Strathalbyn joined Aldgate, Ambleside, Echunga, Kangarilla, Macclesfield, Meadows and Mylor in the Hills Central Association in 1931 and reverted to their traditional red and white club colours.
The 1930’s were, however, to be somewhat disappointing, with just one Premiership in 1933.
In 1932 they were unbeaten all year, but unsettled by an early injury to champion player E.J. (Tassie) Nettlefold, they were unable to regain the initiative and were beaten by Ambleside. They had defeated Ambleside three times during the year but not in the one that mattered, surely this was the Premiership that got away.
Similarly in 1934, they featured in a thrilling Grand Final draw with Aldgate but, weakened by injury, they were well beaten in the Grand Final replay the following weekend.
Only in 1939 did SFC fail to make the finals but Kangarilla reigned, winning five Premierships in the decade.
Many fine players represented the club during this era.
E.J. (Tassie) Nettlefold won the Mail Medal in 1935 and 1938, was second in 1937 and third in 1936. He played for North Adelaide in 1934.
Ken Semple won the Association Abbott Medal in 1931 and Ray Flaherty won the Association Mail Medal in 1939.
Keith Bowden transferred to North Adelaide in 1936 and went on to play 60 SANFL games and later became a Life Member of that club.
In 1940 Gordon Westley and Ray Flaherty both left SFC to play with Glenelg in the SANFL.
Of note during the decade, R.A. (Bob) Lee scored 96 goals for the club in 1932 which was the highest tally by a SFC player during the first 100 years of the clubs history.
On 13th July 1935 against Echunga, Strathalbyn scored 34 goals 28 points to just 3 goals 4 points, the clubs highest score in its first 100 years.
In that match Reg Tucker scored a club record 18 goals, made all the more remarkable by the fact that he was named in defence and was moved forward at quarter time.
With the onset of World War 2, the 1940 season was shortened by two weeks and at season’s finale, organised football in the Hills Central Association was cancelled until the wars end.
The euphoria of victory in WW 2 soon turned to the reality, that life in Australia would be tough for some time to follow.
In 1946 at the Annual General Meeting, called to re form the SFC, some of these realities hit home.
Two of the SFC pre WW 2 players, Garnet Durdin and Ray Flaherty, had lost their lives on active service for their country and President E.J. (Ted) Haddow asked the members present to stand for a minutes silence in their honour.
The club virtually had to start over again as it had no finance as well as a player shortage.
Secretary Andrew (Jumbo) Nettlefold and his wife Kath, who conducted a tailoring business in Strathalbyn, got to and made up a set of guernseys so that the club could participate. Their generosity was greatly appreciated by all associated with the club.
1946 was the first year in which an official coach was appointed by the SFC and Mr N.J. (Norm) Ahrendt, a former Glenelg player, took on the role. He went on to Coach Strathalbyn from 1946 to 1949, was Premiership Coach in 1952 and was SFC President in 1954 and 1955.
Seasons 1946 and 1947 were, in reality, consolidatory years, and slowly the playing stocks built up.
Strathalbyn eventually was to claim the Premiership in 1952 in both A Grade and the Reserves and finally break the longest drought in the clubs history, not having been successful since 1933.
Premierships were also achieved in 1958 and 1960 however through the decade of the 1950’s, Strathalbyn squandered many opportunities, after having very successful minor rounds but not achieving in the finals.
Again a number of excellent players emerged in this period.
Vic Georg arrived in 1949 and coached the club in 1950 and 1951 and was Captain in 1952. He won the Mail Medal in 1951 which his son Michael, in 2004, donated back to the SFC for display and safekeeping.
Vic Stone played from 1947 to 1952 and later played for South Adelaide.
Hartley Weckert arrived from Bordertown in 1952, later becoming Captain Coach and later still, Vice President and then President.
Laurie Rusby , former South Adelaide and State player, played from 1947 to 1949.
Barry Beckmann began his career at Strathalbyn in 1951 and played for Sturt in 1955 and 1956 before returning to Strathalbyn and Dennis Errey played for SFC in 1960 and 1961 before embarking on his great career with Port Adelaide.
Other players to leave their mark from this period were Fred Faehrmann, Graham Nisbett, Robert Westley and the Megaw brothers, Jack, Tom, Fred and Colin.
This period will always be remembered however, for what are probably the most controversial decisions in the clubs long history.
Barry Beckman commenced his playing career with the SFC in 1951 and was voted best afield in the 1952 Premiership match as an 18 year old.
He played seasons 1955 and 1956 for Sturt in the SANFL very successfully and returned to play for the SFC in 1957, winning the inaugural Jones Medal in that year.
In 1958 he was appointed as Captain Coach, leading his team brilliantly to the Premiership that season.
In 1959 he was again Captain Coach and but the team were beaten narrowly in the Grand Final by Mt Barker.
He again applied for the Coaching position in 1960, arrived at the Strathalbyn oval for the commencement of training for the season, assuming he had been re appointed, only to discover Mr. Don Muller conducting training.
