Eastern Suburban Churches Football Association
| Most recent season or competition: 1992 | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1923 |
| First season | 1923 |
| No. of teams | 35 (1992), at least 160 (historical) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Division 1: St Pauls Bentleigh
Division 2: Richmond Amateurs Division 3: Heatherton(1992) |
| Most titles | Burwood United, Trinity Presbyterian (12) |
The Eastern Suburban Churches Football Association (ESCFA), formerly the Eastern Suburban Protestant Churches Football Association (ESPCFA) was an Australian rules football competition based in the eastern and southern suburbs of Melbourne.
For much of its history it consisted of clubs associated with various Protestant churches in Melbourne's east and south.[1] At its peak it was one of the largest Australian rules football competitions in Australia, with 5 divisions of 10 clubs fielding seniors and reserves.[1]
History
The ESPCFA was formed on the 19th of March, 1923, when representatives from 6 churches in the Camberwell District met at the Camberwell Methodist School office to discuss the possibility of forming a local competition between the churches.[1] The Association had expanded to a 12-team competition by 1928, which necessitated the formation of a B-grade competition the following year. The C-grade was introduced for the first time in 1933,[2] however it disbanded before the 1936 season following the loss of a number of clubs[3] and would not return until after World War II.[4] D-grade was for the first time in 1947.[1]
The competition contracted back to three grades following the 1954 season after a number of clubs folded due to players moving to other local leagues.[1] The 1950s were marked by the domination of Burwood United and Trinity Presbyterian, who would go on to win 8 A-grade premierships between them from 1952 to 1959.[1] The first reserve grade was introduced in 1959.
1971 saw Donvale United enter the competition for the first time. They would go on to win two A-grade premierships in their first three seasons in 1972 and 1973.[5] St Marys Church of England achieved the league's first A-grade three-peat between 1978 and 1980.[6] This would be bested by Donvale between 1988 and 1991 when they won four premierships in a row before departing for the Eastern Districts Football League.[5]
As the population of the eastern suburbs aged many clubs began to find it hard to field two sides, which led to a number of mergers and foldings during the 1970s.[7][8] The requirement for clubs to be aligned with churches was dropped around the beginning of the 1980s,[1] which allowed for the addition of district clubs to replace the dwindling numbers of church-aligned teams following the 1970s. The ESCFA absorbed a number of clubs from the defunct YCW Football League in 1986,[9] which helped keep the number of clubs reasonably stable. However, the loss of 8 clubs at the end of the 1989 season, many of them decades-long members of the League, saw the E-grade dropped for 1990 and revealed that the competition's days were numbered.[1] A number of prominent clubs left prior to the 1992 season, including the previous years' A-grade premiers Donvale[5] and oldest member club St Marys Church of England,[6] leading to the bottom two divisions being combined.[1] The ESCFA merged with the Southern Football League following the 1992 season, with most clubs merging into the ranks of the new league.[10]
Clubs
Final
Division 1
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in ESCFA | ESCFA Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Most recent | ||||||||
| Bentleigh Uniting (Bentleigh Methodist 1965-76) | .svg.png)  |
Kangaroos | Bentleigh Reserve, Bentleigh | – | 1965 | 1965-1992 | 2 | 1990 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Burwood United |  |
Woods | Burwood Reserve, Glen Iris | – | 1930 | 1930-1958, 1961-1992 | 12 | 1985 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Canterbury North Balwyn |  |
Macleay Park, Balwyn North | – | 1977 | 1977-1992 | 1 | 1986 | Moved to VAFA in 1993 | |
| Collingwood Districts |  |
Ramsden Street Oval, Clifton Hill | – | 1986 | 1987-1992 | 3 | 1991 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 | |
