Address: Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy
Built: 1888
Record Crowd: 34,765 - 11/8/1923 (VFL: Fitzroy v Essendon)

W.T. Peterson Community Oval (named after a 21-year veteran of the Fitzroy City Council) is better known to generations of Fitzroy Football Club supporters as the Brunswick Street Oval . It served as the club's home ground in the VFA competition, and later the VFL competition from 1883 until 1966. The Oval hosted 612 VFL home and away games, and 4 finals.

During the 1980s, the University Reds played home matches on Sundays at the Melbourne University Oval. In 1991, opposition clubs made it known that they didn't fancy playing on Sundays. The Reds wanted to play at the University Oval on Saturdays but the ground was fully booked. Brother clubs, the Blues and the Blacks, shared the ground on Saturdays. As the Reds were a distant third in the pecking order of the Melbourne University Football Club. So to Brunswick Street Oval we came.

In recent years the ground has had a new playing surface laid. In 2008 the redevelopment of the change rooms, and a new and very welcome Social Club for our use during the footy season, were completed.

The playing ground is framed by the remaining original features of the oval: the visiting members gate structure at the corner Freeman and Brunswick Streets, and late nineteenth century grandstand, gates and ticket box on the opposite side of the oval. The main grandstand is on the Victorian Heritage Register.

The Fitzroy Reds Football club (formerly the University Reds Football Club) has a long and distinguished history. Throughout its 48 years the club has prided itself of being a club run by the players for the players. We have always maintained a strong social calender and an eclectic mix of players that has given us a reputation for eccentricity.

The first University Reds football team was formed in 1954 as a virtual Club XVIII to provide leftover players from University Blues and Blacks with an opportunity to get a regular match. Playing in the E grade section (now the D2 section) we were very competitive with many strong performances and final appearances but no flags.

The introduction of the compulsory reserves competition by the VAFA saw Uni Reds go into recess in 1964. However it did not take long to resurrect the spirit and the Reds played in the Federal League for 2 seasons before rejoining the VAFA, with both a seniors and reserves teams, in 1972.From 1972 on we have had a number of home grounds, including Crawford oval, Yarra Bend oval, Princess park and the University oval. In 1991 the University reds moved to the Brunswick street oval which has been our home ever since.

We tasted our first premiership in 1980 and were runners up in the following year. It took until 1994 to win our first reserves premiership. In 1995 we won our second senior premiership.

The turning point for the club was 1997, when under increasing pressure from the Melbourne University Sports Union to meet the required number of undergraduate and post graduate registrations to obtain funding we decided to “go it alone” and became The Fitzroy Reds Football Club. Since this time we have had the support of The Fitzroy Football Club and the Fitzroy Foundation which have enabled us to remain independent and viable. The support of these organisations also sees us wearing the Fitzroy Football Club colours on their original home ground.

Success has been much more a feature in recent years, than those struggling, yet fun-filled years of the early days. After going undefeated to win the premiership in 2001 (D3 Section), the Reds consolidated in the higher grade the following year. This has been a common trend in the ensuing years, with premierships, over the previously undefeated Peninsula Pirates in 2003, consolidation in D1 in 2004, and then a barnstorming year in 2005, winning the premiership, and promotion to C Grade for the first time ever.

2006 was an injury ravaged season, but with a new coach, and new focus, in 2007 the Reds will look to push for a C Grade flag and promotion to the school-dominated, lofty-heights of B Grade.

Sung to the tune of the old Fitzroy / current Brisbane Lions song

We are the boys from Old Fitzroy;
We wear the colours Red and Blue;
We will always fight for victory;
We will always see it through;
Win or lose, we do or die;
In defeat we always try;
Fitzroy;
REDDERS !;
The club we hold so dear;
Premiers we'll be this year;

For any direct debit payments, please use the following details:

Bank: Bendigo Bank
BSB: 633-000
Account Number: 136425758
Account name: Fitzroy Football Club Ltd - Football Account

Please note your name in the description / reference area and contact either John Lagzdins at lagzdins@melbpc.org.au