Footy in Vietnam during the War
Posted by Vietnam Swans on February 18, 2010
Footy. Good times bringing people together
With the recent decision by the Vietnam Swans to play a footy match in Vung Tau on ANZAC Weekend, 24 April 2010, it is a fitting time to remind ourselves of the footy’s earliest years in Vietnam. The unedited passages below, have been taken from .
Australian rules football was first played in Vietnam during the .
A match was played in May 1966 between members of the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
A social game was organised in 1969 by Captain Bill McMahon of , a former and footballer, “Diggers” vs “The Rest” which was played with Vietnamese soldiers in August at the headquarters of the Free World Military Assistance Organisation.
In 1971, Australian Force Vietnam (AFV) and 110 Signal Squadron played a match in organised by Private Conboy of a previous member of Under 19s squad.
There was at least one contest between 110 Signal Squadron and 104 Signal Squadron in 1970, one being played at a police or army academy at the sea-side village of Vung Tau and a little later another between the based units of 104 Signal Squadron and 106 Field Workshops on a pretty rough ground at the Reinforcement Wing at the Dat.
Lance Corporal Ian Granland of 104 Signal Squadron organised a game of Australian Football at Nui Dat in 1970. There weren’t too many grounds of a suitable size on which the game could be played, but luckily it was learned that there was one within the Task Force Area in the area of 1 Australian Reinforcement Unit.
Lance corporal Geoff Morris and Granland did a recce and located the ground. It was big enough for Australian Football and it even had posts erected but the grass literally ranged from 20 cm to 1m in height. That meant that it would have to be cut!
In the meantime Granland organised a game against 106 Field Workshops.
Next job was to locate a slasher. Word of mouth informed the two that 105 Field Battery had an old Massey Ferguson Tractor with which they used to tow their guns around, plus a slasher.
Permission to use it for mowing the ground was given. Morris became the driver and the machine was driven over to the field and he began driving it round and round. He got the grass down reasonably short but certainly not bowling green stuff however good enough. The mowing had to be done the day before the game because any earlier and the grass would have grown significantly enough to require another cut.
This was pre centre square and 50m arcs so a hand mower was used for the goal squares, centre circle and boundary.
Lance Corporal Granland umpired the game.
The players turned up in their Land Rovers and trucks. What jumpers they wore is till a mystery but it certainly wasn’t ‘skins v shirts’. There were players of all ages, size and shape and some bloody good footballers amongst them too. A photograph of this game would be a gem today.
104 Signal Squardron won the game. The umpire copped a bit of abuse from the opposition but that was par for the course. It was in the days of the one central umpire.
The out of bounds on the full rule had only just been introduced and of course it was applied. Some of the older heads were not too happy but recognized that it had become a law of the game. Many of the blokes who had probably been pretty fair footballers in their youth but now in their late thirties or so they were no match for youth and speed. Some of these tried to slow the youngsters down by wacking them but the umpire was on top of that.
There was no function after the match or anything, just back to the units. But, it was a good relief because obviously everyone who played etc. just loved the game.
If anybody knows of the whereabouts of any of these footballers from the Vietnam / American War era, please email now.
said
I served in Vung Tau in 1967-68. A full scale Aussies Rules Competition between Australian units was conducted (twice a year). The Competition commenced in either 1966 or 1967 and I believe went through to 1971. I was with the Ordnance Unit (2Comp Ord Depot/2AOD). We were Premiers in both seasons in 1968. Also in one season in 1969 when Wayne Closter (former Geelong Star was Captain). In the losing Grand Final that day former Aboriginal VFL Umpire Glenn James played for 17 Construction Squadron. In either 1970 or 1971 former Essendon & Williamstown player Bill Thompson played for our unit. Our 1968 group has a Reunion every two years based around our Aussie Rules Footy team. We have many footy photos on our unit website which I do all the photos. I also have a lot of our old Unit newsletters on our games which I haven’t placed on the site yet. We initially played all our games where the Greyhound Racing Track is now in Vung Tau (The Lord Mayors Oval then). We played 14 a side because of the ground being a soccer ground. Later a lot of games were played elsewhere on a larger oval.
Go to our website and open the “Our Photo Memories” menu. Then open the 2CompOrd/2AOD Sport “set” of photos. There are a lot of photos from our games there. The Competition was a 7 team one when I was there. 2AOD(us), 17Construction Sqn, 5Coy RAASC, 8Field Ambulance, RAAF, 102 Field Workshops & 110 Signals.
Will be interested to hear your comments.
Stan Middleton
65 Taylors Lane
Rowville Vic 3178
(03) 9763 7767
0424 326 399
May 11th 2010
Vietnam Swans said
Hi Stan
Thank you so much for leaving such a detailed comment on our website. That is absolutely amazing!!
Prior to our inaugural ANZAC Friendship Match last month, we had tried to find out some more information about what footy had been played during the War. We did not realise of the existence of that absolute treasure trove of photos that you have on your website or the big names that had been playing or that it was played as regularly as twice a year.
Absolutely amazing! The Vietnam Swans will be keen to follow up with you separately.
Thanks so much for leaving the comment and providing links to your website.
Regards
Phil Johns
National President
Vietnam Swans
said
Please note on last email website came up as 2aos instead of 2aod. The website is
Regards
Stan Middleton