| Hampton United (Hampton Methodist 1947-75) |   |
Hammers | Peterson Street Reserve, Highett | – | 1947 | 1947-1948, 1959-1992 | 5 | 1986 | Played in Methodist FL between 1949-51. Recess between 1952-58. Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Oakleigh Amateur |  |
Krushers | W.A. Scammell Reserve, Oakleigh | – | 1992 | 1992 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA in 1993 |
| St Kevins Ormond |  |
Saints | Koornang Park, Carnegie | YCWFL | 1946 | 1976-1992 | 0 | - | Merged with Gardenvale to form Caulfield Bears in Southern FL following 1992 season |
| St Pauls Bentleigh | .svg.png) |
Bulldogs | McKinnon Reserve, Bentleigh | YCWFL | 1948 | 1980-1992 | 2 | 1992 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Springvale Districts (Springvale YCW 1981) |  |
Demons | Springvale Reserve, Springvale | YCWFL | 1959 | 1981-1992 | 4 | 1989 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Wattle Park-Bennettswood (Wattle Park Presbyterian 1963-77; Wattle Park United 1978-90) |  |
Bennettswood Reserve North Oval, Burwood | – | 1963 | 1963-1992 | 4 | 1987 | Absorbed by Doncaster East in Eastern Districts FL following 1992 season | |
Division 2
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in ESCFA | ESCFA Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Balwyn Combined |  |
Demons | Macleay Park, Balwyn North | – | 1945 | 1945-1992 | 2 | 1985 | Moved to VAFA in 1993 |
| Box Hill Pioneers-St Peters (Box Hill Pioneers 1954-78) | .svg.png) |
Pioneers, Pies | Springfield Park Box Hill North[8] | – | 1954 | 1954-1992 | 6 | 1986 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Cheltenham Assumption (Cheltenham Church of Christ 1967-73, Cheltenham United 1974-79) |  |
Red Roosters | Le Page Park, Cheltenham | – | 1967-1992 | 2 | 1976 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 | |
| Dandenong South | |
YCWFL | 1987-1992 | 1 | 1987 | Folded after 1992 season | |||
| East Camberwell |  |
Lynden Park, Camberwell | CYMSFL | 1946 | 1973-1992 | 2 | 1990 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 | |
| Fairfield |  |
Bloods | Fairfield Park Oval, Fairfield | VAFA | 1891 | 1975-1992 | 0 | - | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Lower Plenty (Diamond Valley United 1971-77) |   |
Hawks | Montmorency Park, Montmorency | MCFL, PHFL | 1962 | 1971-1982, 1986-1992 | 3 | 1991 | Played in Panton Hill FL between 1983-85. Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Richmond Amateurs (Richmond St Ignatius 1978) | Rosellas | Kevin Bartlett Reserve, Burnley | YCWFL | 1978, 1987-1992 | 1 | 1992 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 | ||
| South Yarra (South Yarra Presbyterian 1968-71; South Yarra Methodist 1972-77; South Yarra Uniting 1978-84) |  |
Lions | Howard Dawson Reserve, Glen Iris | – | 1967 | 1967-1992 | 2 | 1988 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Syndal-Tally Ho |  |
Synners, Demons | Jordan Reserve, Chadstone | – | 1980 | 1980-1992 | 3 | 1987 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
Division 3
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in ESCFA | ESCFA Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Ashburton-Chadstone |  |
Toffee Apples | Watson Park, Ashburton | – | 1986 | 1986-1992 | 0 | - | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Box Hill Adelphian |  |
Elgar Park, Box Hill North | – | 1936 | 1936-1992 | 3 | 1980 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 | |
| Box Hill North | .svg.png) |
Elgar Park, Box Hill North | – | 1983 | 1983-1992 | 1 | 1991 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 | |
| Bellfield |  |
Mud and Bloods | Ford Park, Bellfield | VAFA, PDJFL | 1950s | 1966-1977, 1979-1992 | 0 | - | Played in Preston District Junior FL in 1978. Moved to Melbourne North FL in 1993 |
| Black Rock |  |
Jets | Donald MacDonald Reserve, Black Rock | YCWFL, SESFL | 1908 | 1980-1985, 1992 | 2 | 1984 | Moved to Southern FL in 1986 and 1993 |
| Carnegie | |
Demons | East Caulfield Reserve, Caulfield East | SESFL | c.1920s | 1991-1992 | 0 | - | Returned to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Dandenong West | .svg.png) |
Blues, Westerners | Greaves Reserve, Dandenong | SESFL | 1963[11] | 1987-1992 | 0 | - | Returned to Southern FL in 1993 |
