1890 Chronology
Position: Eleventh (2nd last)
Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 14, Goals For 43, Goals Agst 113.
Captain: Edwin “Ned” Burwood
Vice Captain: T. Davis
President’s Prize: Tom Deane
Leading Goal Kicker: Alfred Elder (6)
Revenue: 240pounds 5s. 7d. Credit Balance: 4pounds 9s. 9d.
March
Population:
The City of Richmond with an estimated population of 37,070 is the second most populous suburb of Melbourne.
Fri. 21
Vaucluse decides to join the Victorian Junior FA.
Thr. 27
Charles Cupit resigns as Richmond’s secretary and Jimmy Eastman is elected as his replacement.
The Beverley Football Club is founded and named “in honor of a favorite ale” that is brewed in Richmond.
April
Practice:
The Richmond Cricket Club prevents Richmond from playing practice games on the RCG in April.
Of the eighteen premiership games Richmond played in 1889 only seven would be on the RCG.
Sat. 12
Richmond, having to play its practice match against East Richmond on the Botanic Reserve, uses the Richmond Rowing Club’s shed as a change room.
Sat. 19
Richmond becomes the first senior club to play on Victoria Park. It draws with Britannia (23 players) two goals apiece. Alf. Searle was appointed captain for the game but with one too many players taking their place on the field he decided not to play.
May
Sat. 3
Richmond plays its 100th premiership game. It loses to South Melbourne 8 - 16 to 2 - 2 before a crowd of 6,000 at South Melbourne.
Thr. 15
Richmond trains at night. Jimmy Eastman had the ball painted with a “sort of very luminous paint” so the players could see the ball.
Sat. 17
The Age writes that the Richmond team are termed the “wasps”.
Sat. 24
A typhoid epidemic strikes Melbourne and Richmond player Jim Coles is bed ridden with the disease.
June
Thr. 5
Richmond trains indoors at the Crystal Palace (formerly the Richmond Skating Rink) for the first time. It is intended to be their regular Thursday night training venue.
Sat. 14
Former captain Tom Graham plays his first game for Richmond since he was asked to retire from the club in July 1886.
A new press box is opened at the RCG.
Sat. 28
Richmond play on the MCG for the first time. Melbourne 4 - 10 defeats Richmond 2 - 7.
July
Sat. 12
The Richmond v. North Melbourne game at North Melbourne is delayed because, it seems, Richmond forgot to bring their knickerbockers with them.
Sat 25
Richmond wear black crepe bands in memory of James Winter , vice president of the club and chair of the committee.
August
Sat. 9
William “Ginger” Stewart throws the ball at the umpire (A. G. Carlos) during a game. The club will suspend him and later the VFA will formally disqualify him for two weeks.
Late Aug. The Richmond Cricket Club decides that the RCG needs to be top-dressed and refuse the Richmond Football Club permission to play on the ground in September.
Sat. 30 Jim Coles, who was stricken with typhoid fever, returns to the team.
September
Thr. 18
A Richmond Football Club “Social Re-Union” is held at the Richmond Town Hall.
Sat. 27
With Richmond unable to field a full team George Smith and Alf Hill come out of retirement to make up the numbers. Hill kicks a goal and Smith is one of Richmond’s better players.
For the third time in six years South Melbourne ends a premiership season with a win over Richmond. South arrive at the Friendly Societies’ Ground in three drags decorated in their club colours.
November
An Intercolonial Football Conference decides that a bounce in the centre of the ground rather than a kick-off is to begin each match, and that players are permitted to begin games in their “proper positions” rather than behind the centre.
Recipient | Donor | : |
Tom Deane | President’s Prize (Watch and chain) | |
Jimmy Shore | William Malone (Tea-pot) | |
T. Davis | Field (Cake casket) | |
Bill Stewart | Fredrick Tempany | |
Jim O'Halloran | Henry Altman (Silver cup) | |
Jack Blakely | William Wookey (Marble clock) | |
Harry Thompson | P. Smart (Gold chain) | |
Austin Lewis | George Charman (Watch) | |
George Locke | W. F. Fisk (Cruet) | |
Alf Elder | Moerlin (Gold pin) | |
Tom Graham | J. B. Whitty (Medal) | |
Pat O'Loughlin | Joseph Garside (Silver-mounted pipe) | |
W. Reed | Wookey Bros. (Pipe) | |
J. Kilmartin | “Club Prize” | |
Chris Syle | “Club Prize” | |
Jack Stewart | “Club Prize” | |
G. Dunne | “Club Prize” | |
Ned Burwood | “Club Prize” | |
George Griffiths | “Club Prize” | |
H. Clarke | “Club Prize” | |
W. Lever | “Club Prize” |