Harold John Robertson (9 April 1895 – 19 March 1935)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the VFL.
| Harold Robertson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Harold John Robertson | ||
| Nickname(s) | Diddlo | ||
| Date of birth | 9 April 1895 | ||
| Place of birth | Kensington Hill, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 19 March 1935 (aged 39) | ||
| Place of death | Albert Park, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Middle Park CYMS | ||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Weight | 67 kg (148 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1917–1921, 1923 | South Melbourne | 64 (93) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1923. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family edit
The second child, and eldest son of John Christian "Chris" Robertson (1868-1949),[2] and Mary Robertson (1872-1954), née Reardon,[3][4][5] Harold John Robertson was born at Kensington Hill, Victoria on 9 April 1895.
He married Rebecca Mary Shaw (1896-1967) (later Mrs. Patrick Corbett) at Middle Park, Victoria, on 21 April 1920.[6][7]
His brother, Austin Robertson, Sr., and his nephew, Austin Robertson, Jr., were also champion footballers.[8] Another brother, Hans Joseph Robertson (1905-1969), was a champion amateur swimmer.[9][10]
Football edit
South Melbourne (VFL) edit
Full-forward Harold Robertson kicked 38 goals in 1919, which was enough to top South Melbourne's goalkicking.
Robertson played in South Melbourne's 1918 premiership team, kicking two goals from a half forward flank in their five-point victory — 9.8 (62) to 7.15 (57) — over Collingwood in the 1918 VFL Grand Final.
26 July 1919 edit
He set a VFL record in the match against St Kilda, at the Lake Oval, on 26 July 1919 when he kicked 14 goals, half of them in the final quarter. It easily beat the previous league record of 11 goals shared by Dick Lee and Jim McShane. Robertson's VFL record was not bettered until Gordon Coventry kicked 16 goals against Hawthorn, at Victoria Park, on 27 July 1929.
Robertson's 14 goals was the first time that a South Melbourne player had kicked 10 or more goals in a match. It was not until 1933 that his feat was equalled, with Bob Pratt kicking 10 goals twice — 10 goals on 8 July 1933 and 11 goals on 15 July 1933 — and, then, setting a new record with his kicking 15 goals against Essendon, at the Lake Oval, on 19 May 1934.
Swimming edit
In his youth, Harold, like his younger brother Hans, was an accomplished swimmer.[11][12]
Death edit
Following his retirement from football, he suffered with illness over a long period of time, and died at Albert Park, Victoria, on 19 March 1935, at the age of 39.[13][14]
References edit
- ^ "Family Notices". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 20 March 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ^ Deaths: Robertson, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 29 August 1949), p.8.
- ^ Marriages: Robertson—Reardon, The Argus, (Saturday, 6 January 1894), p.1.
- ^ Deaths: Robertson, The Age, (Monday, 19 July 1954), p.9.
- ^ Mrs. M. Robertson dies at Age of 82: Mother of South Melbourne's Greatest Sporting Family, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 24 July 1954), p.7.
- ^ Marriages: Robertson—Shaw, The Age, (Saturday, 24 July 1920), p.5.
- ^ Deaths: Corbett, The Age, (Monday, 26 June 1967), p.17.
- ^ The Argus, "Harold Robertson Dead", 21 March 1935. p. 15.
- ^ Swimming: Boy's remarkable display, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 31 January 1920), p.2.
- ^ Sport in Brief, The (Sydney) Daily Pictorial, (Monday, 31 March 1930), p.23.,
- ^ Football: The Man who made a Record: an All-Round Athlete, The (Perth) Daily News, (Wednesday, 13 August 1939), p.2.
- ^ Passing of Harold Robertson; Champion Forward of 1919, The Advocate, (Thursday, 28 March 1935), p.25.
- ^ Deaths: Robertson, The Age, (Wednesday, 20 March 1935), p.1.
- ^ Death of Crack Goalkicker: Harold Robertson's Untimely End: Held V.F.L. Record for Many Years; A Versatile Athlete, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 23 March 1935), p.4.
External links edit
- Harold Robertson's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Harold Robertson at AustralianFootball.com
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