Bill Spurling
| Bill Spurling | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | William David Spurling | ||
| Date of birth | 28 October 1907 | ||
| Place of birth | Footscray, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 13 April 1972 (aged 64) | ||
| Place of death | Oakleigh, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Trentham | ||
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 78 kg (172 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1928–1935 | Footscray | 98 (70) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1935. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
William David Spurling (28 October 1907 – 13 April 1972)[1][2] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
In his early years Spurling grew up in the suburb of Williamstown, Victoria not far from St. Mary's Catholic Church. The family lived in a large house and his father, David, ran a successful tailoring company in Footscray, now known as Spurling Formalwear. At the age of 10 years he was enrolled at St. Joseph's Christian Brothers College, North Melbourne. One year later he played with that schools junior football team, losing only two games for the entire season.[3] That same year Spurling was declared the schools Champion Under 14 Handball player. On leaving school he entered his father's business.
As his abilities strengthened Spurling became a key position player on the football field who was used mostly as a centre half-forward.[2] He kicked a career high 24 goals in 1931 and polled nine Brownlow votes.[4] In the same year he also represented the Victorian interstate team twice.[5]
In 1936 he joined Kyneton in the Bendigo Football League and played in their premiership. He won the league's best and fairest award, the Fred Wood Medal in his first season[6][7] and in 1939, he was reappointed as their coach.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ "Australia Death Index, 1787-1985". Ancestry. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ^ a b "Bill Spurling - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ Concerning the Christian Brothers' College, St. Joseph's, North Melbourne 1919 (annual magazine) p.23-25
- ^ AFL Tables: Bill Spurling
- ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
- ^ "1936 - Best & Fairest". Weekly Times. 24 October 1936. p. 71. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "1936 - Bendigo Football". The Age. 16 October 1936. p. 16. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "SPURLING REAPPOINTED". (1939, 18 March). The Argus (Melbourne), p. 16. Retrieved 17 December 2014.