| East Bentleigh | |
Mackie Road Reserve, Bentleigh East | YCWFL | 1979-1980, 1982-1992 | 1 | 1986 | Recess in 1981. Moved to Southern FL in 1993 | ||
| Eley Park |  |
Sharks | Eley Park, Blackburn South | – | 1992 | 1992 | 0 | - | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Gardenvale (Gardenvale East Presbyterian 1946-77) |  |
Eagles | Princes Park, Caulfield South | – | 1946 | 1946-1992 | 0 | - | Merged with St Kevins Ormond to form Caulfield Bears in Southern FL following 1992 season |
| Heatherton |  |
Tunners | Heatherton Recreation Reserve, Heatherton | VAFA | 1913 | 1990-1992 | 1 | 1992 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Lyndale |  |
Pumas | Barry Powell Reserve, Noble Park North | SESFL | 1961 | 1990-1992 | 0 | - | Returned to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Moorabbin West |  |
Kangaroos | A.W Oliver Reserve, Hampton East | YCWFL | 1978 | 1986-1992 | 0 | - | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| Mount Waverley Catholics | .svg.png)  |
Mountain Lions | Mayfield Park, Mount Waverley | YCWFL | 1974 | 1975-1992 | 1 | 1978 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
| North Blackburn (North Blackburn Methodist 1967-77, North Blackburn Uniting 1978-80) |  |
Eagles | Koonung Park, Blackburn North | – | 1967 | 1967-1992 | 2 | 1989 | Moved to Southern FL in 1993 |
Former
Due to a lack of records on the league, particularly prior to 1970, only known participation years are listed. Additionally, many clubs merged and changed names frequently in the first few decades of competition so some separately-listed entities may actually be continuations of other clubs.[1]
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Known years in ESCFA | ESCFA Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Aquinas Old Boys |  |
Bloods | Aquinas College, Ringwood | – | 1981 | 1981-1985 | 2 | 1984 | Moved to VAFA in 1986 |
| Ashburton Uniting (Ashburton Methodist 1948-79) |  |
Watson Park, Ashburton | – | 1940s | 1948-1985 | 1 | 1966 | Merged with Chadstone Salesian to form Ashburton-Chadstone in 1986 | |
| Auburn Collegians | 1931-1932 | 0 | - | Moved to Eastern Suburban FL as East Hawthorn Collegians in 1933[12] | |||||
| Auburn Presbyterian | 1923-1927 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Balwyn Baptist (Balwyn Church of Christ 1937-1956, 1962-67, North Balwyn Church of Christ 1968-70) |  |
1928-1931, 1933-1934, 1936-1946, 1962-1972 | 4 | 1970 | Folded after 1972 season | ||||
| Balwyn United | 1924, 1926, 1932-1941 | 2 | 1939 | Did not return following WWII | |||||
| Blackburn | 1979 | 0 | - | Folded after 1979 season | |||||
| Blackburn Baptist |  |
Eley Park, Blackburn South | – | 1966 | 1968-1982 | 2 | 1977 | Merged with Blackburn South juniors to form Blackburn South in 1983 | |
| Blackburn Church of Christ | 1938 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| Blackburn North (Blackburn North Baptist 1965-83) |  |
Burners | Koonung Park, Blackburn North | – | 1965 | 1965-1989 | 1 | 1970 | Folded after 1989 season |
| Blackburn South |  |
Mirrabooka Reserve, Blackburn South | – | 1983 | 1983 | 0 | - | Moved to Eastern Districts FL in 1984 | |
| Blackburn United | |
– | 1945 | 1945-1982 | 1 | 1948 | Merged with St Andrews Box Hill to form Box Hill North after 1982 season | ||
| Box Hill Baptist | – | 1923 | 1923-1929 | 0 | - | Merged with Box Hill Methodist to form Box Hill United after 1929 season | |||
| Box Hill Church of Christ |  |
Mont Albert Reserve, Mont Albert North | – | 1967 | 1967-1983 | 0 | - | Folded after 1983 season | |
| Box Hill Combined | 1931-1933 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Box Hill District | 1933-1935[12] | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Box Hill KSP | 1925 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Box Hill Methodist |  |
Hills | – | 1924 | 1924-1928, 1934-1936, 1957-1976 | 4 | 1975 | Folded after 1976 season | |
| Box Hill United | Middleborough Park, Box Hill | – | 1930 | 1930-1933 | 0 | - | ? | ||
| Brighton United |  |
Bucs | William Street Reserve, Brighton | – | 1964 | 1964-1989 | 1 | 1978 | Folded after 1989 season |
