Thread by @rhettrospective

THREAD/
The @Richmond_FC celebrates its birthday today - Feb 20.
But how much do we know about that day, and the events leading up to and after.

Here we go....

@Richmond_FC 1/ The club recognises its birth as Feb 20, 1885.
Two years earlier on - Jan 26. 1883, a Richmond Football Senior Club was formed with James Charles as secretary.
In March 1883 the guernsey was to be dark blue with white band across shoulder, socks dark blue with horizontal band.

@Richmond_FC 2/
In March 1883 that Richmond Football Senior Club confirmed the Richmond Cricket Ground as its occupancy for the winter season.
The Anglo-Australian Football Club (soccer) also was to use the ground for that season...

@Richmond_FC 3/
But by early April 1883 it was apparent that the club was struggling to arrange sufficient number of matches for the 1883 VFA season. Despite James Charles's optimism, - the club effectively postponed their entrance into the Association...

@Richmond_FC 4/
The Richmond JUNIOR club from 1882 fronts up again for 1883 season. James Charles joins the committee and is thanked for his (ultimately failed)attempt to form a senior club.

In 1884, nothing happens. We are yet to find any attempt to form the senior Richmond side again...

@Richmond_FC 5/
So that brings us to 1885.
The Rich Cricket Club write in Feb 4 Minute Book (MB), that a senior Richmond footy club may be formed...

@Richmond_FC 6/
The Herald would write that "the Richmond residents have long felt that a city such as theirs ought to be
represented in the football world".
So on Feb 11, 1885 a preliminary meeting is held (not sure of venue)...

@Richmond_FC 7/
The purpose of this Feb 11 meeting is to discuss "the advisability of forming a senior football club."
The meeting resolved "to start at once", and "some 40 gentleman" handed in their names as members.
(I dont know the names of those 40)...

@Richmond_FC 8/
Some of the gentleman are listed as "first-class players,
already well and favourably known in tho foot-
ball arena". And guess who's there receiving names of intending members right up until the next meeting? - James Charles, 15 Collins St, West...

@Richmond_FC 9/
At this preliminary meeting it is suggest/assumed the club colours will be the same of the Richmond Cricket Club - orange and black.

The next meeting - "the general meeting" takes place on Feb 20, 1885...

@Richmond_FC 10/
The now historic Feb 20, 1885 meeting of the Richmond Football Club takes place at Byrne's Royal Hotel. Yep, the Royal Hotel that still stands across the road.
How many people are there? ...

@Richmond_FC 11/
We don't quite know exactly how many were present.
At least G.J Hodges (RCC), Clovis Mainon (appt. Treasurer), John Winn (appt Pres, he was mayor of Richmond), John Asher (appt asst sec) and ... James Charles (appointed Secretary)...

@Richmond_FC 12/
We don't know if the full committee (7 other men) were present that day (probably).
The club colours are NOT decided at the meeting. But 6 days later - Feb 26: "all blue, with a yellow and black sash; cap with yellow and black stripe running from back to front”...

@Richmond_FC 13/
I've never seen the 1885 RFC Minute Book. We don't even know it existed. (We could assume they documented their in some correspondence/document).
I've never seen the 1885 RFC Annual Report. It exists (cause 1887 one say its their 3rd AR + Balance Sheet)...

@Richmond_FC 14/
We know a meeting takes place on March 19, 1885 at Temperance Hall, Church St (pictured). Obv a larger venue, to accomodate "all supporters of the yellow and black stripes" and footballers who were urged to attend.

Btw, the Hall is still there at 316 Church St...

@Richmond_FC 15/
On March 28th the Richmond Football Club is admitted as a senior club into the VFA.

And that's how came to be formed.

However...

@Richmond_FC 16/
In the 1909, 1910 official club Annual Reports a peculiar thing occurs. It lists that Richmond was founded in 1884! A photo in the Annual Report, and the press of that time says it as well...

@Richmond_FC 17/
But there's nothing to suggest an 1884 birth. One of those things happened here. James Charles has misremembered the year of birth, when asked to reminisce 24/25 years later.
Or during 1884 he discussed forming the club, then finalised it in Feb 1885...

@Richmond_FC 18/
But what we know, this 1884 Foundation date persists for almost a century. In 1934 we apparently celebrated our Jubilee (50 years) and Charles re-took a photo with the then current secretary (what a lovely idea). But it still references 1884...

@Richmond_FC 19/
Infact if you have any Richmond Annual Report before 1981 its probably going to say the club was Founded in 1884.

In 1981 Annual Report they finally get it right, and things seem to be correct and on track until...

@Richmond_FC 20/
We get a rather bizarre front page of 1984 Annual Report. "100th Annual Report and Balance Sheet.
"Centenary Tigers 1984".

Yet inside it says "Founded 1885". Crazyyyyy.

The following year, in the 1986 Annual Report, it says 'Founded 1884'...

@Richmond_FC 21/
I'll end this thread by saying this. We recognise 1885 as our birth year (until contemporary evidence suggests otherwise).

A senior Richmond side has taken the field in every year since 1885.
Rich, Coll, Carl are the only teams to play in every League year every since 1908🐯