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Was digging around some old articles on Trove and found this pretty interesting revelation from August 1949. It puts to bed the theory that 'anti-clashers' like to perpetuate, which is that nobody had a problem with telling Collingwood and North apart for a hundred years and clash jumpers are totally for revenue purposes only. Nice to have a bit of concrete evidence.
Some of the tropes in that article are still seen today, which is pretty incredible. Things like:
What do you think about it all? Would the red sash have softened the blow and seen clubs bring in alternate strips much earlier than they eventually were? I personally find it quite amusing that Collingwood were still being so stubborn about it all, that long ago.
COLLINGWOOD WANT NORTH TO WEAR RED SASHES
By Alf Brown, The Herald, 4 Aug 1949 – http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243676970
When North Melbourne and Collingwood Football Clubs meet next, which could well be in a League final on the Melbourne Cricket Ground next month, Collingwood want North players to wear red sashes on their guernseys. In a letter to North Melbourne, the manager of Collingwood Football Club (Mr Gordon Carlyon) states that at the recent match between the two teams, the similarity of the uniforms was most confusing to players, umpires and spectators.
He asked that in every game between the two sides North should wear a red sash on their uniform, and added that his committee understood this was agreed to when North affiliated with the League. North Melbourne's secretary (Mr J. F. Adams) said Collingwood's request would be considered by his committee and added, "Evidently Collingwood are beginning to be afraid of North Melbourne, as they have never worried before about the similarity of the uniforms."
'OLDER CLUB'
Mr Adams claimed that North Melbourne was an older club than Collingwood and had devised the uniform before the Magpies. The Hotham Football Club (now North Melbourne) had been formed in 1869, and the Britannia Club had not been merged into Collingwood until 1892. Collingwood Football Club was formed the following year.
In 1908, said Mr Adams, North Melbourne were disqualified by the Association, but were re-admitted a little later. However, during North's period of disqualification, Northcote were admitted, and allowed to play in North Melbourne's colors. North had to find another uniform, and adopted a navy blue guernsey with a white monogram, similar to Carlton's.
North played in this uniform until they were admitted to the League, when they switched to a royal blue guernsey with a white V. "At that time there was no similarity between the North Melbourne uniform and Collingwood's, so why should the League have supposedly insisted that we wear a red sash when we played Collingwood?" asked Mr Adams.
'MAGPIES WRONG'
Mr Adams said Collingwood's claim about a red sash was incorrect, and quote the memorandum and articles of association of the VFL to support his contention. In this volume the registered colors of North Melbourne are: "Royal blue and white vertical stripes. Hose, royal blue and white hoops." Mr Adams said that in 1933 North applied to the League for permission to revert to their old uniform — the one now worn — and this was granted.
An official of the VFL said today that there was no League decision regarding the wearing of a red sash by North Melbourne when they played Collingwood. If a club desired to alter its uniforms it must obtain permission of the League.
In common with most football followers, I would like to see some more distinguishing features between the two uniforms when Collingwood and North Melbourne meet. However, the lead would have to come from a full meeting of the League, as neither club would voluntarily change their colors. I feel sure Collingwood, where tradition is most strong, would never change.
Some of the tropes in that article are still seen today, which is pretty incredible. Things like:
- Club official references old league documents that probably don't exist
- Club accuses another club of being scared of it because they start caring about what jumper they wear
- Club boasts about being older than another club therefore having first rights on uniform choice
- Journalist feels Collingwood would never change.
RED ON NORTH GUERNSEY NOT VFL MANDATE
By Alf Brown, The Herald, 11 Aug 1949 – http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243691842
There is no Victorian Football League instruction stating that North Melbourne must wear a red sash on their guernsey when they play Collingwood.
The assistant secretary of the VFL (Mr Eric McCutchan) said today he had examined the minutes of a League meeting held in February 1933 at which four clubs — Melbourne, Hawthorn, St. Kilda and North Melbourne — had applied for permission to change their uniforms. Permission had been granted to the four clubs. Until then North's guernsey had been royal blue with a white V. At the same time it was suggested that to avoid any clash when North Melbourne and Collingwood met, representatives of the two clubs should confer and submit any recommendations they might have about guernseys to be worn in Collingwood-North Melbourne games.
"That was 16 years ago and the clubs have still not submitted any recommendation to the League," said Mr McCutchan. "There is nothing in the League's records stipulating that North should wear a red sash when they play Collingwood." Mr McCutchan said that any suggested alteration to a guernsey must first be submitted to the League for approval. North Melbourne's secretary (Mr J. F. Adams) said the matter would be discussed that night at the club's committee meeting. Naturally, North would be most unlikely to submit to a change of uniform. The side had been wearing their current one for 16 years and no other objections had been raised.
This red sash controversy has aroused considerable public intersting, and I have had several letters and telephone calls on the subject. Mr William Taylor, a North Melbourne supporter, suggested that one side should wear [red?] numbers. This would undoubtedly be a big help to [spectators?] but would be of little benefit to the players, who generally see the front and arms of team-mates' and opposing guernseys.
Another suggestion, by a reader, was that the League should have a club guernsey of colors, as in racing, which could be worn by the visiting side. "When Collingwood visit North Melbourne they could wear the Victorian blue guernsey with the white 'V'. North could adopt it at Victoria Park," he said. "It would make the two guernseys most distinctive."
What do you think about it all? Would the red sash have softened the blow and seen clubs bring in alternate strips much earlier than they eventually were? I personally find it quite amusing that Collingwood were still being so stubborn about it all, that long ago.