| Burke Road Methodist (Burke Road Balwyn 1932-33) | 1932-1934 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Burwood Combined | 1936 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Burwood Methodist | 1940-1945 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Burwood Presbyterian | 1936-1938 | 1 | 1937 | ? | |||||
| Burwood Protestant | 1939-1940 | 1 | 1940 | ? | |||||
| Bulleen United (Bulleen Presbyterian 1964-68; Bulleen Methodist/Presbyterian 1963) |  |
Bulls | Koonung Park, Bulleen | – | 1963 | 1963-1974 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA in 1975 |
| Camberwell Baptist |  |
1946-1975 | 3 | 1968 | Folded after 1975 season | ||||
| Camberwell Church of Christ | 1941, 1958-1962 | 0 | - | Folded after 1962 season | |||||
| Camberwell Methodist | 1923-1929, 1933,[12] 1935-1936, 1946-1951 | 1 | 1935 | Folded after 1951 season | |||||
| Canterbury Methodist | 1923 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Canterbury-St Silas (Canterbury Presbyterian 1932-75) |  |
Berries | – | 1932 | 1932-1934, 1945-1976 | 2 | 1974 | Merged with North Balwyn Methodist to from Canterbury North Balwyn in 1977 | |
| Canterbury United | |
– | 1927 | 1927-1930 | 2 | 1930 | Moved to VAFA in 1931 | ||
| Caulfield Church of Christ | 1948-1960 | 2 | 1949 | Folded after 1960 season | |||||
| Caulfield Kontias | |
Magpies | Caulfield Park, Caulfield | – | 1985 | 1985-1988 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA in 1989 |
| Chadstone Salesian |  |
Salesian College, Chadstone | – | 1973 | 1973-1985 | 2 | 1974 | Merged with Ashburton Uniting to form Ashburton-Chadstone in 1986 | |
| Church of Christ Combined | 1945-1946 | 1 | 1945 | Folded | |||||
| Church of Christ Hawthorn | 1931-1932, 1935, 1951 | 0 | - | Folded after 1951 season | |||||
| Clayton United (Clayton Methodist 1963-75) |  |
– | 1963 | 1963-1977 | 1 | 1967 | Folded after 1977 season | ||
| Clayton Saints | |
Saints | Namatjira Park, Clayton South | YCWFL | 1956 | 1985-1990 | 1 | 1990 | Moved to VAFA in 1991 as St Peter's Clayton |
| Collingwood Methodist | 1930 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Dandenong Methodist |  |
1961-1971 | 0 | - | Folded after 1971 season | ||||
| Darling Combined | 1935-1938 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Darling Methodist | 1950-1953 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| Deepdene Presbyterian | 1941 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| Deepdene United (Deepdene 1980-82) |  |
Deepdene Park, Deepdene | 1980-1983 | 0 | - | Folded after 1983 season | |||
| Donvale United | |
Magpies | Donvale Reserve, Donvale | – | 1971 | 1971-1991 | 7 | 1991 | Moved to Eastern Districts FL in 1992 |
| East Kew Church of Christ | 1925 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| East Kew Combined |  |
– | 1964[13] | 1964-1977 | 1 | 1969 | Merged with Koonung Heights Methodist to from Koonung-East Kew in 1978 | ||
| East Malvern Presbyterian | 1947-1961 | 3 | 1950 | Folded after 1961 season | |||||
| East Ringwood Baptist | 1959 | 0 | - | Folded after 1959 season | |||||
| Easterm Salvation Army |  |
MPCFA | 1965-1970 | 0 | - | Folded after 1970 season | |||
| Elsternwick United (Elsternwick Methodist 1929-31, 1938-51, Elsternwick United 1932, 1952-88; Middle Park-Elsternwick United 1989) | |
Princes Park No. 2 Oval, Caulfield South | – | 1929 | 1929-1932, 1950-1989 | 3 | 1966 | Folded after 1989 season | |
| Elwood |  |
Wattie Watson Oval, Elwood | 1975-1983 | 1 | 1975 | Folded after 1983 season | |||
| Emmanuel Church of England | |
W.A. Scammell Reserve, Oakleigh | – | 1962 | 1962-1991 | 4 | 1981 | Merged with Oakleigh Sacred Heart to form Oakleigh Amateur in 1992 | |
| Gardiner Church of Christ |  |
– | 1928 | 1928-1972 | 3 | 1970 | Folded after 1972 season | ||
| Gardiner Methodist | 1931-1938 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Gardiner Presbyterian | 1947-1954 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| Glenferrie Church of Christ | 1926-1927 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Glenhuntly St Anthonys |  |
Hunters | Glenhuntly Reserve, Caulfield East | YCWFL | 1973-1989 | 2 | 1982 | Absorbed by Balaclava in VAFA in 1990 | |
| Glen Iris Presbyterian | 1946-1953 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| Glen Iris United | 1934-1954 | 2 | 1952 | Folded | |||||
