For a brief period of time in the late 1970s, beaming from the highest chimney in The Rocks shone the word ‘Metters’. Don’t admit it, but some of you, I gather, might be spritely enough to remember.
The bright advertisement, standing next to the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, publicised a company that manufactured stoves and ovens.
In the 1930s, Metters was also a successful business that fielded a football team, nicknamed the ‘Stovies’.
Peter Kunz, author of Chronicles of Soccer in Australia, writes about the many old factory teams, which managed and supported their workers to play football.
Metters, it appears, was one of the breakout glamour clubs, as they ignored the amateurism of the code by paying bonuses to players, including a number of Australian internationals.
Their strive for professionalism led to the creation of Arlington Oval, which the Sydney Morning Herald described as a “leading soccer ground” in 1933. Such was the splendour of Metters’ new digs in Dulwich Hill that the lawn was even featured in the British Empire Games of 1938.
In 1934 a rivalry formed when Goodyear sporting ground opened in Camellia, having been created by the tyre and rubber company. At the time, the Sydney Morning Hearald praised the generous factory corporation, noting they “displayed considerable interest in developing sporting facilities for about 800 employees.”
Kunz also suggests that both Metters and Goodyear were streets ahead of other teams, because they offered people the chance of employment during a tough period where jobs were scarce.
These days, football is a full-time gig and stadiums are primarily built (and leased out) by state governments. One could argue, the only actual bricks-and-mortar clubs are former National Soccer League sides.
How poetic is it then, that Arlington Oval was previously a brick pit? Furthermore, what about the old chimney, towering over an obsolete power station in The Rocks? Well, that building ended up being used as a mining museum – a window to the past.
From stoves to tyres, these were just some of the driven clubs that built a solid foundation for football in Australia.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Cheers. Very worthy information, plus I am keen to research Newells Old Boys at your suggestion. I do love my football history, as it seems you do as well.
jbinnie
Guest
Brendan - As you suggest history is a subject often dismissed and yet if the policy makers cared to study the subject they could avoid many of the mistakes that have happened in the past. You have chosen to start at "Metters" in Sydney but in fact if you care to pull up a club called Newells Old Boys You will find it was started in Argentine by an English schoolteacher back in 1908 and is still playing top football today. This was a direct result of British companies, made wealthy by the Industrial Revolution, taking their business closer to the source of their raw materials not to mention the much cheaper labour costs. They used sport as an attraction to the local populations and it is widely recognised that South American football is beholden to British "big business" for it's beginnings. The most recent example of "fan ownership" saving a club is in the early 90's when Glasgow Celtic, nearing insolvency, were taken over by a business tycoon who almost immediately floated the club on the London Stock Exchange and set about suggesting that Celtic Supporters Clubs, ( worldwide organisations) should become shareholders. This was an instant success and the club, under this new dictatorship style management, flourished almost immediately. The great leap forward in mid European football is widely credited to the work of an English coach Jimmy Hogan who is almost revered in Hungary as a god ,such was his influence on how the game should be played. He had been ostracised by the then English FA for suggesting that England should shelve their "bigger is better" attitude to the game. Hogan went to Austria, Hungary etc and spread his gospel there totally unopposed. Yes there is much to be learned from the history of our game. jb.
NoMates
Guest
Yeah good read but i didnt get into football until 1997, so everything up until then meant nothing.
Brendan
Roar Pro
I didn't know that information, but it's good to read the workers took control of the company. It reminds me of football teams owned by the members.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Yes, I can remember the name of Metters. Around the 1970s, maybe late 70s, they changed their name. If my memory serves me well, the employees bough a majority shareholding at a time when it was nearly broke.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Cheers, Midfielder. History is a niche read with a small market, but it's something I also enjoy writing about. I can thank Peter Kunz for influencing the template of the article.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Thanks, Lionheart. It's always interesting to watch the old matches, to see how much football has evolved. In 2019, an ABC article did a retrospective look at George Best's short playing career in Australia. I hope the A-League can hook a few marquee superstars too.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Good read mate... enjoyed it a lot...
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Nice to read a bit of football history Brendan. Thanks. I watched a game from 1970 on BeIn, Chelsea v Man Utd, recently and was quite amazed at just how much the game has changed. George Best was playing and a few legends who I probably didn't recognise. What struck me most was the lack of hands and arms in action, unlike today where players are forever holding other players, wrapping them up whiler they attack (or await) a long pass. Not knowing your history, as they say, is like being a leaf without knowing your tree.