Realising he had been sacked from the position, he congratulated his successor on his appointment and immediately retired from football.
He was just 25 years of age and at the peak of his career.
Apparently, the decision was based on his quoted price for the role being higher than that quoted by Don Muller. Given his success, the higher quote was well justified.
The lack of communication to him of the Committee’s decision, and the manner in which he became aware of it, were both deplorable and unacceptable.
The decision to displace him as coach and his subsequent retirement, shook the club to its foundations.
Barry could have sought to play elsewhere, but involved himself with other interests and pursuits and his enormous talent was lost to football forever.
In 2004 , he was a unanimous nomination for the Strathalbyn Football Clubs “Team of the Century” and all associated with that presentation were thrilled when his long time friend Graham Nisbett, convinced him to attend the presentation.
Barry accepted his award with pride and dignity, demonstrating his class when he donated his inaugural G.D. Jones Medal back to the club for display and safekeeping.
The second decision involved the SFC changing its affiliation from the Hills Central Association to the Great Southern Football League for the 1963 season.
S.F.C. in H.C.F.A. (1931 to 1962)
SFC A GRADE / RESERVES PREMIERSHIPS
A GRADE RESERVES
1933 1952
1952
1958
1960
S.F.C. H.C.F.A. HONOURS
ABBOTT MEDALLIST
1931 K.H. (Ken) SEMPLE
MAIL MEDALLISTS
1935 E.J. (Jack) NETTLEFOLD
1938 E.J. (Jack) NETTLEFOLD
1939 R. J. (Ray) FLAHERTY
1951 V.G. (Vic) GEORG
LEADING GOALSCORER
1932 R.A. (Bob) LEE 96 Goals
1938 H. (Harold) STEWARD 73 Goals
SFC OFFICIALS 1931 to 1962
Patron President Secretary Captain Vice Captain
1931Sir J.L. Stirling C.M. Letchford N. Kerslake K.H. Semple E.J. Nettlefold
1932 Sir J. Stirling C. Letchford C. MontgomerY K. Semple E.J. Nettlefold
1933 L.E. Stirling C.M. Letchford W. Nisbett C.K. Picken L.N. Watson
1934 L.E. Stirling G. Semple L.J. Allison C.K. Picken V. Laucke
1935 L.E. Stirling F.H. Lovegrove L.J. Alliso V. Laucke/ T. Moore
E.J. Nettlefold
1936 L.E. Stirling F.H. Lovegrove G.W. Durdin E.J. Nettlefold L.N. Watson
1937 L.E. Stirling F.H. Lovegrove G.W. Durdin G.B. Lines J. Harley
1938 L.E. Stirling J.W. Rieken G.W. Durdin J. Harley H. Lillie
1939 L.E. Stirling J.W. Rieken G.W. Durdin J. Harley H. Steward/
R. Flaherty
1940 L.E. Stirling J.W. Rieken A.S. Nettlefold L.N. Watson H. Steward
1941 to 1945 Football abandoned due to World War 2
The position of coach was introduced to the SFC in 1946, previously training and practice was supervised by the Captain.
Patron President Secretary Coach Captain
1946 L.E. Stirling E.J. Haddow A.S. Nettlefold N.J. Ahrendt N.J. Ahrendt
1947 L.E. Stirling E.J. Haddow A.S. Nettlefold N.J. Ahrendt N.J. Ahrendt
1948 L.E. Stirling E.J. Haddow A.S. Nettlefold N.J. Ahrendt L. Rusby
1949 L.E. Stirling E.J. Haddow A.S. Nettlefold N.J. Ahrendt N.J. Ahrendt
1950 L.E. Stirling E.J.Haddow K. Joy V.G. Georg V.G. Georg
1951 L.E. Stirling K.G. Pearson R.T. Reed V.G. Georg V.G. Georg
1952 N.D. Richardson K.G. Pearson K. Parkinson N.J. Ahrendt V.G. Georg
1953N.D. RichardsonK.G. PearsonC.S. Fairweather S.A. Tucker V.G. Georg
1954J.R. BeasleyN.J. Ahrendt C.S. Fairweather/T. Aschberger H.L. Weckert
D. Trebilcock
1955 J.R. Beasley N.J. Ahrendt J.T. Butler T. Aschberger H.L. Weckert
1956 J.R. Beasley E.J. Haddow E. Moyle H. Walker H.L. Weckert
1957 J.R. Beasley J. Dowd E. Moyle H. Walker H.L. Weckert
1958 H.L. Laucke J. Dowd G.P. Cunningham B. Beckman B. Beckman
1959 H.L. Laucke W.A. Richardson G. Cunninham B. Beckman B. Beckman
1960 H.L. Laucke W.A. Richardson D.L. Humphries D.W. Muller D.W.Muller
1961H.L. Laucke W.A. Richardson D.L. Humphries H.L. Weckert H.Weckert
1962 H.L. Laucke W.A. Richardson C.S. Fairweather R. Willis R. Willis