The 1887 Tasmanian Football Associations Season Pictorial Record

The most important event of the season was that a Tasmanian team toured Victoria for the first time. Tasmanian colours of rose, primrose and black were adopted. The resultant matches between the two colonies were the first to be played. There was a dispute between the North and South Associations on the number of players from each Association. The Tasmanian team performed grandly and its performances were celebrated. It won three of its six games and had one draw, although it was unable to defeat the combined VFA team. The visit of the VFA Club Hotham during the season was a highlight. The Northern Association team had a three goals to two victory. The Melbourne Football Club was the second VFA Club to tour Tasmania during the seson. It did not play against a Northern team during its visit. The North v South games continued with their great popularity and interest. The first game was played in Launceston where the two teams played an exciting draw. The South team was victorious in the second game by a goal. This was played in Hobart. In Launceston the NTFA received a massive boost with the addition of two new clubs South Launceston and Tamar Rowing Club. This created much more interest in the competition. The City Club was successful in winning the NTFA premiership as it had done in 1886. It was more challenged for its supremacy during the season. New club South Launceston made an outstanding debut and finished in second place. Launceston was the third placed club. Tamar Rowing Club finished last. The TFA changed its name to the Southern Tasmanian Football Association. Railway won the STFA premiership. It was the club’s fourth premiership and first since its three in a row 1881 to 1883. A new club Unions joined the Southern Tasmanian Football Association to create an expanded four club competition. The competition continued its development and the standard of play continued to improve. Public interest in the competition increased. The rivalry between the Railway and City Clubs for the premiership was intense. This publication is one of a series that provides details of the season of the Tasmanian Football Association from its inception in 1879 through to the colonial seasons. The early years of Association football in Tasmania have been little published. They should be recognised as the foundation years of football in Tasmania. This series of publications is the result of research to collect and collate the details of the seasons in the first yea