Redan Rovers Football Club

The Redan Rovers were an Australian Rules football club.

The first Redan football team was made up from miners from the Band of Hope mine. Their average weight was 14 stone (90 kg). The first Redan game was reported in The Ballarat Star on Saturday September 2, 1871 against the Ballarat Football Club.

Another game was played in October 1871: "A scratch match at football will be played on the practice ground off the Oval to-day. Members are requested to attend, in order that a team maybe chosen for the return match with the Redan Club next Saturday."

Redan Imperial Football Club
August 1882 the following players were included in the team to play Wendouree Imperial: "Redan Imperial from—A .Victor (captain), N. Victor, W. Shaw, Jacker (3), Short (3), Tootle, Bourke, Glasgow, N. Kelly, M'Donald (2), O'Brien. Missing, Evans, Coady, Gould, Ryan." September 1890: "The Redan Imperial defeated the Black Hill on Saturday by two goals eight behinds to one goal two behinds."

April 1892, travelling by train to play in Clunes: "Redan Imperial v Rising Star, at Clunes Oval, to-morrow. Redan Imps will be picked on the ground. Trains leave 7.45 and 12.25"

The club changed their name to the Redan Football Club at their annual meeting in 1893: "The annual meeting of the above club was held on Wednesday evening, at Blight’s hotel, Darling street. There was a very large attendance. Mr D. Hart occupied the chair. The secretary’s report showed that the club was very successful last season, having played 22 matches, won 18, drawn 1 and lost 3, gaining 74 points, and winning the third rate junior premiership. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patrons, Messrs F. Hartley, J. M’Phail, J. A. Judd, J. E. Brady, A. Sparks, F. Herman, and J. Hicks; president, Mr T. Blight; vice presidents, Messrs E. M'Kay, D. Wilson, H. F. Elliott, Alex. Bell, D. Conk, J. F. Connelly, F. H. Tuthill, H. M'Kay, T. Stevens, E. Harvey, P. M’lntyre, V. Jermyn, M. Butterly, M.L.A., and W. Miller; committee, Messrs Kelly, Hart, Bowden, Morley, and Cowan; treasurer, Mr F. Hartley; delegate, Mr W. Shannon; auditors, Messrs Morley and Hart; hon. secretary, A. A. O’Dea. It was decided to change the name to the Redan Football Club and also to compete in the first-rate division. The colors of the club are red, white and blue; subscription, 2s 6d. The election of captain and vice-captain was left till the first match when it is proposed to play Sebastopol. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr T. Blight for the interest he displayed towards the club last season. The usual vote of thanks to the chairman closed a very successful meeting."

Despite the name change, they are still known as the Redan Imperial in May 1904: "A meeting of the Redan Imperial Football Club was held at the Redan Club hotel on Tuesday evening, and the following officers were elected:—President. Mr J. Brady; vice presidents, Mayor Pearce, J. A. Hooley. D. Anderson. J. Stevens. F. Kierce, and O. Heinz: general committee, J. Smith. T. Ellis, V. Fattorini, T. Gitsham, P. Burt. J. Anderson, and A. Robinson; delegates. F. Tucker and J. Anderson; match committee, A. Rahilly, P. Burt. J. Smith. P. Williams and F. Gosden; treasurer, W. Stevens; hon. sec., J. Anderson. It was decided to contest the fourth rate premiership, and a number of valued trophies have been promised."

In April 1905, both the Redan Imperial Football Club and the Redan Football Club applied to the Sebastopol Borough Council for use of the Sebastopol Oval: "Applications for the use of the Sebastopol Oval for the coming season were received from the secretries of the Sebastopol. Redan Imperial, and Redan Football Clubs, with the result that the request of the last-named was granted, as it was the senior club."

In April 1906 Redan Imperial had a team in the Second Rate Junior Football Association: "The clubs competing from the present outlook will be:- Golden Point Rovers, Redan Imperial, Caledonian, and Nelson Juniors, of last year's Third Rate Association, and North Ballarat and Sebastopol."

Redan Rovers Football Club
In April 1907, the Rovers unsuccessfully applied for use of the Sebastopol oval: "From the Redan Rovers’ Football Club, applying for the use of the Sebastopol Oval for season 1907. Also from the Redan senior football club, with same request— Granted to Redan seniors."

Names

 * Redan Rovers Football Club
 * Redan Football Club