Page 656 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

The gentlemen there where, Ernie Shepherd – later mayor of Footscray, Harry Kemp and Freddie
Reid, sports master at Footscray Technical College.

We decided we would try to establish a Footscray-based football competition and each of us was
allocated a job. My job was trying to get teams from pubs and clubs in the Footscray district. We
originally got eight teams for 1931 season.

The enthusiasm for those attached to Parkside Football (Club) was such that it had so many players it
fielded Parkside A and Parkside B"

Mr Pascarl’s time with Parkside Football Club began when, at 14, he “ran the boundary” in 1921. He
started playing at 15 in 1922 and remained with Parkside until his retirement around 1949.”

“The club reckon I played 350 games but I’m not too sure about that; we were only playing 14 to 16
games a year in the early stages.

“I retired around 1949 and then coached the U18s for seven years. “

It was not just as a player that Mr Pascarl served Parkside Football Club.

“My first job off the field was as a players’ representative to the board in 1926, then I was on the
committee for a number of years,” he said.

“Then my first football job outside the club was as delegate to the new Footscray District Football
League in 1931.

“I also represented the FDFL as a delegate to the Victorian Football Union (VFU), which ran the
entire junior competitions in Melbourne. It’s now the Metropolitan Football Association.”

In 1935, Mr Pascarl was made a life member of the Parkside Football Club, in 1955 a life member of
FDFL, from 1959 to 1965 he was president of Parkside, in 1980 was presented with the VFU
distinguished service award for his service to Australian football and, in 1991 – the FDFL ‘s 60th year
– the league presented him with an engraved plaque in recognition of his services as a foundation
member.

Now 91, he still attends Parkside matches – with the help of younger members who drive him to the
games – and reflects on the original eight-team competition which now boats 40 clubs ranging from
U9s to seniors.”

Footscray Mail, September 10, 1997

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider