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 (at times) 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.Football: Mid North Association (7 May 1937). The Northern Argus, page 5. Retrieved 31 October 2015. The three original foundation clubs now compete in the North Eastern Football League.

Clubs

Final ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFASFA Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsBlythRoostersBlyth Oval, BlythBFA19001915, 1918, 1924-193661925, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1935Played in Broughton FA between 1919-23. Recess between 1937-44, re-formed in Broughton FA in 1945Farrell FlatMagpiesDuncan Park, Farrell FlatKFA19101923-1924, 1926-1927, 1931-193621934, 1936Played in Kooringa FA in 1925 and 1928. Moved to Mid North FA in 1937North ClareClare Oval, Clare–19151915-1918, 1920-1923, 1925-193651915, 1918, 1922, 1929, 1932Recess in 1924. Merged with South Clare to re-form Clare in Mid North FA in 1919 and 1937South ClareDemonsClare Oval, Clare–19151915-1918, 1920-193651920, 1921, 1924, 1926, 1927Merged with North Clare to re-form Clare in Mid North FA in 1919 and 1937WatervaleWatervale Oval, WatervaleMNFA18751921-193611923Returned to Mid North FA in 1937

Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFASFA Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsArmagh–189318940 -Folded after 1894 seasonClareDemonsClare Oval, Clare–187318940 -Joined Mid North FA in 1910Donnybrook Rovers–189418940 -Folded after 1894 seasonKybunga–19241924-19290 -Moved to Wakefield FA in 1930Stanley Flat–19201920-19250 -Absorbed by North Clare in 1926

Awards

The premiers of the competition won the Stanley Shield. It was first awarded in 1921.The Stanley Football Association: A Shield For The Competition (22 April 1921). The Northern Argus, page 5. Retrieved 1 November 2015.

The "A. E. Fryar" medal, was awarded to the player judged (by umpire votes) 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.Obituary: The Late Mr Albert E. Fryar (28 July 1944). The Northern Argus, page 8. Retrieved 31 October 2015.

Jack Cockburn won the Fryar Medal a record three times (1929, 1930 & 1932). He would go on to win the Magarey Medal for the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in 1935. He was also inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2003.

Year Premiers A. E. Fryar Medal References 1915 North Clare No award Stanley Association: North Clare Win The Premiership (3 September 1915). The Northern Argus, page 6. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 1916 No competition No award 1917 No competition No award 1918 North Clare No award 1919 No competition No award 1920 South Clare No award 1921 South Clare No award Who Will Win the Football Premiership? (14 September 1923). The Northern Agrus, page 6. Retrieved 1 November 2015. 1922 North Clare No award The Match for the Premiership: North Clare Beat Watervale (15 September 1922)> The Northern Argus, page 6. Retrieved 1 November 2015. 1923 Watervale No award The Late Mr. Neil Grace of Watervale (30 June 1954). The Northern Argus, page 9. Retrieved 1 November 2015.The Football Season (9 May 1924). The Northern Argus, page 3. Retrieved 4 November 2015. 1924 South Clare No award Stanley Association: Watervale Win Premiership (13 October 1923). The Northern Argus, page 21. Retrieved 31 October 2015.Football Scores for the Season (19 September 1924). The Northern Argus, page 7. Retrieved 4 November 2015. 1925 Blyth No award Advertising: Match for Premiership Kybunga v. Blyth (25 August 1925). The Northern Argus, page 4. Retrieved 1 November 2015. 1926 South Clare G. V. Tilbrook (North Clare) The Stanley Football Association (1 October 1926). The Northern Argus, page 7. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 1927 South Clare R. Banwell (South Clare) South Clare defeat North Clare in Premiership Game (16 September 1927). The Northern Argus, page 6. Retrieved 1 November 2015.The First Semifinal: South Clare v. Watervale (2 September 1927). The Northern Argus, page 5. Retrieved 1 November 2015. 1928 Blyth W. Hogan (South Clare) Stanley Football Association (27 February 1931). The Northern Argus. Retrieved 31 October 2015.Stanley Football Association: Fryar Medal (7 September 1928). The Northern Argus, page 5. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 1929 Blyth Jack Cockburn (Blyth) 1930 Blyth Jack Cockburn (Blyth) 1931 Blyth Walter Blight (South Clare) Blyth Defeats South Clare in Final Match (2 October 1931). The Northern Argus, page 3. Retrieved 4 November 2015.Fryar Medal (25 September 1931). The Northern Argus. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 1932 North Clare Jack Cockburn (Blyth) Stanley Football Association Meeting (3 March 1933). The Northern Argus, page 4. Retrieved 31 October 2015.Jack Cockburn Wins Fryar Medal for the Third Time (19 August 1932). The Northern Argus, page 5. Retrieved 1 November 2015. 1933 Blyth Percy Abbott (Farrell Flat) Football Stanley Association: Blyth Win Premiership (8 September 1933). The Northern Argus, page 4. Retrieved 31 October 2015.Stanley Football Association (23 March 1934). The Northern Argus. Retrieved 31 October 2015.First Semi-final on Saturday at Farrell's Flat (18 August 1933). The Northern Argus, page 5. Retrieved 1 November 2015. 1934 Farrell Flat Fred Steinhardt (Blyth) Football: Farrell's Flat Win the Premiership (31 August 1934). The Northern Argus, page 4. Retrieved 31 October 2015.Football (17 August 1934). The Northern Argus, page 4. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 1935 Blyth Len Monaghan (Farrell Flat) Football Final (20 September 1935). The Northern Argus, page 6. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 1936 Farrell Flat Syd Cockburn (Blyth) Syd Cockburn of Blyth, wins Fryar Medal (14 August 1936). The Northern Argus. Retrieved 31 October 2015.Stanley Football Association Ball (25 September 1936). The Northern Argus. Retrieved 31 October 2015.

See also List of former South Australian regional football leagues

References