SA Footy

Reports on the radio suggest that Len Fitzgerald passed away overnight. Mods, please delete this post if it's found not to be true.

If it is true, my condolences to his family and friends and all his supporters.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

TRIPLE Magarey Medallist Len Fitzgerald, a legend at Collingwood and Sturt, has died overnight, aged 77.

Fitzgerald, who won Magarey Medals in 1952, '53 and '59, won Sturt's best and fairest award three times, played 20 matches for SA, was an All-Australian and has been inducted into both the Australian Football Hall of Fame and the SANFL Hall of Fame.

Able to play centre half-forward, centre-half back and ruck rover, debuted at age 15 for Collingwood in 1945 and moved to Sturt in 1951.

Fitzgerald coached Sturt from 1951-55 and Glenelg from 1963-66.

from Adelaide Now.
A sad day for SA footy such a true Legend of the game. Another SANFL Legend that should have legend status in the AFL hall of fame.

Strawb07 wrote:http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

TRIPLE Magarey Medallist Len Fitzgerald, a legend at Collingwood and Sturt, has died overnight, aged 77.

Fitzgerald, who won Magarey Medals in 1952, '53 and '59, won Sturt's best and fairest award three times, played 20 matches for SA, was an All-Australian and has been inducted into both the Australian Football Hall of Fame and the SANFL Hall of Fame.

Able to play centre half-forward, centre-half back and ruck rover, debuted at age 15 for Collingwood in 1945 and moved to Sturt in 1951.

Fitzgerald coached Sturt from 1951-55 and Glenelg from 1963-66.

from Adelaide Now.
A sad day for SA footy such a true Legend of the game. Another SANFL Legend that should have legend status in the AFL hall of fame.

Well said Strawb, a sad passing indeed

What a great player he was.
I've spoken to someone who played with Len back in the day, and he says he was a true gentleman and one of the most talented footballers he'd ever seen.

Strawb07 wrote:http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

TRIPLE Magarey Medallist Len Fitzgerald, a legend at Collingwood and Sturt, has died overnight, aged 77.

Fitzgerald, who won Magarey Medals in 1952, '53 and '59, won Sturt's best and fairest award three times, played 20 matches for SA, was an All-Australian and has been inducted into both the Australian Football Hall of Fame and the SANFL Hall of Fame.

Able to play centre half-forward, centre-half back and ruck rover, debuted at age 15 for Collingwood in 1945 and moved to Sturt in 1951.

Fitzgerald coached Sturt from 1951-55 and Glenelg from 1963-66.

from Adelaide Now.
A sad day for SA footy such a true Legend of the game. Another SANFL Legend that should have legend status in the AFL hall of fame.

Just reading the 'tiser article and he was inducted in inaugural AFL hall of fame.
A very sad passing of a SANFL legend.

Troy if you read i said Legend status. I already knew he had Hall of Fame Status.

What a sad day for SA Footy. RIP Len - Champion!

RIP Len. I had the pleasure of meeting Len at the Crows Bar after the Preliminary Final last year. he was quite dirty on the umpires but we had a pretty good conversation about footy. will be missed

any relation to ryan?

A very sad day for the Sturt Football Club and South Australian football.

Condolences to the family, in particular his lovely wife Beryl.

I believe he was at the game on Sunday and if so, what a great send off the boys gave him. He was certainly at Richmond the week before.

RIP Len fitzgerald, Double Blue Champion.

Lunchcutter wrote:any relation to ryan?

Whilst they did live close together when Ryan lived down south, they are not related.

Strawb07 wrote:Troy if you read i said Legend status. I already knew he had Hall of Fame Status.

My appologies.

thats cool troy just pointing out the bit you missed play on

Probably the best person you could wish to meet. A loyal Sturt man and an icon for the SANFL.

Vale! Gone but never forgotten. RIP. Amen.


A huge void will be left at our Club. He attended both games we won despite his terminal Cancer.

A Sturt victory at Alberton will help ease some of the immense pain his lovely wife and family are feeling right now.

R.I.P Len.
I heard a podcast of his interview with K.G and Cornsey a little while back (thanks Smithy) I guess it was nice to have heard his voice while he was still alive, now about two weeks after that he has passed on.
Farewell Len Fitzgerald, one of Sturt's highlights in an era when the club struggled. A pity he never got to play in a Sturt premiership, but at least he got to live through many. A true club champion, and a true legend of Australian Football.
Condolences to his family, but as they say, he is now in a better place.

RIP.
One of the great players in the SANFL.

MEDIA RELEASE
PASSING OF TRIPLE MAGAREY MEDALLIST LEN FITZGERALD
It is with deepest regret that the SANFL advises the passing of former Sturt and State Football Champion, Len Fitzgerald, following a period of illness.
Len Fitzgerald’s career spanned from 1945 to 1962. Len debuted as a half-forward flanker for Collingwood at the age of 15 and went on to play a total of 96 games (1945 – 1950) before heading to South Australia to play 125 games for Sturt (1951 – 1955 and 1959 – 1962). Len captained Sturt from 1952 – 1955.
Following his fantastic playing career, Len went on to coach Sturt from 1951 to 1955 and later Glenelg from 1964 to 1966.
Len’s stellar playing career saw him represent South Australia in 20 matches. He also represented Victoria twice during his time with Collingwood.
An inaugural member of both the Australian Football Hall of Fame (1996) and South Australian Football Hall of Fame (2002), Len Fitzgerald won the prestigious Magarey Medal on three occasions (1952, 1954 and 1959) making him one of only six players in South Australian Football history to win this medal three times.
Other career achievements saw Len recognised as Sturt’s Best & Fairest player on 3 occasions (1952, 1953 and 1954) and as an All Australian player in 1953.
SANFL Executive Commissioner, Leigh Whicker said “All of us in South Australian football are saddened by the news of Len’s passing. Len was not only an outright champion during his playing days but as a person who loved the game of Australian Football he always displayed enormous respect, generosity of spirit and praise for those who play the game today. His sad passing is a great loss to the game and our thoughts are with Beryl and family at this difficult time”.
The SANFL wishes to extend its condolences to Len’s wife Beryl, children Colin, Wayne, Michael and Trevor and their families.

RIP Great Man

Always was a great honour just chat to Len about football not only about when he played but the football of today.

Len you will be missed by everyone from our massive football family.

Very sad day

To play Senior football in a key position at the age of 15, youve gotta be pretty damn good.

RIP Len.

RIP Len