Page 204 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

It was already said that Parkside “knocked over arch rivals Spotswood in the 1967 Grand Final.”

But, the 1967 season was fundamental for shaping the future of FDL which witnessed an
introduction of financial rewards and incentives for players.

Kevin Hillier stresses that, “Neville O’Connor, a Parkside and League Life Member, remembers that
year as pivotal in the future of the club and the league:

“The first time money came into Parkside was in 1967…the coach was the only one getting paid and
Lindsay Murphy was coach. Lindsay came to us halfway through the season and said, “This fellow will
play with us but he wants something like four pounds a game”. So we got four people from outside
the committee to put in a pound a week…two of those people are still involved with the club. This
bloke came from Williamstown and he played in the 1967 premiership and virtually won it. He was
the first player that actually got paid.”

Hillier summarizes the end of 60’s claiming that, “by 1968 all twelve A Grade teams had reserves. The
competition was strong, and from Under 14 to open age the FDFL fielded seventy-three teams in
seven grades and had 2571 registered players.”

History of the WRFL/FDFL / written and compiled by Kevin Hillier, 2007

Flinders Street Station, Melbourne 1969

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider