Just prior to World War 1 there is mention of football matches during 1913, with Mount Pleasant being credited with fielding the region's first permanent football team, following an enthusiastic meeting of prospective players and supporters at the Institute in April. Players in blue and white guernseys lost their first match by seven points to Blumberg, with scores of 4-13 to 4-7. It was commented that 'the oval was too small, the result being too many men on the ball.' Just where this match was played is not indicated.

Descriptions of matches in 1914 can be found in the local newspapers with the following in 1915...

The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954)Friday 6 August 1915 - Page 3

At 2.30 the much-talked-of football match between the married and single men of Mount Pleasant was commenced in the presence of a large number of spectators, both teams having plenty of enthusiastic supporters. Umpire Hood had charge of the game. Dr. Patch-em-up, with two nurses, was in charge of the ambulance, but no accident occurred

during the game. Players put plenty of vim into their work, and heavy falls were frequent, the married men completely holding their own in this important department of the game. Every inch of the ground was keenly contested, and although the single men eventually won by 26 points, the game could not be regarded as one-sided. The best players for the winners were Wilron, Pinson, Beatty, Shortridge, and Harding; and for the married team Fowles, Daw, J. O'Dea, Shanks, Harms, and F. Gregory. Quite a number of the married men showed good form at the commencement of the game, but were not able to withstand the repeated calls on their energies, the single men having more "wind" at their disposal. Scores;—Single, 5.7; Married, 1~5.

The development of Talunga Park, during 1918 led to a new oval on grounds to the rear of the Soldiers' Memorial Hall.

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954), Friday 16 June 1922, page 3

FOOTBALL AT MOUNT PLEASANT.

(Contributed)

On June 3 at the Mount Pleasant Talunga Park a football match was played, being the first match of the season played on the local ground in connection with the Murray Ranges Association. The ground is a pretty spot, nicely situated among the hills, with beautiful trees, a hawthorn hedge, and pines here and there. The playing ground was in good order. This part of the new oval has been made up, about six hundred tons of earth having been carted from a rise at the top and a hollow at the bottom and filled in. Owing to the opening of the season the remainder of the work had to be abandoned, but by next year it will be in perfect order, and probably planted with couch grass.

The work on the ground to make it what it is at the present time has been done on two days, consisting of "busy bees” great interest in which was taken by the local residents, who provided horses, drays, scoops, and ploughs. There was also a large number of hard toilers with picks and. shovels. The men and boys are responsible for the work and the ladies of the town were there with willing help with refreshments at "smoke-oh" and "knife and fork" dinners.

One was pleased to notice a large gathering of spectators to witness the game between Mount Pleasant and Keyneton teams, which resulted in a win for the visitors. The Mounts were the first to score, and at the end of the first quarter were leading by seven points and playing a very fast and brilliant game with plenty of dash. At the half-time interval the scores still showed Mounts with a slight lead over the visitors, the scores being —Keyneton, 1 goal 4 behinds; Mount Pleasant, 1 goal 6 behinds. The third quarter started with the wind in favour of the visitors, who increased their score a little, but the local boys battled hard and at the conclusion of the term there was only one point margin. The last twenty minutes told the tale, for the pace was far too warm throughout the game, and the local lads began to die away. Their opponents were guick to take advantage of this and the scores at the 'final showed a win for the Keyneton team—1 goals 12 behinds against 2 goals 11behinds. The scoring was as follows:—Keyneton 1st quarter, 2 points; 2nd quarter, 1 goal 2 behinds; 3rd quarter, 1 goal 5 behinds; 4th quarter, 2 goals 3 behinds; final 4 goals 12 behinds. Mount Pleasant: 1st quarter, 1 goal 3 behinds; 2nd quarter, 3 behinds; 3rd quarter, 1 goal 2 behinds; 4th quarter, 3 behinds; final, 2 goals 11 behinds.

The goal-kickers for Mount Pleasant were: H. Bott (1), A. Roesler (1). The points were scored by J. McGuire (2), A. Roesler (2), C Fulwood (2), W. Hissey, H. Dewell, R. Fulwood, F. Fulwood (each 1)— The most prominent players throughout the game, amongst the local team were—H. Grove, ,W. Dewell, G. Dewell, F. McGuire, W. Hisseys. The match was in the hands of Umpire Tuohy, and his decisions generally proved popular.