saints Guernsey. This proved a good move because the Saints won the U/11 Premiership in 1974, the first Premiership since 1965.

The 1980s saw the inclusion of more Bayside teams in the competition, and when the BYMC amalgamated with the St. Kilda Junior Football League all age groups from Under 10 through to U/16s were introduced. There were not enough boys to go around in this area. During 1984 it was decided that St. Paul's would seek an amalgamation with their near neighbours, McKinnon Demons and so 1985 saw the inauguration of St. Paul's Demons Junior Football Club, and this proved to be a very successful union.

By this time clubs were supplying their own Guernseys so a new design was decided on a black Guernsey with a red, yellow and maroon stripe on the front left hand side to include the colours of both previous clubs. Junior Clubs were allocated to Home Grounds with limited use of dressing rooms and facilities and so St. Paul's Demons found themselves at McKinnon Oval with St. Paul's Seniors, who were now playing in the East Suburban Churches Association and sharing all facilities with the Old Haileyburian's Amateur Football Club.

Throughout the years many of the St. Paul's Senior players began their football careers from 7 years of age with the Juniors. They then joined the Seniors later but it was not until 1998 that boys could play right through, with the introduction of an Under 18s Team in the Senior Competition, which has been a great step forward for both the Senior and Junior Clubs.

Researched and compiled by

Margaret Mercer

(Club Founder & Life Member)