LAMBTON JAFFAS
JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB
There's a small plaque at the foot of the rotunda at Lambton Park that commemorates the ‘Birth of Soccer Football in Newcastle’. It details a game played in 1885 as the first recognised soccer match in the Newcastle area. The match was purportedly played between two teams representing south of Lambton (Hamilton area) and north of Lambton (Minmi area).
However more recent investigation has uncovered evidence to the contrary. Although the location is correct, newspaper articles from around that time actually confirm that the first official game in Newcastle and Northern Districts was played between the Lambton Thistles and the Caledonians from Sydney. The date was Saturday 13 June 1885. An announcement in the Newcastle Morning Herald, by secretary H. Houston, advised that the game would commence at 3.00 pm on the recreational reserve at Lambton. The game was introduced as being 'played under the British Association rules, in which the ball is played with the feet only'.
A Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate article on 17th June 1885 paints a picture of the match.
INTRODUCTION OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION RULES.
LAMBTON THISTLE v. CALEDONIANS, SYDNEY.
These teams met on the Lambton Recreation Ground on Saturday last, to introduce the above game. Although it had rained heavily for a day or two past, the ground was in better order than might have been expected. Both teams turned out in full strength before two or three hundred spectators, who seemed to appreciate the game thoroughly, in fact, to judge from the remarks heard on all sides, this game bids fair to become very popular.
The captain of the Caledonians won the toss, and elected to play with the sun on their backs and a slight wind before them. The leather was kicked off from the centre by McCrorie, of the Thistle, when some smart play of a give and take nature ensued, when, after twenty minutes' play the first goal was kicked by Conly for the Thistle. The ball being again set in motion, the Caledonians' territory was soon invaded, and after some smart shots their colours were again lowered. McCrorie doing the needful. This was the state of affairs when half-time was called.
On resuming play the Caledonians, kicked off from centre, and after some very smart play on both sides, the Caledonians, with a fine run, brought the ball up to the Thistle's goal, and scored their first and only goal from Stephen's foot. The ball being speedily set in motion, the Thistle forwards being pretty well set to the game by this time, showed some very fine play, and carried the ball down the field before them in spite of every effort of their opponents, when Scobie, with a fine corner kick, sent the ball right to the front of the goal, when it was smartly caught by a head from Currie, and sent spinning through the posts, making the scores Thistle 3 goals, Caledonians 1 goal, when time was called. For the local team McIllroy (half-back) played an exceedingly good game all through. Willson and Bryden (backs) played well, and the rest of the players stuck to their places and showed some fine play. The Caledonians on the whole played very well together, considering' the rough passage and the sea sickness from which they suffered the night before.
LAMBTON THISTLES HISTORY
In 1885 the Lambton Thistles club was formed by several Scotchmen from, Lanemark Club, in Ayrshire, Scotland. They held a meeting, over which Mr. Gray presided, in John Brown's house at Lambton. There were present John Brown, 'Soldier' David Curry, William McCoughey, Dick Osborne, Dan Thomas and Peter Reed. The club joined the Sydney association to play in a cup competition.
The club was short lived. It only played in 1885, and it only played two games. This was probably because some miners from Lambton moved to Minmi looking for work because of the ongoing dispute at Lambton Colliery. Lambton Thistle players Wilson, Bryden, McCrorie and McIlroy were part of the Minmi Rangers team that started in 1886.
LAMBTON SOCCER CLUB
In 1924, a new club, Lambton Soccer club, fielded a C Grade team which finished 5th in a 6 team competition and also a U/16 A Grade team. In 1925 the club had a team in the 4th Grade. It finished 8th out of 12 teams. The club played on Lambton Reserve, near the lower end of the park. (Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), Wednesday 6 February 1924, page 3) So this would probably be near the current site of Lambton Swimming Pool.
EAST LAMBTON RANGERS
In 1933, East Lambton Rangers Soccer Football Club was formed and played at Johnson Park on Wyong Road. The club played in 1933 and 1934. It was revived in 1940 but only lasted till the end of the 1941 season. The club's colours were blue and gold.
JAFFAS HISTORY
Lambton Jaffas started off as the senior team of Lambton Soccer Club which was established in 1957. The club prospered during the 1960s, with the first All Age side being established in 1968.
In 1969, the club was invited to participate in the 2nd Division Competition by the Northern NSW Soccer Federation, to replace Dudley Redhead. The club played under the name of Dudley Lambton that year to fulfill the Federation's obligations to the English Soccer Pools. The club struggled that year with the 1st Grade running last and the Reserves Grade 8th, with both recording record losses to Maitland Club.
In 1969, the Under 16 side made the Final, followed by obtaining the Seniors' first title in 1970. In 1975, all 3 Senior sides made the Semi-finals for the first time.
In 1978, Ernie Lamb had to differentiate between a newly formed 'All Age' and the 2nd Division senior club, and the name Jaffas was first formally used. Originally, the club had one committee to run the Junior and Senior teams. However, in 1980 two committees were formed. The club was incorporated as Lambton Jaffas Soccer Club in 1987, with a Juniors and Seniors division.
EMBLEM
The thistle harks back to the Scottish heritage and the inaugural Lambton team the Thistles.
The text CAPITE NON CAPTIVOS can be loosely translated from Latin to mean 'Take no prisoners'.
