 '2004 D3 Premiership'
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On an Autumn day in 1925, with yet another football season about to begin, F.I. (Dolly) Grey, Senior Mathematics and Sports Master at Prince Alfred College was pondering on the future of the boys about to leave school. He was one of the quietest of men, exuding humility, manners impeccable and a quality of understanding the problems of those less fortunate than himself. Academically the most highly qualified member of staff. In addition to a Master of Arts degree, for a schoolmaster, he possessed a second and unusual qualification, that of a Master of Engineering. From this Great Man was borne The P.A.O.C. Football Club.
The School
As a part of the Prince Alfred College (PAC) (est. 1869) community, the Prince Alfred Old Collegians Association (PAOCA) is one of the strongest Associations of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. The school is located at Dequeteville Tce, Kent Town, Adelaide, South Australia on the eastern fringe of the parklands that surround the city. The PAOCA has many other sporting Clubs including Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Hockey, Soccer and Squash. PAC has also produced some outstanding footballers. VFL/AFL players - Rick Davies, Craig Kelly, Rodney Maynard, Doug Smart, David Pittman and the Russell brothers (Kym and Scott). In addition, the school has had numerous others that have gone onto represent the State in the SANFL.
History
The PAOC Football Club was formed in 1926 and plays in the South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL). The Club is the longest running PAOC sporting club having celebrated its 80th year in the 2005 season. The first captain of the Club was Frank L. Collison and his deputy was M. Paynter. In those days the SAAFL (founded in 1911) comprised only one grade (A1). Today the SAAFL has 68 Clubs fielding 2014 teams in 22 grades. The Club played its first game at its home oval, Victoria Park Racecourse on the 1st May 1926 losing to Marryatville 14.10 to 4.6, 33 people attended the first dinner at the Cathedral Hotel in North Adelaide. Since then the club has continually fielded sides in the competition, with the exception of 1941 when the Club merged with Pulteney to field a side under the name of the Collegians for just one season before the SAAFL went into recess for the war. The following are some key events in the Club's history;
1928 | Upon the establishment of a second grade, the Club requested to go into A2 to be able to compete with old rivals, SPOC who had just entered a team. |
1932 | The Club entered a second team. |
1934 | A's went back into A1. |
1937 | The A's lost the A1 grand final by 3 points. |
1946 | Club's first premiership in A2 defeating Goodwood by 14 points. |
1958 | The Club entered a third team and the A's defeated SPOC in the A2 grand final. |
1959 | Park 15 (opposite the school) was used for the first time and the clubrooms were built. |
1960 | PAOC had two games televised on TV. |
1962 | The Club entered a fourth team. First interstate match against Wesley Old Collegians in Melbourne. Flood lights erected at Park 15. |
1967 | Club fielded teams in A1, A1 Reserve, A3 and A3 Reserve, the highest grades for all four teams. |
1972 | 16th March the "245" is opened at 245 Parade, Beulah Park. Dual A & B premierships in A3 & A3 Reserve. |
1976 | Fourth team is withdrawn. |
1983 | Fourth team returns to competition. |
1991 | Club moves its playing base to Park 9. |
1996 | Fourth side is withdrawn. |
1997 | The "245" is sold and the Club sets up its social base, upstairs at the General Havelock Hotel. |
2002 | 3rd May PAOC win the inaugural "Coopers & Yalumba Intercollegiate Cup" played under lights at Norwood Oval by 1 point. |
2004 | A's win D3 premiership at Alberton Oval over SMOSH. First A grade premiership in 24 years. |
2008 | After 11 years at the Havy, the Club moves its social base to the Hackney Hotel. |
2009 | Club moves its social base to the Alma Tavern, signing up Crows legends Mark Ricciuto & Tony Modra to play. |
The Club
Today our season commences in March/April and the finals are in September/October, if you would like to play in a friendly competition please get in touch, we can accommodate all ages and abilities. The Club's home oval is at "Princes Park" (Park 9), located on the corner of Bundeys and Hackney Roads, North Adelaide and we practice on the oval on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, starting around 6:00 p.m. Post match festivities are held in the "Red Room" at the Alma Tavern, 66 Mgill Road, Norwood. The Club has 3 teams in Division 4, Division 4 Reserve and Division C4. |  '1980 A3 Premiership'
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