| Glen Waverley | .svg.png) |
Brentwood Reserve, Glen Waverley | 1977-1991 | 2 | 1982 | Folded prior to 1992 season | |||
| Hartwell (Hartwell Presbyterian 1929-75) | |
Wellers | Hartwell Sports Ground, Glen Iris | – | 1920s | 1929, 1931-1987 | 4 | 1987 | Folded after 1987 season |
| Hartwell United (Hartwell Church of Christ 1926-27) | 1926-1932 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Hawthorn Methodist | 1940-1947 | 2 | 1947 | ? | |||||
| Hawthorn Presbyterian | 1923-1927, 1929 | 2 | 1926 | ? | |||||
| Hawthorn United | 1972 | 0 | - | Folded after 1972 season | |||||
| Hawthorn YCW |  |
Rathmines Road Reserve, Hawthorn East | YCWFL | 1983-1989 | 1 | 1985 | Folded after 1989 season | ||
| Heathmont United | – | 1970 | 1970-1972 | 0 | - | Folded after 1972 season | |||
| Highfield (Highfield Road Methodist 1930-76) |   |
Sharks | Highfield Park, Camberwell | – | 1930 | 1930-1989 | 3 | 1970 | Folded after 1989 season |
| Highfield Baptist | 1937-1939 | 1 | 1938 | ? | |||||
| Holy Trinity Kew | 1931[14] | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Kew Baptist |  |
– | 1941 | 1941-1970 | 0 | - | Folded after 1970 season | ||
| Kew Congregational | 1959 | 0 | - | Folded after 1959 season | |||||
| Kew Presbyterian | 1923-1930 | 1 | 1923 | ? | |||||
| Kew United | 1933-1936 | 2 | 1935 | ? | |||||
| Kew-Hawthorn United | 1962 | 0 | - | Folded after 1962 season | |||||
| Knox (Knox Baptist 1980-82) |  |
Hawks | Knox Gardens Reserve, Wantirna South | – | 1980 | 1980-1988 | 0 | - | Moved to Eastern Districts FL in 1989 |
| Koonung (Koonung Heights Methodist 1961-?, Koonung-East Kew 1978-81) | |
Elgar Park South East Oval, Mont Albert North | – | 1961 | 1961-1986 | 0 | - | Folded after 1986 season | |
| Malvern Combined | 1948-1961 | 1 | 1956 | ? | |||||
| Malvern Methodist | 1926-1929 | 1 | 1927 | ? | |||||
| Malvern Presbyterian | 1946-1955 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| Malvern South Uniting (Glendearg Grove Methodist 1932-56, Malvern South Methodist 1957-77) |  |
1931-1978 | 2 | 1976 | Merged with South Caulfield to form South Caulfield-Malvern in 1979 | ||||
| Mazenod Old Collegians | .svg.png) |
Nodders | Mulgrave Reserve West Oval, Wheelers Hill | – | 1978 | 1978-1988 | 4 | 1988 | Moved to VAFA in 1989 |
| Mont Albert Methodist (Mont Albert United 1933-35) |  |
Mont Albert Reserve, Mont Albert North[15] | 1929-1931, 1934-1935, 1948-1974 | 0 | - | Folded after 1974 season | |||
| Mount Erica | 1947-1951 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| Murrumbeena-South Caulfield |  |
Twisties | Princes Park, Caulfield South | – | 1982 | 1982-1991 | 0 | - | Merged with St Kilda CBC Old Boys to form St Kilda-South Caulfield in VAFA in 1992 |
| Murrumbeena United | 1931-1935, 1950-1954 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Noble Park Bears (Noble Park Methodist 1964-77; Noble Park United 1978-79, Noble Park Uniting 1980-84) |  |
Bears | Parkfield Reserve, Noble Park | – | 1962 | 1964-1988 | 1 | 1972 | Moved to Eastern Districts FL in 1989 |
| North Balwyn Methodist | |
Macleay Park, Balwyn North | – | 1964 | 1964-1976 | 4 | 1974 | Merged with Canterbury St Silas to from Canterbury North Balwyn in 1977 | |
| Oakleigh Presbyterian (Oakleigh United 1932-34) | 1930-1936[12] | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Oakleigh Sacred Heart |  |
Oaks, Devils | Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh | – | 1932 | 1973-1991 | 3 | 1984 | Merged with Emmanuel to form Oakleigh Amateur in 1992 |
| OLV-South Camberwell |  |
1973-1979 | 1 | 1977 | Folded after 1979 season | ||||
| Ormond Church of Christ | 1971-1972 | 1 | 1971 | Folded after 1972 season | |||||
| Ormond United | 1931-1933 | 1 | 1932 | ? | |||||
| Prahran-Malvern Church of Christ | 1931 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Preston United (Preston Methodist 1972-74) |  |
1972-1975 | 1 | 1972 | Folded after 1975 season | ||||
| Rathmines United | 1931-1935 | 1 | 1933 | Folded after failed transfer to Eastern Suburban FL after 1935 season[16] | |||||
| Salvo Saints (Salvation Army 1986) |  |
Saints | – | 1986 | 1986-1989 | 0 | - | Folded after 1989 season | |
| Sandringham Sacred Heart | |
YCWFL | 1981-1988 | 1 | 1984 | Folded after 1988 season | |||
