(Abridged) 

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St Paul’s Junior Football Club unofficially started in the late 1950s with an Under 15 team derived from local boys from St Bede's and they played in the McKinnon area.

 

St Paul's Parish Priest Father O'Sullivan with Mr. Reg Mulvain approached the Bentleigh McKinnon Youth Centre (BMYC) with a proposal to include a Football program.  As a result, the BMYC Football Competition was introduced in 1960, including Under 11, Under 13, and Under 15 Age Groups. 

 

St Paul’s was one of the Inaugural Clubs of this League.  Other Clubs competing included McKinnon Demons, Bentleigh Tigers, St Catherine’s, St Peter’s, Ormond Blues, and Glen Orme.  Players paid a small Registration Fee to cover the costs of football, umpires, and guernseys, which were supplied by the B.M.Y.C.

 

The St Paul's teams wore a variety of jumpers until 1978 when all St Paul's teams were given the same coloured guernseys of the black and red stripes.  The Club was managed by an unofficial committee working for the benefit of the boys.  Coaches and helpers were fathers, older brothers, and players from the St Paul's Senior Club that had been formed in 1948.

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 Registration was taken one Sunday in March each year just after the 10.30 am Mass in St Paul's schoolyard.  Each boy was registered, assigned a team, and introduced to their Coach. 

 

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

 

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 St. Paul's Senior players began their football careers at 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.

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When asked the question “Who stands out as the most noted Junior of all time”, one player stands out above the rest – Robert (Robbie) Prew or “Prewy” who epitomises what St Paul’s is all about.  

 

Robbie retired at the end of the 2009 season after playing all his football from the age of 8 years to 39 years with St Paul’s – Juniors and Seniors.  Robbie could have played at a much higher level when he finished as a Junior, but he resisted all offers because he wanted to stay and play with his mates. His Best and Fairest trophies were many, both at the Club level and League level. His speed and skills together with his display of fair play were outstanding.

 

The year 2009 saw another “favourable son” Travis Ridgway kick 113 goals for the season for St Paul’s Seniors. Travis began his career with the Juniors when he was 8 years old and joined the Seniors after completing Under 17’s.

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With many thanks to Mrs Mercer, the unabridged version of this history is available here.