About
The University of Melbourne opened for business in 1855, just 4 years after separation from New South Wales and the discovery of rich gold in the young Colony, and only 20 years since Melbourne was nothing but bush. Three years later, in 1858, the famous first game of “Victorian” football was played, and it only took one more year for the game to take hold within the University.
During the 1870s, the club played in the Second Twenties competition, one level lower than the main competition, the South Yarra Challenge Cup. From 1885 to 1888, University played in the VFA which at the time was the sport’s major governing body. Following these years, the club was variously dormant or played in other competitions including the Metropolitan Junior Football Association, the Colleges Football Association and from 1905 to 1907 was a dominant member of the Metropolitan Football Association.
In 1907 the eight founding clubs of the VFL voted unanimously to include University in the league as its 9th team. Richmond Football Club became the 10th team two weeks later. The club was nicknamed The Students, The Professors and The Shop. The players wore a black guernsey with a blue chevron and blue collars and cuffs (the same design is still used to this day), black and blue socks and an optional black and blue cap. Players had to have matriculated or hold a higher degree to be eligible to play in the team. The club withdrew from the VFL at the end of 1914.
In the summer of 1919, after the War, Melbourne University began to rebuild its football involvement. Deciding not to reapply for a position in the VFL, they were instead requested by the VFL to supply two teams to the newly formed VFL Reserves competition, or the Victorian Junior Football League. These two teams were initially called University A and B, but soon became known as “University Blues” and “University Blacks”, respectively (the teams were only officially called the Blues and Blacks in 1930).
Website
University Blues
Home Ground
Main Oval, Melbourne University
Location
Parkville is a suburb of Melbourne, located 3 km north of Melbourne’s CBD. A major feature is the neighbouring Royal Park, an expansive parkland which is notable as home to the Melbourne Zoo and was the athlete’s village for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Parkville is a major education, research and healthcare precinct and home to the University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital and Royal Children’s Hospital.
Premierships
Section A: 1952, 1969, 2004
B Section/Premier B: 1967, 1981, 2014