| South Camberwell United | Howard Dawson Reserve, Glen Iris | – | 1945 | 1945-1954 | 1 | 1950 | Folded after 1954 season | ||
| South Caulfield | |
Twisties | Princes Park, Caulfield South | YCWFL | 1976-1978 | 1 | 1922 | Merged with Malvern South Uniting to form South Caulfield-Malvern in 1979 | |
| South Caulfield-Malvern | |
Twisties | Princes Park, Caulfield South | – | 1979 | 1979-1981 | 0 | - | Merged with Murrumbeena District to form South Caulfield-Malvern in 1979 |
| South Hawthorn Presbyterian (South Hawthorn United 1930-39) | 1928-1939, 1946-1954 | 4 | 1936 | Merged with Hawthorn West Youth Club to form Hawthorn Amateurs in VAFA in 1955 | |||||
| South Ringwood (Ringwood United 1974-87) | |
Bulldogs | Proclamation Park, Ringwood | 1974-1989 | 0 | - | Folded after 1989 season | ||
| South Yarra Church of Christ | 1950-1952 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| Spring Road Methodist | 1927-1929, 1932-1941 | 2 | 1941 | Did not return following WWII | |||||
| St Andrews Box Hill (St Andrews Presbyterian 1959-80) |  |
Saints | Springfield Park West, Box Hill North | – | 1959 | 1959-1982 | 2 | 1979 | Merged with Blackburn United to form Box Hill North after 1982 season |
| St Columbs Church of England | 1928-1930, 1932-1935, 1945-1952 | 3 | 1951 | Folded | |||||
| St Francis Box Hill | 1970 | 0 | - | Folded after 1970 season | |||||
| St Georges Presbyterian | 1950-1958 | 2 | 1955 | Folded | |||||
| St Georges Reservoir (St Georges Church of England 1973) |  |
1973-1980 | 2 | 1977 | Moved to Panton Hill FL in 1981 | ||||
| St Johns Methodist | 1968-1970 | 0 | - | Folded after 1970 season | |||||
| St John's Old Boys | 1953-1955 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| St Leos Wattle Park |  |
Animals | Bennettswood Sports Ground, Burwood | – | 1971 | 1973-1990 | 5 | 1987 | Moved to VAFA in 1991 |
| St Marys Church of England | .svg.png) .svg.png) .svg.png) |
Saints | Ferndale Park, Glen Iris | – | 1932 | 1932-1990 | 6 | 1980 | Moved to VAFA in 1991 |
| St Marys East Malvern | |
Darling Park, Malvern East | 1973-1987 | 2 | 1980 | Folded after 1987 season | |||
| St Marks Church of England | 1950-1960 | 0 | - | Folded | |||||
| St Oswalds Church of England | 1950-1954 | 1 | 1952 | Folded | |||||
| St Patricks Mentone |  |
Vultures | Southern Road Reserve, Mentone | YCWFL | 1980-1990 | 2 | 1989 | Moved to VAFA in 1991 | |
| St Peters Church of England | |
Springfield Park, Box Hill North | – | 1930 | 1930-1978 | 2 | 1959 | Merged with Box Hill Pioneers to form Box Hill Pioneers-St Peters in 1979 | |
| St Stephens Presbyterian | |
1927-1928, 1941-1969 | 2 | 1954 | Folded after 1979 season | ||||
| Surrey Hills Church of Christ | Surrey Park, Box Hill[17] | 1933-1946 | 2 | 1938 | Folded | ||||
| Surrey Hills Combined | |
1946-1952 | 1 | 1948 | Folded | ||||
| Surrey Hills CYMS | 1925 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Surrey Hills Methodist | Mont Albert Reserve, Mont Albert North[15] | 1929-1931, 1934 | 0 | - | ? | ||||
| Surrey Hills (Surrey Hills Presbyterian 1952-75) | |
1952-1979 | 1 | 1960 | Folded after 1979 season | ||||
| Surrey Hills Protestant | 1950 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| Surrey Hills United | Surrey Park, Box Hill[15] | 1930-1937 | 0 | - | ? | ||||
| Syndal Baptist | .svg.png) |
Synners | Jordan Reserve, Chadstone | – | 1966 | 1966-1979 | 5 | 1979 | Merged with Tally Ho juniors to form Syndal-Tally Ho in 1980 |
| Toorak Methodist | – | 1935 | 1935 | 0 | - | ? | |||
| Trinity Presbyterian | |
Howard Dawson Reserve, Glen Iris | 1949-1984 | 12 | 1981 | Folded after 1984 season | |||
| West Hawthorn Presbyterian | 1924-1926 | 0 | - | ? | |||||
| West Hawthorn United | 1940-1958 | 1 | 1949 | ? | |||||
| West Ivanhoe |  |
Roosters | Seddon Reserve, Ivanhoe | YCWFL | 1986-1991 | 0 | - | Folded after 1991 season | |
| Whitehorse United | 1977-1979 | 0 | - | Folded after 1979 season | |||||
| Wonga Park |  |
Kangaroos | Brushy Creek Park, Croydon North | – | 1982 | 1982-1985 | 0 | - | Moved to Eastern Districts FL in 1986 |
Premiers
| Year | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | St Pauls Bentleigh | Richmond Amateurs | Heatherton | 3 divisions (1992) | ||
| A | B | C | D | E | ||
