The Research Football Club played its first game in 1958. The on-field performances throughout the years are recorded on other pages of this website. But it is worth noting the off-field activities and efforts that were required to keep two teams on the field every week. The committee were the primary administrators but many other groups were involved also. Those who were active in any of those groups are encouraged to get in touch with the organizers of this website, either using the mail address at the bottom of this page, or by contacting Ernie Thorneloe or Barry Brennan. Committee office-holders are recorded for each year in a separate page (see here).

For more than 25 years the Club competed in the Panton Hill Football League, eventually winning its first premiership in 1984, followed by a repeat performance in 1985. During the early 1980s, the committee began to think of transferring to the adjacent league which operated in more populous suburbs, but which also was considered a higher quality organization in terms of the standard of competition. Any doubts which Research supporters may have had in that regard were dispelled by the winning of consecutive premierships – Research could certainly mix it with the Diamond Valley Football League teams. A meeting was called (see here) and held with club members in July 1985 to discuss and gain approval for the club to join with the DVFL.

However there was much more involved than just applying for and being granted access to the bigger operation – much of the additional work was financial. Firstly, player payments would be much higher, as would affiliation fees and related admin. One area of assistance in this regard would be the Council, but Research was in the Whittlesea shire and that wasn't associated with any of the Clubs or administration in the DVFL. When the DVFL eventually gave approval for Research to join that league, a formal welcome announcement was made, and can be read here.

Research had been playing games at the Lower Eltham park ground, but the spectator and membership facilities there would need an upgrade to meet the greater expectations of the club and the other clubs who would be playing there as Research opponents. The avenue to any local government finance would require some demonstration of a connection to Eltham Shire. The result was to work with the Lower Eltham Cricket Club, who already had been playing there, and to formally change the name of the football club to the Research Lower Eltham Football Club.

But that really only enabled the 'door' to be opened – more than cap-in-hand would be required to convince the Council to provide any financial assistance. Change rooms and a new club house were the obvious first improvements required. Discussions, plans, drawings and other arrangements kept many committee personnel busy for some months.

Discussions with Council indicated that they would consider financial assistance if the Clubs (football and cricket) could raise a significant starting amount of money. Many discussions were held not only with Council but also with architects, designers, legal people and so on. Even State parliamentarians were involved in discussions regarding gaining approval for relevant finances (see this letter between Pauline Toner, local member, and Neil Trezise, Minister for Sport).

Ernie Thorneloe was one of the main drivers, ably assisted by the likes of Graeme Salter (then Football Club Club President) and Jim Moriarty (Secretary of the Cricket Club), to ensure that the wheels kept moving in all of the various developments. The two clubs began raising funds to be able to demonstrate their organizational an financial capabilities to the Council. It was clear that a single organization would be required to communicate with Council and also to oversee the construction of the facilities and their ongoing use. The result of those considerations was the formation of the Lower Eltham Sports Club which a committee consisting of representatives from the Cricket and Football Clubs.

The basic funding requirements were that the Council would provide $69,000 if the Clubs could raise $80,000 collectively. Initial fund-raising efforts raised $40,000, with the Football Club providing the greater part due to its larger size and supporter base. The announcement of the Agreement was made to the members of the two Clubs in this document.

After reaching the half way target, it was decided to conduct a special fund-raising operation by inviting up to 40 people, groups or businesses to lend a collective $40,000. The group would be known as the Founders Club, and their generosity would be recognized in various ways within the new building and at special events. 

The booklet below provides a summary of how it all came together.

Of course, that was not the end of the hard work ... it was just the end of one phase and a signal of the next phases to follow – finalizing the approval of Council funding, getting the construction work done, drawing up budgets, looking at team recruiting requirements, ways to raise money in an ongoing way, and more.

As indicated in the above booklet, the building was officially opened before the beginning of the 1988 season.

The Sports Club continued to be the overall administrative arm of the groups using the premises, making decisions regarding the layout of Honor Boards of both clubs, purchasing larger equipment items for use within the club, and so on.