History of Skipton Football Club
The earliest reported match for the Skipton Football Club dates back to 1873 or 1874, when a game was played against Streatham on a ground east of the current Recreation Reserve. Skipton played other matches against Carngham, Haddon and Linton around this time.
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Some years later the Recreation Reserve was fenced and planted and games were played against other districts including Ballarat, Beaufort, Ararat, Streatham, Lake Bolac, Carngham, Linton, Lismore and Camperdown. Ballarat umpires officiated at many of these matches.
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Skipton fielded very strong teams during this era and is believed to have had the best record of any football team in Australia. It was reported that Skipton played for 15 years without losing a match and 18 years without losing on its home ground.
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In the early years, football games were mainly played in the form of scratch matches. Some of the district’s earliest competition matches were played in 1890, when Skipton competed against Ararat, Lake Bolac and Streatham for a trophy of 20 sovereigns. Skipton and Ararat played in the final at Streatham, where Ararat won by a goal. The tables were turned the following year when Skipton was successful.
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Skipton also played fully representative teams from Ballarat on several occasions. Skipton’s undefeated run at home was reportedly ended by a Ballarat team, after two drawn matches had been played.
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Football from 1895 to 1900 was very much in the doldrums, with Skipton only playing odd scratch matches against Carngham, Happy Valley and Linton. For the next few years, Skipton mainly played matches against the surrounding stations.
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In 1908, Skipton defeated Beaufort for the premiership in a triangular competition that included Stockyard Hill. Skipton then formed an association with Carngham, Linton and Scarsdale in 1909, which continued until World War 1. Although there was no premiership competition during the war, a Skipton football team was still formed to support a Queen Carnival in aid of patriotic funds.
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In 1919, Skipton, Carngham and Linton played in the Linton and District Football Association, with Scarsdale rejoining later. Slowly but surely football fever was gripping the rival districts, resulting in intense and almost bitter rivalry. Skipton won premierships in 1921, 1923 and 1924, defeating Linton, Carngham and Linton respectively.
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In 1925, the competition was renamed the Linton-Scarsdale Association with the addition of teams from Lismore and Bradvale. The name was again changed to the Linton-Skipton Association in 1927, after Carngham and Scarsdale moved to the Rokewood-Cape Clear Association. Skipton finished runner-up to Lismore in both the 1927 and 1929 Grand Finals.
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After joining the Rokewood-Cape Clear Association in 1930, Skipton finished runner up to Illabarook in 1931 and 1932. This competition was known as the Cape Clear-Carngham Association from 1934, then the Linton-Carngham Association from 1936. Skipton again finished runner up to Illabarook in the 1936 Grand Final.
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In 1937, Skipton won the Grand Final in a closely contested game against Carngham. The tables were turned in 1938, when Carngham defeated Skipton. After the 1940 season, the competition went into recess due to World War 2.
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After football resumed in 1946, Skipton finished runner up to Carngham in 1947. Skipton went through the 1949 season undefeated, only to lose the Grand Final to Carngham by one point. In the last two years of the Linton-Carngham Football League, Skipton finished runner up to Smythesdale in 1951 and Carngham in 1952.
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Skipton joined the Western Plains Football League in 1953, but did not play in a senior football Grand Final until 1996. In a close finish, Derrinallum defeated Skipton by 6 points.
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Skipton joined the Lexton Plains Football League in 1999, going on to win premierships in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009 & 2010.
The final chapter of the LPFNL was capped with Skipton fielding sides in all footbal grades grand finals and walking away with Senior, Reserve & U17 Football premierships. We leave the dispanded LPFL with 5 Senior Football Premierships in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, & 2010 from 9 appearances on the big day.
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After a strong decade in the now defunct Lexton Plains League, Skipton joined the Central Highlands. A new era for The Skipton Football Netball Club began in 2011 with the club joining the Central Highlands Football League & Central Highlands Netball Association. The club gained a new jumper which incorporates the 3 colours – red, blue and white – our great club has worn throughout it’s history.
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The initial couple of seasons had the Emus competitive in the mid section of the ladder, narrowly missing finals. 2014 was the start of some difficult seasons, with recruits hard to come by.
In 2013, the Under-15 netballers played in the grand final, narrowly losing to Springbank 24–23.
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In 2014, the A Grade netball side won the Premiership, defeating Hepburn 48–47. Stacey Rae was the coach and Eliza Dywer was awarded Best on Court.
2016 the A Grade netballers won another premiership defeating Springbank 60-58. Rhian Moresi was the coach and Eliza Dywer was awarded Best on Court.
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2017 had the club better situated with coaching and gradually returning players and recruits strengthened the senior ranks.
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In 2018, the Under-15 football team won the grand final. Skipton 110 defeated Gordon 14 on a sunny day at Mars Stadium.
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In 2019, the Senior Football Team played in its first final since joining the Central Highlands Football League. In 2020, there was no football or netball due to the COVID pandemic.
In 2021, football and netball resumed, and both the senior and reserve football teams made the finals; however, the finals were abandoned due to COVID lockdowns. Mitch Gilbert was named in the team of the year and awarded the Central Highlands Football League Geoff Taylor Medal.
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Skipton’s senior and reserve football teams played finals again in 2022. The senior football team won against Waubra in the first week but was eliminated by Springbank in the second week of finals. The reserve footballers advanced to the grand final but lost to Springbank. Sam Willian was named in the team of the year and awarded the Central Highlands Football League Geoff Taylor Medal.
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In 2023, the senior football team played in finals again, defeating Dunnstown in a thrilling first week. However, they were defeated by Hepburn in the semi-final. Rhys Monument and Ben Krol were named in the CHFL Team of the Year. The Under-15 and Under-18 footballers also played finals. The Under-17 netballers reached the grand final but were defeated by Hepburn.
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The 2024 season was a successful one for the club. Both football and netball teams had representatives in the junior interleague teams. In the Under-13 football team, Charlie Molloy and George King represented Skipton. Both boys played well, with George kicking three goals and earning the best-on-ground title. In the Under-15 football team, Harry Collins and Thomas Gardiner represented the club proudly, with Harry earning the best-on-ground title. In the Under-18 football team, Seth Wall, Jeremy Lovel, and James Read displayed excellent athleticism and had great games. In netball, Lyla Molloy and Grace Barr played in the Under-15 team, with Lyla earning best on court. Sophie Collins and Cate Connell represented the club in the Under-17 netball team.
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The Under-15 football team had an undefeated season and won the premiership on a cold, wet morning at Mars Stadium. Skipton 9.15.69 defeated Ballan 1.2.8. Harry Collins capped off an outstanding season by being named best on ground and adding to his league best-and-fairest title.
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The Under-18 football team also had a strong season but lost their semi-final to Bungaree. The Under-17 netball team finished the season undefeated. They won their qualifying final and advanced directly to the preliminary final, where they unfortunately lost to Hepburn. Cate Connell won the Under-17 netball league best-and-fairest award. The Under-13 A netballers were narrowly defeated by Learmonth in the elimination final.
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Our senior football team beat Bungaree in the qualifying final, making history by reaching the preliminary final for the first time since joining the CHFL. Unfortunately, they lost to Daylesford, who went on to win the grand final the following week. Pat Graham was the runner-up for the Central Highlands Football League Geoff Taylor Medal. Rhys Monument and Declan Phillips were named in the CHFL Team of the Year.
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2025
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To view some old newspaper articles about the Skipton Football Club with some dating back as far as 1888. Click on the link below for a great read.