| 1991 | Donvale United | Collingwood Districts | Lower Plenty | Box Hill North | 4 divisions (1990-1991) | |
| 1990 | Donvale United | Bentleigh Uniting | East Camberwell | Clayton Saints | ||
| 1989 | Donvale United | Springvale Districts | Collingwood Districts | St Patricks Mentone | North Blackburn | 5 divisions (1975-1989) |
| 1988 | Donvale United | Mazenod Old Collegians | Springvale Districts | Collingwood Districts | South Yarra | |
| 1987 | St Leos Wattle Park | Syndal-Tally Ho | Wattle Park United | Dandenong South | Hartwell | |
| 1986 | Hampton United | Box Hill Pioneers-St Peters | Canterbury-North Balwyn | Lower Plenty | East Bentleigh | |
| 1985 | Burwood United | Mazenod Old Collegians | Balwyn Combined | Springvale Districts | Hawthorn YCW | |
| 1984 | Syndal-Tally Ho | Oakleigh Sacred Heart | Aquinas Old Boys | Black Rock | Sandringham Sacred Heart | |
| 1983 | Burwood United | St Leos Wattle Park | Mazenod Old Collegians | Aquinas Old Boys | Springvale Districts | |
| 1982 | Syndal-Tally Ho | Glen Waverley | East Camberwell | St Anthonys Glenhuntly | St Patricks Mentone | |
| 1981 | Emmanuel | Trinity Presbyterian | Glen Waverley | St Pauls Bentleigh | Mazenod Old Collegians | |
| 1980 | St Marys Church of England | Box Hill Adelphians | Trinity Presbyterian | St Marys East Malvern | Black Rock | |
| 1979 | St Marys Church of England | Syndal Baptist | St Andrews Box Hill | St Leos Wattle Park | Lower Plenty | |
| 1978 | St Marys Church of England | Hampton United | Brighton United | Mount Waverley Catholics | St Leos Wattle Park | |
| 1977 | Donvale United | South Caulfield | St Georges Reservoir | OLV-South Camberwell | Blackburn Baptist | |
| 1976 | Emmanuel Church of England | Syndal Baptist | Malvern South Methodist | St Georges Reservoir | Cheltenham United | |
| 1975 | St Marys Church of England | Oakleigh Sacred Heart | St Anthonys Glenhuntly | Box Hill Methodist | Elwood | |
| A | B | C1 | C2 | D1 | D2 | |
| 1974 | Canterbury Presbyterian | North Balwyn Methodist | Box Hill Adelphians | Chadstone Salesian | St Marys East Malvern | 5 divisions (1974) |
| 1973 | Donvale United | Syndal Baptist | Oakleigh Sacred Heart | Wattle Park Presbyterian | Our Lady's Wattle Park | Chadstone Salesian |
| A | B | C | D | E | ||
| 1972 | Donvale United | Trinity Presbyterian | Hampton Methodist | Preston Methodist | Noble Park Methodist | 5 divisions (1968-1972) |
| 1971 | Box Hill Pioneers | Wattle Park Presbyterian | North Balwyn Methodist | South Yarra Presbyterian | Ormond Church of Christ | |
| 1970 | Emmanuel Church of England | Highfield Road Methodist | Blackburn North Baptist | North Balwyn Church of Christ | Gardiner Church of Christ | |
| 1969 | Box Hill Pioneers | Trinity Presbyterian | East Kew Combined | Blackburn Baptist | North Blackburn Methodist | |
| 1968 | Burwood United | Camberwell Baptist | Syndal Baptist | Bentleigh Methodist | Cheltenham Church of Christ | |
| 1967 | Box Hill Pioneers | Wattle Park Presbyterian | Clayton Methodist | Syndal Baptist | 4 divisions (1965-1967) | |
| 1966 | North Balwyn Methodist | Ashburton Methodist | Elsternwick United | Burwood United 3rds | ||
| 1965 | Highfield Road Methodist | Box Hill Pioneers | St Andrews Presbyterian | Burwood United 3rds | ||
| 1964 | Burwood United | North Balwyn Methodist | Box Hill Pioneers | 3 divisions (1955-1964) | ||
| 1963 | Highfield Road Methodist | Burwood United | Emmanuel Church of England | |||
| 1962 | Trinity Presbyterian | Malvern South Methodist | Burwood United | |||
| 1961 | Trinity Presbyterian | Hampton Methodist | Camberwell Church of Christ | |||
| 1960 | Surrey Hills Presbyterian | St Marys Church of England | Hartwell Presbyterian | |||
| 1959 | Trinity Presbyterian | St Peters Church of England | Hampton Methodist | |||
| 1958 | Trinity Presbyterian | Camberwell Baptist | Box Hill Methodist | |||
| 1957 | Burwood United | Elsternwick United | Burwood United 2nds | |||
| 1956 | Trinity Presbyterian | Malvern Combined | Camberwell Baptist | |||
| 1955 | Burwood United | St Georges Presbyterian | Trinity Presbyterian 2nds | |||
| 1954 | Trinity Presbyterian | St Stephens Presbyterian | St Peters Church of England | Box Hill Adelphians 2nds | 4 divisions (1947-1954) | |
