The Old Paradians Amateur Football Club was formed in 1929 and admitted to C Section of the Metropolitan Amateur Football Association, now known as the VAFA.

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The Club is the 9th oldest club in the VAFA, and with the exception of the war years between 1941 to 194545 when the VAFA was in recess, has fielded sides in every year since its inception.

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The founding members of the club were Lou Arthur, Frank Mount and Perce Matthews, some of whom were also executive members of the Old Paradians Association (the past students association of Parade College).  Perce Matthews was the first club president from 1929 to 1934 while Lou Ärthur was the inaugural club Secretary.  Lou Arthur holds the distinction of being the longest serving club President, having filled that position for a total of 22 years between 1935 and 1966. 

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Frank Mount was President for 8 years and coached the senior side for 6 years between 1931 and 1936.   In more recent years Mike Jolley, our recently retired President held that position for 9 years between 2011 and 2019 making him the second longest serving President in the clubs history.  Guy Rodrigues who was well known in VAFA circles was the club VAFA delegate and Club timekeeper for over three decades and was also the longest serving club Secretary holding that position from 1984 to 1990.

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When founded in 1929, the club was initially based at Warringal Park in Heidelberg (probably because Lou Arthur and other executive members lived in that area) before it moved to Yarra Park in Swan Street Richmond.  This location was only a few kilometres from where Parade College was located in Victoria Parade East Melbourne.  The football club remained in Swan Street Richmond (on the site of the current Hisense Arena/Melbourne Park  venue) co-located alongside  the Old Scotch AFC ground where both clubs shared a common social room facility until the end of the 1977 season.  In 1978 the club relocated onto the school grounds at Bundoora in the northern suburbs where Parade College had moved ten years earlier in 1968.   We have recently celebrated 40 years at Parade College Bundoora where we have enjoyed excellent playing facilities at the Garvey Oval and social facilities.in the Frank Mount Social Rooms.  So excellent in fact that the club has hosted VAFA finals over the last 20 years.  The Garvey Oval is widely regarded as one of the premier grounds in the northern suburbs.

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It took the club 23 years to win its first Senior Premiership, coming in B grade in 1951 and that was the start of a very successful period.  There were 6 ‘A’ Grade premierships in the 1960s, followed by another in the 1970s, the 1980s, and more recently in 2015.  The Old Paradians were also the first Catholic College old boys side to win a VAFA ‘A’ Grade premiership in 1962.

 

The club has twice won premierships in all three grades in the same year, in 1968 and 1986.

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In 2023, the Club made the decision to leave the VAFA, and join the Northern Football Netball League.  Since the halcyon days of the 1960s, so much has changed in the local football landscape, that it was felt the best way for the Club to return to a period of sustained success is to make the change.

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The list of champion players and coaches is long.  A full list of the awards and achievements of our players can be found using the menu at the top of the page, but a few notable mentions include:

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Most Games - Peter Brabender (428) currently a VAFA record

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Most Senior Premierships - John Booth - 8 - (4 as a player & four as a coach)

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Most Best & Fairest awards - Frank Gleeson (4)

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Most Goals in a season - Allan La Fontaine - 146 (1929)

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VAFA 'A Grade' Competition Best & Fairest Award - Dennis Dalton.  Frank Gleeson

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VAFA Representative Captains - Phil McLaughlin, John Booth, Phil O'Dwyer, Bernie O'Brien, Spence Williams, Michael Quinlan, Dominic Spillane, David Boundy

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All Australian Captain - Michael Quinlan, Dominic Spillane