Brown’s Well FL

The Brown’s Well Football Association was formed in 1920 with Alawoona, Paruna and Meribah as the founding clubs. Veitch had nominated a team but withdrew closer to the beginning of the season due to lack of numbers. The association delegates were J F Botten and Stringer (Alawoona), O Polkinghorne and P Harrip (Paruna) and Hanks & Tees (Meribah).

The first grand final proved to be a red letter day for the town of Alawoona. As minor premier Alawoona hosted the grand final in front of 300 spectators. Their opposition Paruna arrived by special train carrying a large number of supporters. Alawoona won by thirteen points and the game was followed by a tea, and then a dance.

At a meeting of the Brown’s Well association in 1926 the delegates of the Alawoona, Meribah and Paruna clubs were joined by those of Loxton and Pata. Rather than Loxton and Pata joining Brown’s Well, a new association was created, the Loxton Brown’s Well Football Association with all five clubs contributing an equal amount to affiliate.

In 1932 Meribah, Paruna and Alawoona reformed the Brown’s Well association along with Malpas. New clubs were set to join Loxton Brown’s Well which would have resulted in more traveling for the Brown’s Well clubs. This more than explained why those clubs decided to ‘return home’ and resurrect the old competition.

To raise money for the injured players of 1939, a match was played between the Eastern clubs (Meribah, Paruna, Pata) and the Western clubs (Alawoona, Wanbi, United) at Paruna.

The East players to play in the black and white of Paruna – Pata: R Thiele, C Thiele, J Sachse, F Fiegert, E Thiele, R Ebert. Paruna: M Webb, K Furniss, H Furniss, N Cockshell, W Cockshell, L Voigt, D Patterson. Meribah: R Brockhoff, L Smith, E Zimmermann, F Verrall, H E Zimmermann, A Ebert, H Rowe.

West players to play in the association colours – Alawoona: E Schultz, M Eustice, F Mudge, L McGuire, D Thiele, J Cottrell. Wanbi: R Roberts, G Wheaton, H Zacher, R Stevens, W Page, G Masters, L Lambert. United: G White, T Lambert, W Carter, P King, W Broad, A Westover, M Baum, E McCabe.

In 1968 Brown’s Well became the first South Australian country association to trial 16 player a side matches as Alawoona was in danger of forfeiting the rest of the season. The plan did not work as a long term fix but did help Alawoona see out the end of the season.