Footy has an interesting history in Vietnam! Read on for the story of the Vietnam Football League and where it began.

By Stan Middleton

Six Years of Footy in Vietnam

The Aussie Rules footy competition (Vietnam Football League) was formed within 12 months of the Australian Base (1st Australian Logistic Support Group) being established in the sand hills on the back beach of Vung Tau in early 1966. It wasn’t the beautiful place it is now!

Units that competed in the competition over those years were:

• 2 Composite Ordnance Depot (1967, changed to 2AOD in 1968)
• 2AOD (2nd Advance Ordnance Depot)
• 17 Construction Squadron (Engineers)
• 1 Field Hospital / 8 Field Ambulance (Australian Army Hospital)
• RAAF
• 5 Company RAASC
• 102 Field Workshops
• 110 Signals

There may have been other units for some season as well.

The base was closed down six years later in March ’72 when the last of the Australian soldiers returned home. Footy was last played in 1971.

The standard of football in the Vietnam Football League was very high. This was mostly due to the high quality of the “Nashos” drafted into the army. The competition was fierce! Rivalry between units was intense!

1966 – The First Game

Footy first commenced in Vung Tau when one digger (Private John Heaney, a “Nasho” from 1 Transport Platoon RAASC) was in trouble with his Commanding Officer. The CO gave him an option (actually two options): organize a game of Aussie Rules Footy or face detention and other penalties!

John thought about it for a second and chose the first option. Thus the first game of Aussie Rules footy was played in Vung Tau during the latter part of 1966.

Early football in Vietnam: Vung Tau in 1966 or 1967 – Kevin Lewin

1967 – The Vietnam Football League Emerges

A full scale competition was then organized between the various Australian units based in Vung Tau. It commenced in 1967 and ended in 1971. There were two premiership seasons played most years. The competition was known as the VFL (Vietnam Football League)!

In the early days of the VFL, most games were played at what is now known as “San Van Don Lam Son” Stadium (now with a Greyhound Racing Track). Unbelievably, this is the same venue that the annual ANZAC Friendship Match is now played.

The ground was fondly known as The Lord Mayor’s Oval by the Australian diggers! As it was a soccer ground, games were played with 14 a side when playing there. No forward or back flanks! Other games were played at the Military Academy (also a soccer field) and later on at a much larger ground near the Vung Tau Airbase.

Trophy Presentation to the First Premiers of the VFL, the RAAF – Barrie Thomas Burril Ward

In 1967, the first of the premierships was won by the RAAF. Ron Vernon who with his wife Ailsa Vernon spends considerable time each year in Vung Tau helping with the orphanages at Vung Tau and Long Hai was a member of that very team. A very strong 2 Composite Ordinance Depot team was decimated before the finals when most of their players went on strike and did not play in the finals!

The second season in 1967 was won by 5 Company RAASC (Service Corp). Terry Holden and a close friend of Phil Fabbo Johns as a member of that premiership team.

1968 – 2AOD Claims Two Premierships

In 1968, both Premierships were won by a brilliant Ordnance team 2AOD (2nd Advanced Ordnance Depot). On each occasion they defeated the 17 Construction Squadron. Led by their outstanding captain Bob McKenna, the late Tommy Perks, Micky Miller, Dick Johnston, Kevin Judge (cousin of Ken, former Hawthorn player and coach of Hawthorn and West Coast), Steve Costelow, George Soumilas, John Meehan (brother of Simon, ex St Kilda) and many other excellent footballers. The coach was Merv Rudd. The footballer from those teams have been the focal point of reunions held every two years since 1998. Laurie Chick (brother of former Carlton Vice Captain, John Chick) also played in some of these games.

2AOD VFL Premiers June 1968 Vung Tau – Unknown Photographer 

1969 – Construction Squadron Foils 2AOD (Briefly)

The first of the 1969 premierships was won by 17 Construction Squadron (Engineers). 2AOD’s run came to an end in the preliminary final or, more so the night before that final, when all of their star players in the team ignored Captain John Meehan’s instructions to keep of the grog before the big game. A number of 2AOD diggers had their send off party (before returning to Australia) on that night. Everyone got ‘blind’ except John!

In the second season of 1969, 2AOD returned to the winners’ list but not without a brutal struggle against 17 Construction Squadron. 2AOD’s Captain was Wayne Closter (former Geelong star). In the other team was a brilliant and tough Aboriginal footballer, Glenn James. Glenn later became a very popular VFL umpire and officiated in two VFL Grand Finals. As there was no trial by video in those days, Glenn was given the job of taking out Wayne Closter at the opening bounce. He did this to perfection and Wayne was useless for the first 3 quarters. At three quarter time the scores were level! Wayne finally came good and kicked 5 goals in the last quarter, to bring 2AOD home. Wayne and Glenn laugh about it now whenever they see each other but Wayne was not impressed at the time!

2AOD Premiers for the 2nd season of the 1969 VFL – Unknown Photographer.

1970 – 2AOD Add Another Trophy

In 1970, the 2nd Premiership was won by 2AOD. They beat 5 Company RAASC in the Grand Final.

This team was captained by John Huggins (whose son is now married to the daughter of Steve Costelow a premiership player in the second 1968 2AOD premiership team). This team included Bill Thompson who played with Essendon (VFL), Williamstown & Dandenong (VFA) and was a Liston Trophy winner in the VFA. Some other stars were Peter Maloney, Frank Reynders and many others.

Greg Perry (who played with Essendon) also played with the 110 Signals team that year. Interestingly Greg and I played cricket together at Stawell (Victoria) in the summer of 1965-66 before I was called up for National Service in July 1966. Greg was a tear away opening bowler and I was the wicketkeeper and opening batsman.

We are not sure who won the other premiership, or if there was one!

1971 – 2AOD Claim Fifth Premiership!

We believe there was only one premiership played for in 1971, in which 2AOD, captain/coached by Bill Thompson, beat 110 Signals in the Grand Final. 110 Sigs was captained/coached by Greg Perry. Grey however won the Best and Fairest with Bill runner up. That we understand was the last VFL Grand Final played in Vietnam! Bill and Greg are both great mates now and always attend Essendon Past Players functions together.

2AOD, premiers in 1971. Photo by Bill Thompson.

Authors Note

As the author, I was a “Nasho” who served in Vietnam. I played in the 2 Composite Ordnance team in 2nd half of 1967 and in the 2AOD team in the first half of 1968. I returned to Australia on the eve of the first final and thus missed playing in the first premiership of 1968!

I have a strong connection with Vietnam as my wife is Vietnamese (I met Sinh in 2002 and married in 2005). She worked in the Orderly Room at the Peter Badcoe Club for the Australian Army on the Back Beach of Vung Tau from 1968 to 1972.

Stan Middleton OAM