CLUB ARCHIVES

NOBLE PARK FOOTBALL GUERNSEY CIRCA MID 1920's
Hand knitted by Sarah Power for her son Stan

Joseph and Sarah Power with their son Stan (born 1909) moved from Cobden to St Kilda in about 1911, where Joe had found work in a foundry. Daughter Irene and second son Wesley were born in 1912 and 1914 respectively. Joe was a keen footballer, and Stan remembers him coming home after work on a Saturday morning, taking off his boots, tacking leather strips around the soles and playing football with them on Saturday afternoon. Stan also recalled playing footy in the street with little brother Wes using tightly rolled newspaper bound with string as they didn't have a real footy.

In 1923, the family moved to Noble Park and soon became involved in football. Games were played in 'Behlows paddock' which was on the east side of Corrigan Road between Heatherton and Lightwoods Roads. Land in Moodemere Street was later donated for a football ground, but Behlows paddock was still used at times when the Moodemere reserve flooded.

Stan was not able to play as often as he would have liked due to his job as a butcher's apprentice, which required him to work on Saturdays, starting at 4 am. He gave up his apprenticeship in 1928 or '29 and began work at the Kelly & Lewis Engineering Works in Springvale. This allowed him to play a bit more football, and he remembered one game in Behlows paddock in 1929 when Joe, himself and Wes all played in the same team for Noble Park ... "Wes would have only been about 14".

Stan transferred to Springvale Football Club some time later and was a member of their 1932 Premiership Team. Stan passed away in 1992, just before his 83rd birthday.

Joe Power served as a trainer and a coach for Noble Park and was made a life member of the Club. He donated a trophy each year up until his final years. Joe passed away in 1979 (pre deceased by Sarah who passed away in 1940).

Wes Power played for Noble Park until the mid 1940's and won numerous trophies for 'Best & Fairest' and 'Top Goal Scorer'. He played in a number of premiership teams including at least two (1935 and 1944) when Noble Park was undefeated during the season, claiming the title 'Premiers and Champions'.

Wes passed away 1986.