| 1953 | Burwood United | Balwyn Combined | Elsternwick United | Murrumbeena United | ||
| 1952 | Burwood United | Trinity Presbyterian | Glen Iris United | St Oswalds Church of England | ||
| 1951 | Canterbury Presbyterian | St Colombs Church of England | Trinity Presbyterian | South Yarra Church of Christ | ||
| 1950 | Box Hill Adelphians | South Camberwell United | East Malvern Presbyterian | St Georges Presbyterian | ||
| 1949 | Burwood United | West Hawthorn United | Caulfield Church of Christ | East Malvern Presbyterian | ||
| 1948 | Hartwell Presbyterian | Blackburn United | Surrey Hills Combined | Caulfield Church of Christ | ||
| 1947 | Gardiner Church of Christ | Hawthorn Methodist | Glen Iris United | East Malvern Presbyterian | ||
| 1946 | Hartwell Presbyterian | St Columbs Church of Christ | St Stephens Presbyterian | 3 divisions (1946) | ||
| 1945 | Balwyn Church of Christ | Church of Christ Combined | 2 divisions (1936-1945) | |||
| 1942-1944 | No competition due to WWII | |||||
| 1941 | Spring Road Methodist | Hawthorn Methodist | ||||
| 1940 | Burwood Protestant | Gardiner Church of Christ | ||||
| 1939 | Balwyn United | Elsternwick Methodist | ||||
| 1938 | Surrey Hills Church of Christ | Highfield Baptist | ||||
| 1937 | Balwyn United | Burwood Presbyterian | ||||
| 1936 | South Hawthorn United | St Marys Church of England | ||||
| 1935 | Kew United | Surrey Hills Church of Christ | Camberwell Methodist | 3 divisons (1933-1935) | ||
| 1934 | South Hawthorn United | Balwyn Baptist | Spring Road Methodist | |||
| 1933 | Canterbury Baptist | Kew United | Rathmines United | |||
| 1932 | South Hawthorn United | Ormond United | 2 divisions (1929-1932) | |||
| 1931 | South Hawthorn United[18] | Elsternwick Methodist | ||||
| 1930 | Canterbury United | Balwyn Baptist | ||||
| 1929 | Canterbury United | St Columb's Church of England | ||||
| 1928 | Box Hill Methodist | 1 division (1923-1928) | ||||
| 1927 | Malvern Methodist | |||||
| 1926 | Hawthorn Presbyterian | |||||
| 1925 | Box Hill Methodist | |||||
| 1924 | Hawthorn Presbyterian | |||||
| 1923 | Kew Presbyterian | |||||
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Eastern Suburbs Churches Football Association | SFNL". Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ^ "EXCITING FOOTBALL - FIRST SERIES ENDS CARLTON'S NARROW VICTORY ANOTHER ST. KILDA SURPRISE FOOTSCRAY DEFEATS FITZROY By OLD BOY. - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 10 Jul 1933". Trove. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "EASTERN SUBURBS CHURCHES". Age. 1936-04-11. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "Other Football Results". Age. 1946-04-29. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ a b c "Australian Football - Donvale Football Club - Info". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ a b "History Overview". St Mary's Salesian AFC. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ "Club history". Old Yarra Cobras Football Club. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ a b "Club History - First 50 Years - Whitehorse Pioneers". GameDay. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ "Footypedia - YCW Football League".
- ^ "A Brief History of the Southern Football Netball League | SFNL". Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ Paproth, Daniel (8 July 2013). "Reborn Dandenong Redlegs celebrate 50 years". Dandenong Star Journal. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d "FOOTBALL". Box Hill Reporter. 1933-03-10. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "1969 ESPCFA Grand Final Football Record". St Mary's Salesian AFC. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ^ "The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 22 Jun 1931 - p12". Trove. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b c "FOOTBALL". Box Hill Reporter. 1931-04-03. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ^ "EASTERN SUBURBS CHURCHES". Age. 1936-04-11. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "FOOTBALL GROUNDS". Box Hill Reporter. 1940-03-15. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ^ "Award, Eastern Suburban Protestant Churches Football Association, SHUF Premiers 1931, A.C. Seidel, 1931". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 2025-07-07.