Port Pirie FA

Football was first played in Port Pirie when a club was formed in 1879. Matches were played in that first season against Wandearah and Gladstone. Port Pirie were the major instigators in the formation of the Northern Football Association in 1889. However due to their dominance that competition only survived for one season. The North Western association was formed in 1890 with Port Pirie, Wandearah, Crystal Brook and a railway team called Locos. Competition football went into recess from 1891 to 1893 with football matches played on a social basis.

In 1894 the Port Pirie association was formed and registered with the South Australian Football Association. Football went into recess for the 1897 season with lacrosse and British football (soccer) cited as reasons for the decline in interest in the Australian game. The 1899 minor round of matches ended with both Proprietary and Solomontown on the same amount of points. Normally a play off for the premiership would take place but both clubs disagreed on the designated umpire and with further umpires ruled unsuitable, the final was never played.

When Petersburg were admitted in 1900 it was under the proviso that they played each of the other clubs twice away and once at home. The 1903 season was opened with the fanfare of the executive of the association introducing several innovations. They were initiated with a view to raising the standard of the play and increasing spectator interest. Four new teams were formed with all registered players allotted evenly to the new clubs.

The Port Pirie and Yorke Valley associations began playing an annual inter association match after WWII. The matches were very competitive and often very even with the first match in 1946 setting the scene. In a high class match with a skill level not far below league level, Port Pirie led all day but could not break clear of a determined Yorke Valley team. Port Pirie won the game by 14 points and the difference between the two sides was the Port Pirie goal sneak Gordon Schwartz. In an amazing match winning display, Schwartz kicked 12 goals from 13 scoring shots. Gordon Schwartz would go on to host World of Sport on Channel 7 for 17 years during the 1960s and 1970s.