Flinders University Football Club (FUFC) was founded in 1966 on the bare bones of a newly developed Flinders University. Wearing the proud ‘Double Blues’ colours, they started from the bottom and worked hard to become a multiple-premiership winning club within only a few years.
This included winning the A4 Division premiership in their inaugural year of 1966. They followed that success by winning both the A3 and A3 Reserve premierships in 1968, A2 in 1969 and their most significant premiership, A1 Reserve, in 1971. Eventually the club added premierships in 1996, 2002 and 2007.
They have had their ups and downs, wins and losses, however to this day, they have never stopped fighting to get back on top and achieve more premiership success in the years to come!
The club has a strong history of bringing together a youthful mix of both university students, current/past staff and those who are not in the university system at all. FUFC welcomes players of all abilities to join in the fun and fitness of their two men’s teams and a planned women’s team for 2027.
Who best to regale the beginnings of this proud club than one of the original 1966 players, Kerry ‘Dasher’ Lovell (BSc ’69, BSc(Hons) ’70)…
Back Row: Mike Varvounis, Peter Thompson, Kerry Bailey, Steve Kelton, John Smith, Bill Physick, Ian Haines, Ian James.
Centre Row: Keith Koehne, Dick Trethewey, Rob Leitch, Roger Harrington, Geoff Valentine, John Schultz, Tom Jackson, Godfrey Sterzl, Bronte Ayres, Dave Looker, Barry Boettcher.
Front Row: Dave Butler, Terry Davenport, Randall Morton, Rob Chesterfield, Daryl Teague, Neville De Young, Peter Retallack, Paul Urban.
Setting the foundations
In February 1966, I was queuing up to enrol at a brand-new university. There was an air of excitement: as well as the freedom from school regulation, we had the opportunity to write our own history and establish our own traditions. An unexpected bonus was that there would only be 400 students, and by year’s end we would know virtually everyone on campus.
After enrolling, I walked around all of the Orientation Week stalls and put my name down for the football club. I was told that there was a meeting being held later in the week in the Science lecture theatre by Biology lecturer and President of the newly formed Sports Association, Dr Barry Boettcher (known as Doc to the students). It was attended by 40-odd students – enough for two teams, which were entered in the A4 and A5 grades of the SA Amateur Football League.
With the football season just weeks away, a group headed by Doc Boettcher, assisted by the new Club President, Vice-President and Treasurer, began the search for a coach. They selected 36-year-old Keith Koehne, who they felt was the best fit for a group of fresh faced 17-year-olds. Keith coached the A4s and Doc coached the A5s.
It would be fair to say that Doc was the father of the Flinders University Football Club.
There was a strong University/Football Club connection, in that the first student to be enrolled (Student ID number 660001) was Mike Varvounis, who was studying Medicine. He was also our first number 1 ruckman.
Back Row: Phil Brown, Nev Bartlett, Don Jolly, Chris Acott, John Smith, Kerry Lovell, Kym Mueller, Ian Cowling.
Centre Row: Keith Koehne, Paul White, Graeme Schultz, Toby Thomas, Roger Harrington, Tom Jackson, Peter Aschberger, Barry Boettcher.
Front Row: Graeme Bywater, Bill Heddle, Bronte Ayres, Dick Trethewey, Roger Saunders, Wayne Wallace.
Instant success
There’s a saying that a champion team will always beat a team of champions. However, the A4s were both: a group of brilliant footballers who had never played together as a team. They dominated their grade, with 17 wins from 20 games, and a winning margin of 60+ points in all but one game. Ian Haines was outstanding at full-forward, leading the A4 grade goal-kicking with 139 goals for the season.
They won the second semi-final against Payneham by 51 points, to go straight into the grand final, which was played against Flinders Park.
On the big day, it immediately became evident that Flinders Park had decided that the only way to beat more skilful opponents was to employ thuggish and gutless tactics behind the single field umpire’s back against us lightly-framed teenagers.
Despite this, the game was over by three-quarter time, with FUFC leading by 60 points, so Flinders Park escalated the violence.
After 10 minutes of this, Doc Boettcher had had enough of the umpire’s inaction. He strode on to the field and staged a sit-down protest, eventually forcing the umpire to end the game with Flinders 60 points in front, thereby avoiding more bloodshed and the risk of serious injury.
The A5s, coached by Doc, finished sixth, with 9 wins and 11 losses.
Exciting times ahead
1967 was in stark contrast to 1966. Eight players, including Ian Haines and club captain Daryl Teague, left to continue medical studies at Adelaide University, and Keith was stood down by the Amateur League for the balance of the season following an incident after a game.
On Keith’s return in 1968, both A3 and A3 Reserves won premierships; in 1969 the A2 side were premiers, achieving promotion to the top division A1; and in 1971 the A1 Reserves won the premiership. FUFC fielded an extraordinary seven teams in 1971, giving 140 students the chance to, as Doc put it, “develop healthy bodies while their studies developed sound minds, and also encourage teamwork.”
Many friendships were forged in 1966, and continue to the present day. For further information, Kerry has written a history of the early years of FUFC, with copies available for a $20 donation to the club. If interested, you can order a copy by emailing your name and postal address to kerryflovell19@gmail.com.
A champion club
Current club president, Stephen Miles (BEd(UP/LS) ’96) recently organised a Past Players Celebration to be held over the Anzac Day round this year. From all accounts, it was a fantastic day! Stephen had this to say…
On 25 April, about 40 past players returned to Flinders University for the annual Anzac Day/Past Players Celebration. It was great to see amongst the crowd original 1966 players Kerry ‘Dasher’ Lovell, Steve Kelton and Bronte Ayres. The Club has even tried to recruit Steve’s grandson for the 2026 season. Also in attendance was local Federal Member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost and her husband Kim Cheater, who himself is a past player, graduate and current Flinders Council member.
The Master of Ceremonies was Flinders graduate and player Josh Stokes who introduced Nathan Dovey an Afghanistan war veteran to read the Ode of Remembrance. A minute’s silence was held and then the A-Grade game between Flinders and Adelaide Lutheran commenced. At half time, a delicious lunch was enjoyed and many memories and old stories were shared.
On a sad note, we heard the news that Neville DeYoung, a premiership player in 1966 and 1969, has recently passed. His memory was represented by the current players wearing black arm bands the previous week.
Thanks to all the volunteers who make these sorts of celebrations possible. A special mention to Jacob Cowden for completing the run through sheet. Also, a big welcome and thanks to 1970s graduates Jack Humphrys and George Evreniadis who have come back to help the Club in volunteer roles this year.