This junior football shield was given by James Fairbairn (1897-1940), a prominent Western District pastoralist, aviator, local politician and Federal Cabinet minister. He was killed in a Canberra air disaster in 1940. The shield shows that several football teams, including West End, Russells Creek and East Warrnambool won the shield in the 1930s. In 1936 the shield was won outright by West End Football Club. This club, founded in the late 19th century, played in Western District Leagues until 1946 when it joined the newly-formed Warrnambool District Football League. In 1971 it merged with the Allansford Football Club to become the West End-Allansford Club and in 2002 the name ceased to exist when the team name was changed back to Allansford Football Club. This trophy is of interest as a football trophy given over 80 years ago and as a memento of the Warrnambool West End Football Club, a team no longer existing. The sport of Australian football has been, and still is, highly prominent in the Warrnambool district with football first played in the town in 1861. This is a wooden shield with nine silver-coloured metal discs affixed to the shield with metal pins. Eight of these discs are shield-shaped. All of the discs have etched inscriptions. The discs are somewhat stained and the wooden shield has traces of paint on it. There is a wire attached to the back of the shield for hanging on a wall. ‘Warrnambool Junior Football League’ ‘Junior Challenge Shield presented by J.V. Fairbairn Esq. M.L.A. 1932’ ‘Won Outright West End Football Club 1936’ west end football club, warrnambool, j.v.fairbairn

This trophy was won by the West End Football Club in 1937. This football team appears to date back from the late 1890s but it is known that it was competing in the early 1900s in the Thursday afternoon matches in the Warrnambool and District Football Association. In the 1930s it was in the Warrnambool Football Association competition and about the 1960s it amalgamated with Allansford to form the West End Allansford Football Club. The name West End disappeared in 2001 when the name changed to Allansford Football Netball Club. No further information has been found on the J.Earls Cup.Although this trophy is in poor condition it is interesting as a memento of a local club that existed for over 100 years.This is a gold-coloured cup with a slender tapering piece resting on a circular base. The base is on a brown Bakelite stand. The cup has had two side handles but one handle is missing. The stand has a silver-coloured plaque. The cup and plaque are much stained and oxidized. ‘W.F.A. J. Earls Cup Premiers West End 1937’ warrnambool football association 1930s

This trophy has been presented to the Warrnambool & District Football League by the South Warrnambool Football Club. This latter club still plays in the Hampden Football League and dates back to the 1880s and possibly beyond and has always been a traditional rival of the Warrnambool Football Club. West End Football Club dates back to the 1890s and joined with the Allansford Football Club in the 1960s to form the West End Allansford team. In 2001 the name ‘West End’ was dropped from the club’s name. Russells Creek Football Club was established in 1931 and still plays in the Warrnambool & District Football League which dates back to the early 1900sThis football trophy is of interest as it comes from the mid 20th century and concerns two local Warrnambool football clubs still existing today and one club that no longer exists.This is a wooden trophy in the shape of a shield. It has a silver scroll on the top and a silver heart shape in the middle. There is a cord on the back of the shield attached by metal hooks for hanging purposes. There are five small shields with etched writing on four of these. The shield is a little scratched. ‘South Warrnambool Football Club Shield’ ‘Warrnambool & District Football League’ ‘R.C.F.C. Premiers 1947 Tom Zanos (Captain) H. Drewitt (Coach)’ ‘W.E.F.C. Premiers 1948 P. Lake Capt. & Coach G.R.Thomas Pres.’ ‘W.E.F.C. Premiers 1949 W.L. ‘Jack’ McMurrick Capt. & Coach’ ‘West End F.C. Premiers 1950 W.L. McMurrick Capt. & Coach’ south warrnambool football club, warrnambool & district football league