North Melbourne Football Club Pre-History and Evolution

North Melbourne 'Kangaroos' Pre-History, Hotham Football Club 1883 Member's ticket in blue leather with a cream leather strap and gilt borders, with 'H.F.C. 18831 embossed in gold. The inside, printed in blue provides a double page printed list of 'Engagements of first Twenty' with room for the results to be filled in another full printed page with details of the club Patrons, Vice-Presidents, General Committee and match Committee. The inside front cover provides room for the member's name (S. Gregory) and that of the Hon. Sec. (E.J. Lawrence). The Hotham Football Club was established in 1877 following the disbanding of North Melbourne F.C. The previous year. Australian Rules football took a giant step forward in 1877, with the formation of Victoria's first colonial football league, the VFA. Hotham were prime movers in establishing this league and were afforded a place in light of their previous contributions to Australian football. The 1880s marked the emergence of the modern identity we now associate with north today. In 1882, the club amalgamated with the Hotham cricket club and moved into the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve (Arden St oval), which remains the home of the club today. The joint venture was aimed at affecting improvements at the Hotham cricket ground, which was the name of the Reserve at the time. Four years later the club adopted the traditional uniform of blue and white vertical stripes at the insistence of the VFA, who wanted a visible contrast between Geelong's and Hotham's uniforms. The third significant development occurred in 1888 with the club returning to its original name of the North Melbourne Football Club. This followed the name of the local area reverting from Hotham to North Melbourne.