Collingwood won the Victorian Football Association Premiership in 1896, They were aided, it was claimed, by a novelty product…chewing gum.
In 1894 MacRobertson’s introduced the first, Australian made chewing gum. It was marketed as being beneficial to athletes; keeping saliva flowing and containing medicinal ingredients. It was sold in tiny, round tins, as illustrated below.
The product was called Pepsin Gum, pepsin being an enzyme that aids digestion.
The flavours mentioned included some rather interesting ones; Celery, Cafe Clove, Kola, Tutte Frutte, Trilby and Kog Kure.
How the connection began I have no idea, but the Collingwood football team enthusiastically embraced MacRobertson’s gum. No doubt they were given a supply free of charge. When they beat the much longer established South Melbourne to win the Grand Final (six goals nine points to five goals ten) it made for great advertising copy.
A letter to MacRobertson’s from the Premiers dated September 30 1896 said it all
Dear Sir
It is with extreme pleasure, we, the undersigned footballers, being the Collingwood Team, forward you this testimonial about the quality of your PEPSIN CHEWING GUM. It is universally admitted that our success this season is unique in the history of football, and the sporting world receives us with honour to itself as performing brilliant play. Honour to whom honour is due; we certainly ascribe to the use of your Chewing Gum the credit mainly of our staying power and endurance in the field.
We all chew gum (your gum), and rely on it for exceptionally severe tussles and spins. We suppose we have some natural grit, or we could not have cut our way to the front if we had not. But, beyond natural strength, fleetness and agility and stability, as displayed in our recent successes, we think you should know that the ‘Pepsin Gum’ stood by and helped us through our severe encounters with other crack teams.
Unitedly thanking you for putting such a genuine article on the market. we subscribe ourselves.
Gratefully yours…
It was followed by the names of all the team members, beginning with W. Strickland, the Captain.
An early example of celebrity endorsement. 😎
The American Company Wrigley’s took over from MacRobertson’s as the main chewing gum supplier in Australia a few years later.
Meanwhile Collingwood marched on, winning another 15 grand finals.
Could they win the 2025 Premiership, after a 15 year hiatus? It might be worth rustling up some Pepsin based chewing gum.
FOR MORE ON MACROBERTSON’S EARLY PRODUCTS, CLICK HERE.
