WHERE WE PLAY
RUTHVEN RESERVE
Located on the corner of Donald St and Malpas St in Preston, we love calling W.R. Ruthven V.C. Reserve home. After an impressive redevelopment in 2016, the new state-of-the-art facilities at Ruthven are designed to support both our club and our friends at the Northern Socials Cricket Club. This facility includes spacious clubrooms, a large function room, a great canteen and other areas relevant to our club.
With a brand new scoreboard installed prior to the 2021 season and a league-famous canteen, we’re proud to call W.R. Ruthven V.C. Reserve our home.
W. ‘RUSTY’ RUTHVEN V.C.
William ‘Rusty’ Ruthven V.C. was a soldier in the First World War, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915 and serving as Sergeant at just 24 years old. He was wounded in 1918, whereupon he returned to Australia and promoted recruitment for the ongoing war. Just a month before he was wounded, he was awarded the Victoria Cross; the highest and most prestigious honour in the British Honours System.
After the war, he remained in Victoria and served as the Labor Party member for Preston from 1945-1955, and then Reservoir until 1961, in addition to being elected Mayor of Collingwood in 1945. He also served as timekeeper for the Collingwood FC from 1931 until his death in 1970.
At Preston Bullants AFC, in addition to playing on a ground named after Ruthven, we also offer the W.R. Ruthven medal to a player each year who plays and represents our club in a manner similar to how Rusty represented his country.
THE
LOCAL AREA
In our little corner of Preston, there’s plenty going on each and every day. At W. R. Ruthven V.C. Reserve, there’s not just a footy ground; there are several cricket nets, a newly built state-of-the-art playground, a nearby tennis club and, of course, our purpose-built function room and clubroom facilities.
The nearby Tyler St boasts bustling cafés, bars and other boutique businesses, all within a ten minute walk. We’d love for you to support these businesses - but don’t forget to pay a visit to our league-famous canteen first!