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Our History

The Jervois Football was officially founded in 1926 by George Martin.

Officials elected at the first meeting on May 8th were:

Chairman - G Martin

Treasurer and Secretary - L Dadds

President - M. Robinson

Management Committee: F Ryan, G Martin, V Kluske, S O'Bourne, O Kluske.

Arrangements were made with Mr Poole, to play matches on irrigation owned land. Membership was agreed at 5 shillings and the Club colours be blue and red hoops. It was proposed a working bee be held on Saturday May 15 to prepare the oval. Mr Kluske offered to find a horse and plough to prepare boundaries. The Secretary was instructed to procure 24 jerseys and socks and 12 pair of knickers as soon as possible. Seven members were selected to the dance committee. They were H Male, T J McInerny, S O'bourne, L Hyam, E Kluske, O Kluske and T Ryan. Mr O'bourne was selected as MC and dances were to be fortnightly at the Jervois Institute. Mr TJ McInerny volunteered to supply a copper for supper purposes at the dance. Ladies who brought along a basket to the dance were to be admitted free of charge.

Captain: V Kluske                            Vice Captain:  F Ryan

Goal Umpire: T Ryan

Selection Committee: V Kluske, F Ryan, TJ McInerny

Proposed V Kluske Sec. A Gersch that the team for Saturday be selected on the ground before the match. Players to pay sixpence per match for insurance.

THE GOLDEN ERA 1928 - 1939

The Club played in the Murray Downs Association against the following teams: Tailem Bend, Coomandook, Yumali, Sherlock, Cooke Plains and Meningie. The land which is now the present oval was donated by Oscar Flavel in 1926. Members were fairly keen to establish the ground and after waiting three weeks for a bullock team to pull the box thorns, the players decided to attach ropes and do the job themselves. A change room consisting of a 10' x 12' tin cubicle was used by visiting teams while the Jervois boys changed behind the box thorn bushes!

Many of the early games played did not last the full time, the umpire had trouble controlling the fights and games were abandoned after all-in brawls developed. Erwin Kluske, the Captain from 1929 to 1931 remembers a game against Tailem Bend which was abandoned. Erwin says the Tailem captain - Merritt - was playing it rough with the young Jervois lads, so after giving him a few warnings he decided to take action, the Umpire (Wingy Fleet) intervened, but before he could report Erwin, Ossi Kluske king hit him and laid him out. On coming around Wingy reported all seven Kluske's because he could not decide which one had hit him. All seven Kluske's attended the tribunal but the Commissioners could not decide which one either, so the case was dismissed.

In the twenties travel to football matches was either by train or truck. The Barwell Bull, a one-carriage train including engine, was hired by the Club for 14-6-0 pounds to transport 50-60 players and supporters to places like Cooke Plains and Sherlock. In later years the "Barwell Bull" was replaced by a tarpaulin covered truck with bags of wheat for seats. Many a story is told of these trips, most of which cannot be printed.

After returning from the match it was all hands on deck to milk the cows and then down to the local dance at the Floating Palais. the Palais, a glorious iron structure 30' x 15', stood on the banks of the Murray on stilts 3' from the water's edge. Inside dancing was to the fabulous music of Mrs Flavell on the button accordian and Ossie Kluske on the violin. Occasionally, Vic Kluske joined in on the drums. Outside the locals had horse races up the old punt road. This was replaced with the building of the present Jervois Institute in 1930.

The Golden Era began with Premierships in the Murray Downs Association in 1928, 29, 30 and 31. Merv Lokan became Captain in 1932 when Jervois joined the River Murray Football League, George Martin continued as coach and head trainer. Club officials were - President - T Travers, Secretary - W Gregory, Patron - P Bailey, Vice Presidents - Messrs Weidenhofer, Joyce Schultz, Manning, Sims, Oakley. Committee: Messrs Jones, Martin, C Schultz, a Bryan, P Ross, T Travers and W Gregory. Jervois fielded a very strong team.

1933 - THE DISPUTED PREMIERHSIP

Jervois defeated Ramblers by some 10 goals this year with a very strong side. However, Bruce Schultz had transferred to Norwood during the season and then returned to play in the Grand Final.  Ramblers protested that Schultz was an unqualified player and the RMFL asked the match to be played again. Jervois refused and claimed the Shield which was hung in Kluske's dairy. The team then journeyed to Adelaide to defeat the Norwood second in a challenge match. Many such challenge matches took place in the 1930's and Jervois was never defeated outside the Association until 1939.

 

 

 

 

 

Play commenced again in 1946. Jervois rejoined the RMFL, Club President AO Bretag, Secretary A Rothe, Coach Merv Lokan, Captain Edgar Kluske. Successes were few and far between and the Club gradually gained momentum for the future. Colurs in 1946 were green jumpers with a gold V and in 1947, navy blue jumper with a gold V.

Jervois made the Grandfinal in 1946, but were defeated by Imperials. Scores were Imperials 7-4 to Jervois 4-6. The Jervois side was : R Oakley (Capt), Ed Kluske (v/c), M Rowley, L Kluske, G Kluske, C Kluske, P Kluske, W Kluske, M Shankland, K Decaux, A Perkins, R Hicks, N Schiller, L O'Brien, A Bryan, L Hyam, L Richards, R Chandler, R Shankland (19th), J O'Brien (20th).

1947 saw matches played on the Woods Point Oval while the Jervois Oval was levelled and resurfaced. In 1948 Ron Hicks took over as Captain.

Merv Rowley coached for three years in the 1950's along with school teachers Bert Arthur and Alec Maple. There were many good players including Reg and Frank Tanner, Howard and Warren Schenke, Lyall Kelly, Mick Shankland, Jock Schultz, Ernie Richards, Bulla (Cliff) Kluske, Gordon Kluske, Lin Hyam, Bill Lokan, Max Peek and the McCulloch brothers to name a few.

1955 saw the present day change rooms constructed by volunteer members. In 1956 the River Murray was in flood and many local lads left the district with their stock. 

Don Mitchell took over and was Captain-Coach for 3 years followed by Reg Croucher in 1958.

In 1959 the lush river swamps were returning to full production after the 1956 flood. the Jervois population was still a little greater than normal owing to EW&S workers rebuilding the river banks. Three good footballers were gained, namely Colin Gibbs, Alec Murray and Ron Mader. Bill Lokan transfered to Jervois as Captain-Coach from Tailem Bend after winning the 1958 Mail Medal, and the remaining two-thirds of the side were sons of the players in the 30's era. Jervois Senior Colts were entered in the competition for the first time.

On a cold, wet day at Tailem Bend, Jervois emerged again to defeat 1957 and 1958 title holders, Imperials to win their first Premiership for 20 years. To most supporters and players this remains as the Club's finest hour. Scores were: Jervois 10-6, Imperials 7-13. Goal Scorers - A Murray 3, O Gugliemin 2, L Kelly, B Kluske, R Mader, P Thorley, F Tanner 1. Best Players: W Lokan, M Shankland, L Kelly, L Brion, R Kluske, R Mader. The 1961 team was probably the strongest side placed in the field in the sixties with Association best ruckman, Jim Peterson, Standard Medal winner Peter Robinson and Mail Medallist Colin Gibbs, leading the attack. Grand final scores Jervois 9-20, Tailem Bend 9-6.Goal scorers: Hicks, Schenke, Thorley 2, W Lokan, M Kluske, R Kluske 1. Best O Gugliemin, R Kluske, L Brion, L Kelly. We again won in 1963, 1964, 1966 and 1968.