The Revival

20 years had now passed since Broome had seen regular football games. Optimism replaced thoughts of war and all sports once more resumed.

Footy boots were sold locally for 21 shillings ($2) and were filled with leather stops and high sided lace up ankle pads. The season began on Sunday 17 July 1949 between the Town team and Meatworks in a practice game.

"On Sunday the first football match to be played at Broome for many years, took place at the Recreation Ground, between teams representing the town and meatworks. During the previous week a busy bee was formed amongst a few enthusiasts to cover the cricket pitch with sand, erect goal posts and mark the goal square. At the completion of their work, the ground, although rather small, was in a reasonable condition for playing.

Owing to the size of the playing arena it was decided to limit the number of players to 14 a side and even with this reduction the play was inclined to become very congested.

The town team had the better of things in the first half, kicking 3 goals, 3 behinds to the meatworks 1 goal. After half-time the meatworks aided by the inclusion of additional players, more than held their own, by kicking 2 goals, 3 behinds to the towns 1 goal, 5 behinds. The final score was Town 4:8 (32 points), Meatworks 3:3 (21 points).

Mr Adlam, who had charge of the whistle, did a very satisfactory job.

Owing to lack of practice and condition, many of the players did not reveal their true form, although the captains of both teams, Tom Brown, (Town) and Nick Hansen (Meatworks) played strongly for the greater portion of the game.

On the following Monday night, a well attended meeting was held at the Continental Hotel with the object of arranging further matches and endeavouring to have a competition on a minor scale, conducted over the next couple of months. A suggestion was made that three teams representing the Town, Meatworks and members of the Commonwealth Service should have little trouble in fielding representative teams and it was decided that a list of players for each of these teams be drawn up so matches could be arranged.

Next Sunday a return match Town V Meatworks will be played. It is expected that the standard of football will show a decided improvement on the previous game." (Northern Time July 1949)

So, Towns formed themselves around the Police, Teachers, public Works Dept. and local people. "While" their colours were white singlets and white shorts. Commonwealth consisted of personnel from the Post Office, Bank, Customs and DCA, looking resplendent in their "Red" singlets and white shorts while Meatworks wore navy blue work singlets and black shorts.