After only limited success in two seasons competing in the SA Football Association (today's SANFL), the original Gawler Football Club was struggling by 1889 both for talent and supporters.

On March 9, that year, the Gawlers held a Special Meeting where it was decided a Junior Association would be inaugurated to improve players in the Gawler district for the senior Gawler side. Teams from Gawler, Gawler South and Willaston would be raised, and along with the Gawler team would interest more spectators. Following this special meeting, the Gawler Football Club held its annual general meeting on March 15 at the Gawler Institute, where its members decided to remain in the SA Football Association for at least another year. Despite their best efforts, the 1889 season would be their last, however they were to leave a great legacy behind - what would become the Gawler Football Association and the three famous Gawler clubs.

History will always remember that at this time, James "Jimmy Fitz" Fitzgerald was the founder of our club. A ten-year veteran with Albions and Gawler, it was Jimmy Fitz who first had a vision for a football club in the south end of town. When calls went out for teams to be formed to compete in the new Gawler Junior Football Association, it was he who organised and chaired the first meeting of of people interested in the formation of a football club in the Gawler South area - at the Mill Inn, on the evening of Thursday March 21, 1889. About thirty people attended.

With foresight, James explained that the object of the meeting was to form a junior club in the locality for now, to join a senior association that was likely to be formed in Gawler in the near future. He pointed out that the endeavour to get more matches for junior footballers would increase interest in the game, and would provide practice so that some useful players would be brought out.

Fitzgerald was elected as the first Captain, with his good friend and former Havelocks and Athenians great George Sanderson appointed as his Vice Captain. Another well-known football identity, T.H. Willet, was declared the first Secretary and Patron. The colours decided on were blue and red, with white bands. Great interest was generated with about fifty names handed in as members.

Elected our first honorary Life Member in 1891 after captaining us to our very first premiership, in these first early years Fitzgerald led the young South club both on and off the field.

Sadly, he died prematurely only a few years later in 1895. On October 5 of that year, a promotional afternoon of sports was held to raise funds for a memorial stone over his grave. Many glowing tributes espoused him as one of Gawler's greatest sporting and community leaders.

The Bunyip described him as,
"One of the finest footballers and athletes in the colony. . . head and shoulders above his local compeers." Born in Gawler, "… he fought hard for the glory of the town in the athletic arena and bore many a trophy. It is feared however, that in his enthusiasm he overtaxed his strength leading to an early death when disease hit him."

The first South Captain, Chairman and President, there is no doubt that James Fitzgerald was the patriarch of the modern South Gawler Football Club.