Untitled - Norwood Football Club

MULTI TALENTEDReDLeGSOver the years Norwood has produced manyfootballers that have excelled in other sports.Given the Norwood Football Club’s early connection with theNorwood Cricket Club and later East Torrens, it is oflittle surprise that so many of its leaguefootballers have chosen to play cricket inthe summer. More surprising perhaps, ishow many have played at a district, stateor national level.Australian captain Joe Darling, GeorgeGiffen (Norwood’s first goalscorer), WalterGiffen, Philip “P.K.”.Lee, and Joe Travers,all played Test cricket for Australia. GregBlewett (Norwood U/17’s) Tim May (U/17’s) and Peter Sleep(U/19’s) also wore the baggy green after playing juniorfootball at the Parade.Norwood footballers have alsoshone in many other sports.The following played in the Sheffield Shield: Harry Blinman,Cornelius, Jack and Len Chamberlain, Neil “Nodder” Dansie,our first Magarey Medallist, Alby Green, Harry Haldane,Theodore E.C. Hantke (WA) Arthur, Roy and “Solly” Hill,Harold P. ”Mother” Kirkwood, Eric Johnson, John Lill,who later became Melbourne Cricket Club secretary, JohnNash, Phil Newland also toured Englandand New Zealand with Australian teams,Arthur Ernie Peters, James Pyke, KarlSchneider, champion full forward BruceSchultz, Richard “Bruce” Townsend, tentime NFC captain “Topsy” Waldron andHenry Whitfield. Norman Jolly played forWorcestershire (U.K).There have been numerous players in the history of the NFCwho have also played A Grade cricket. Whilst it has becomeincreasingly difficult to combine both sports, some recentexamples include current League coach Nathan Bassett(Kensington), Scott Borlace (Tea Tree Gully), Scott Burns(East Torrens), Matthew and Richard Kelly (East Torrens),Ben Kemp (East Torrens), Matthew Twomey (East Torrens) andcurrently Tim Webber is the opening batting for East Torrens.Norwood footballers have also shone in many other sports.Peter and Robert Oatey, Alf Roberts, Gordon Schwartz,Theodore E C Hantke, Tom Warhurst senior, and DougYoung were all prominent tennis players who representedthe South Australia.Alf Roberts was also a distinguished walker and ErnWadham a professional athlete who won the Bay Sheffieldin 1922. JD “Bunny” Daly (1896) and Len Parker (1927)were also past winners of this prestigious event.Our state rowers have included Joseph Oswald Bertram,Neil Button, James Gosse and Alf Grayson. PatrickRoachock was a well-known professional boxer, wrestler,hammer thrower and weightlifter.Allan Lyon captained the South Australian Table-Tennis teamand Phil Newland, William Noal and Dr. Dean Dawson playedstate lacrosse. Jack Chamberlain skippered the state bowlsteam and represented Singapore in Rugby Union.The History Group is interested to hear from anyone whomay have other examples of Norwood league footballersstarring in other sports.REONALDO CIALININFC HISTORY GROUP25 26