Amateur’s Celebrate Past Champions, Current Heroes
08 Jul, 2010
The Western Australian Amateur Football League delivered a fantastic evening in celebration of amateur football’s greats at the inaugural Hall of Champions dinner last night.
WAAFL General Manager Cameron Agnew was pleased with the way the night unfolded.
“The night was a fantastic success. Everyone in attendance, I think, felt privileged to be there. The night really reinforced the status and importance of amateur football,” he said.
Bernard Giles, Herbert Grosvenor, Laurence Tetley, Sam Miller and Thomas Naylor were the first five veterans of amateur football to be inducted into the Hall of Champions.
A High Achiever in Amateur Football award was also introduced, with Peter Featherby, Peter Tannock, Gavin Statham, Alan Barnett and Richard Colless being the first recipients.
The Hall of Champions provides an opportunity for the community to recognise and remember the heroes of amateur football for decades to come.
The evening was held at Medibank Stadium in Leederville, with approximately 230 people in attendance.
Tim Gossage of Network 10 was the MC and provided the entertainment for the night. Cameron Agnew thanked Gossage for making the evening special for everyone who attended.
Winner Profiles:
Hall of Champions Inductees
Bernard Giles
- Administrator 1927-1986 for WA Football League (WAFL), WA Amateur Football League (WAAFL), WA Country Football League (WACF)
- Founding member of Wembley Amateur Football Club
- President of Wembley Athletic Club for 50 years
Herbert Grosvenor
- Player and administrator Fremantle CBC Amateur Football Club 1933-1980
- Fremantle CBC Old Boys Football Club founding member
- WAAFL secretary for 44 years
Laurence Tetley
- Player and administrator North Fremantle Amateur Football Club 1934-1994
- East Fremantle Football Club Premiership player 1941
- VFL player for South Melbourne
Sam Miller
- Player, coach, umpire and administrator 1924-1967
- Played for Sandovers Football Club and then East Perth Football Club
- WA State team player 1936 and Vice-Captain 1938
- WAAFL Best and Fairest 1936 then WAAFL president in 1961
Thomas Naylor
- Player and administrator 1933-1992
- Player, captain, coach and co-founder of Fremantle CBC Old Boys Football Club
- WA State team 1936 and 1938, South Fremantle player
High Achiever in Amateur Football
Peter Featherby
- Player 1970-1988
- Wembley Amateur Football Club Colts
- Subiaco League and Reserves player, also League and Reserves Best and Fairest runner-up
Peter Tannock
- Player, coach and administrator 1961-1998
- Started with the University Metropolitan Junior competition, moved to University Amateur Football Club, then North Albany Football Club where he won Best and Fairest
- Four seasons with East Perth Football Club and joined the 1966 WA State team
Gavin Statham
- Umpire 1989-present
- Began umpiring at age 11 and moved through to the top Amateur division games. Continued onto WAFL Colts and Reserves games/grand finals.
- Now umpired 279 League games and State matches.
- WAFL Umpire of the Year nominee 07, 08 and 09, AFL Rookie Umpire of the Year 08 and 09.
Alan Barnett
- Player and administrator 1969-2009
- University Football Club and Swanbourne/Nedlands Amateur Football Club player, Leading Goal Kicker and Best and Fairest awards winner 1970 and 1971
- Represented WA in State team and was selected for the All Australian Team
Richard Colless
- Player, coach and administrator 1965-present
- University Amateur Football Club player, captain-coach, manager, secretary and president
- Sunday Football League coach, All Australian Team player 1969
- WAFL board member, Sydney Swans board member and chairmen
