Hamilton Athletic

 Hamilton Athletic Football Club was formed in 1886. 

It was the third football club formed in the Hunter Region and the first to win the State Cup.

The club was formed in March 1886 by Jocky Stevenson, Bill Currie and Jack Dixon. (The Newcastle Sun, 8 Sep 1947, Page 18, Football Giants Of The Past) The first eleven in 1886 comprised 10 Scotsmen and one Australian born player, Dick Musgrove. The club's first home ground was where the Presbyterian church now stands at the corner of Murray and Tudor streets, Hamilton. The club had to move three times until it settled near the cricket ground. An article in 1919 stated the club's colours were red and white.

1886

Hamilton Athletic played Minmi Rangers on Saturday, 8 May 1886 on Mr. Turnbull's Paddock, Hamilton. (Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Sat May1886, Page 8) The result was a 2-2 draw.

1887

Hamilton Athletic v Sydney Rovers at Hamilton 20 June 1887

Hamilton won 8-0 before 'a great number of spectators.'  (Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Mon 20 June,1887, Page 8).

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In 1887 Hamilton became the first Newcastle club to win the state-wide Rainsford Trophy, which was superseded by the Gardener Cup, when they defeated the 1885 and 1886 winners, Granville 4-1. The cup final was played on 27 August, 1887 at the Agricultural Ground, Moore Park, Sydney.

Match Report - Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883 - 1930), Tuesday 30 August 1887, page 6 

Hamilton Athletics v. Granville 

These two teams met on Saturday on the Agri-cultural Ground, to play the final match for the Southern British Association Cup. The attend-ance was not very large, owing no doubt to the many counter attractions, the supporters of both clubs mustered in good force, and any good points of play during the game were heartily recognised by the spectators. The journey of the Hamilton team from Newcastle did not seem in any way to have impaired their play, for the game was played out with the greatest of spirit, and it is a compliment to the umpires and referee to say that no disputes took place during its progress. The ball was set in motion shortly after 3 o'clock; the Hamilton playing with a fairly strong wind in their favor. After about two minutes' play the Hamiltons made a com-bined rush and Currie secured their first goal for them by a good shot. As if the goddess Fortune had determined to favor the Hamiltons to any extent, the Granville lost the services of P. Adams, one of their best players, though an injury to his leg, and his services were much missed during the remainder of the game. The Granvilles, however, rallied well up, their forwards, espe-cially Edgar and Sorlie, playing well together. The score was rendered equal by a pretty shot from Sorlie. After some even play the Hamil-tons secured a corner, but the Granville backs playing strongly, the ball was sent into mid-field. Another corner was shortly after-wards declared for the northerners which re-sulted in a short scrimmage in front of the Granville's goal, but the ball rising Baillie headed is out of danger. The ball was now kept well in the centre of the arena, but a foul against the Hamiltons changed the scene of operations to their goal line, when a corner was declared against them, but the forwards getting the ball well away the Granville's backs were put on their mettle, but could not avoid the Northeners again scoring. Immediately the ball was again in motion the Granvilles kept their foes in hot water at their goal, the play, however, resulting in a corner from which nothing was scored. The play from this point to half-time was in favor of the Hamiltons, who added another goal to their score, the ball being headed through by Lambie. After a short spell both sides got to work again and the Hamilton rushed the ball up the field close to the Granville's goal, but Baillie and Edgar by good dribbling and heading got it out of danger once more. Now came the Granville's turn. For some time they kept their opponents acting strictly on the defensive; they secured a corner kick, but the ball was returned into play. The scene of operations was now midfield, but Edgar and Dickenson having secured the ball ran well down, and a splendid shot from the former sent the ball just over the bar. A really good shot from the same player shortly afterwards resulted in the ball striking the bar and bounding along it fell behind. A clear shot for goal was missed by Sorlie, of the Granvilles, about 10 minutes before time, owing to his ankle giving way. The Granvilles now had some hot work In defence of their goal, R, Walker and Lusk playing splendidly. Time was called a few minutes later, but not before the Hamiltons had increased their score to 4 goals to the Granville's 1. Both teams were entertained at the Wynyard Hotel in the even-ing

Hamilton Athletic was the first club from the North to win the cup. The next club to win the cup was Minmi Rangers in 1892 and then West Wallsend in 1900 and 1901.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate 2 March 1888, page 8 

DISTRICT NEWS. (FROM OUR VARIOUS CORRESPONDENTS) Hamilton 

The Hamilton Athletic Football Club (British Association Rules) will hold a pre-liminary meeting, on Saturday evening, to arrange for the opening of the 1888 season. Invitations are offered to lovers of the game to enroll themselves as members, and as the club held the premiership of the colony last season by winning the Rainford Cup, intending members should not lose the oppor-tunity of making an early commencement. 

The Hamilton Athletic team was:

J. Dixon

R. Jackson

Archie Jackson

N. Liddle

N. Lambie

J. Edggton

Jockey Stevenson

A. Currie

C. Harrison

A. Creighton

J. Finlayson

Hamilton played 10 games in 1887 (Newcastle Morning Herald, 5 Mar 1888, page 8, FOOTBALL.)

1888

Hamilton team to play Minmi 5 May 1888

P. Davidson, R. Jackson, P. Smart, M. Lambie, A. Jackson, D. Musgrove, J. Stevenson, G. Kilpatrick, R. Vardie, D. Currie, J. Edgerton, emergencies - D. Liddle, J. Orr

1890

Home game vs Pyrmont Rangers(Sydney) at Tighes Hill (Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 26 May 1890, Page 5)

1913

Secretary of the club applied for the use of Leamonth Park for football games.