We all know that Kew Football Club was founded in 1876, but it wasn’t the first club formed in Kew. That honour belongs to the Studley Park FC that was founded in 1871 and won its first premiership, co-incidentally, in 1876 in 2nd Rate ranks. The home ground was a vacant block on the corner of Studley Park Rd and Carson St, Kew.
There were a large number of teams formed in the Kew area, but most clubs lasted intermittently over a short time, and then disbanded. Names such as Kew Highfield, Kew Mayfield, Kew Moonlight, Kew Imperial, Kew Alberts and East Kew. Other local clubs had names like Edlington, Excelisor, St George and Orlinda. The Orlinda FC was so named after the secretary’s home district back in England. Orlinda lasted for three or four years playing in the second season of the VAFA (then Metropolitan Junior FA) during 1893.
All the above clubs flourished for a short time, but waned and disbanded, bar the Kew Mayfield club which lasted until 1940 but not without name changes. Firstly to Holy Trinity (Kew) FC, then to Kew United (Churches) FC and finally to East Kew FC playing in the Eastern Suburban FL and winning a premiership in 1938. The club, however, went into recess for 1941 due to enlistments in World War II. The remaining players joined up with Kew which survived for one more season before also going into recess.
Kew FC will be celebrating our 150 years of history at our 150th Year Gala Dinner on Saturday June 27th. Tickets can be purchased via the link > https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1564824
