Jump to content

Alan Gale: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Reference to circumstances of death added
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2011}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Alan Gale
| name = Alan Gale
Line 5: Line 7:
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Butch Gale in 1961
| caption = Butch Gale in 1961
| nickname = Butch
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|9|8|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|9|8|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
Line 20: Line 23:
}}
}}


'''Alan 'Butch' Gale''' (8 September 1930 – 24 March 1987) was an [[Australian rules football]]er who played for [[Fitzroy Lions|Fitzroy]] in the [[Australian Football League|VFL]] during the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=QIERAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3553%2C3908088|title=Butch Gale, a man who refused to shirk the issue|first=Trevor|last=Grant|date=26 March 1987|work=The Age}}</ref>
'''Alan Gale''', also known as '''Butch Gale''' (8 September 1930 – 24 March 1987), was an [[Australian rules football]]er who played for [[Fitzroy Lions|Fitzroy]] in the [[Australian Football League|VFL]] during the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=QIERAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3553%2C3908088|title=Butch Gale, a man who refused to shirk the issue|first=Trevor|last=Grant|date=26 March 1987|work=The Age}}</ref>


== Background ==
== Career ==


Gale made his league debut in 1948, at the age of just 17, after being recruited from the Police Boys' football club. His early games suggested that he was little more than an honest trier.<ref name=Full>Full Points Footy (2008). [http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/g.htm#Allan%20'Butch'%20Gale%20(Fitzroy) ''AFL Player: Alan 'Butch' Gale'']. Retrieved on 11 May 2008.</ref> However, as his career entered into the 1950s, Gale elevated his performances to a new, higher level. During this period, Gale finished runner-up in the clubs [[best and fairest]] award a record seven times. Unfortunately, he never finished first robbing him of an opportunity to be remembered as a great player on Fitzroy's honour board.<ref name=Full/>
Gale made his league debut in 1948, at the age of just 17, after being recruited from the Police Boys' football club. His early games suggested that he was little more than an honest trier.<ref name=Full>Full Points Footy (2008). [http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/g.htm#Allan%20'Butch'%20Gale%20(Fitzroy) ''AFL Player: Alan 'Butch' Gale''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204133902/http://fullpointsfooty.net/g.htm#Allan%20'Butch'%20Gale%20(Fitzroy) |date=4 February 2012 }}. Retrieved on 11 May 2008.</ref> However, as his career entered into the 1950s, Gale elevated his performances to a new, higher level. During this period, Gale finished runner-up in the clubs [[best and fairest]] award a record seven times, but never won, depriving him of an opportunity to be remembered as a great player on Fitzroy's honour board.<ref name=Full/>


Some of Gale's best football came while resting in defence, and he would undoubtedly have made a fine key position defender had Fitzroy been able to spare him from the ruck.<ref name=Full/>
Some of Gale's best football came while resting in defence, and he would undoubtedly have made a fine key position defender had Fitzroy been able to spare him from the ruck.<ref name=Full/>


Gale captained Fitzroy from 1958 until his retirement in 1961.<ref name=Lions>Brisbane Lions (2008). [http://lions.com.au/TheClub/History/FitzroyLions/HonourRoll/tabid/5173/default.aspx ''Fitzroy Football Club Honour Board 1897 – 1996''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510110606/http://lions.com.au/TheClub/History/FitzroyLions/HonourRoll/tabid/5173/Default.aspx |date=10 May 2008 }}. Retrieved on 11 May 2008.</ref> He also reprented Victoria in interstate football, leading them in 1959. He was named in Fitzroy's official 'Team of the Century'. Gale collapsed and died of a heart attack while addressing Fitzroy players prior to the opening game of the [[1987 VFL season]].<ref name="Piesse">{{cite book|last1=Piesse|first1=Ken|title=The Complete Guide to Australian Football|date=1993|publisher=Pan MacMillan Australia Pty Limited|location=Melbourne|isbn=0330357123|pages=114}}</ref>
Gale captained Fitzroy from 1958 until his retirement in 1961.<ref name=Lions>Brisbane Lions (2008). [http://lions.com.au/TheClub/History/FitzroyLions/HonourRoll/tabid/5173/default.aspx ''Fitzroy Football Club Honour Board 1897–1996''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510110606/http://lions.com.au/TheClub/History/FitzroyLions/HonourRoll/tabid/5173/Default.aspx |date=10 May 2008 }}. Retrieved on 11 May 2008.</ref> He also represented Victoria in interstate football, leading them in 1959. He was named in Fitzroy's official 'Team of the Century'.
Following his retirement, Gale became a commentator on [[HSV7]], partnering with [[Mike Williamson (broadcaster)|Mike Williamson]] and [[Ted Whitten]] on match commentary through the 1960s and 1970s. Gale collapsed and died of a heart attack while addressing Fitzroy players in the week prior to the opening game of the [[1987 VFL season]].<ref name="Piesse">{{cite book|last1=Piesse|first1=Ken|title=The Complete Guide to Australian Football|date=1993|publisher=Pan MacMillan Australia Pty Limited|location=Melbourne|isbn=0330357123|pages=114}}</ref>


== Career highlights ==
== Career highlights ==
Line 60: Line 65:
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia)]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Fitzroy Football Club players]]
[[Category:Fitzroy Football Club players]]
[[Category:Australian rules football commentators]]
[[Category:Australian television personalities]]

Latest revision as of 04:20, 7 May 2023

Alan Gale
Butch Gale in 1961
Personal information
Nickname(s) Butch
Date of birth (1930-09-08)8 September 1930
Date of death 24 March 1987(1987-03-24) (aged 56)
Original team(s) Police Boys' football team
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 91 kg (201 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1948–1961 Fitzroy 213 (19)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1961.
Career highlights
  • Fitzroy Team of the Century
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Alan Gale, also known as Butch Gale (8 September 1930 – 24 March 1987), was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the VFL during the 1950s.[1]

Career

[edit]

Gale made his league debut in 1948, at the age of just 17, after being recruited from the Police Boys' football club. His early games suggested that he was little more than an honest trier.[2] However, as his career entered into the 1950s, Gale elevated his performances to a new, higher level. During this period, Gale finished runner-up in the clubs best and fairest award a record seven times, but never won, depriving him of an opportunity to be remembered as a great player on Fitzroy's honour board.[2]

Some of Gale's best football came while resting in defence, and he would undoubtedly have made a fine key position defender had Fitzroy been able to spare him from the ruck.[2]

Gale captained Fitzroy from 1958 until his retirement in 1961.[3] He also represented Victoria in interstate football, leading them in 1959. He was named in Fitzroy's official 'Team of the Century'.

Following his retirement, Gale became a commentator on HSV7, partnering with Mike Williamson and Ted Whitten on match commentary through the 1960s and 1970s. Gale collapsed and died of a heart attack while addressing Fitzroy players in the week prior to the opening game of the 1987 VFL season.[4]

Career highlights

[edit]

Playing career:

  • Fitzroy 1948–1961 (Games 213; Goals 19; Brownlow votes 30)[7]

Player honors:

  • 12th Brownlow Medal 1957.
  • Fitzroy captain: 1958 to 1961.[3]
  • Fitzroy Best & Fairest runner-up: 7 times
  • Victorian representative: 12 games

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Grant, Trevor (26 March 1987). "Butch Gale, a man who refused to shirk the issue". The Age.
  2. ^ a b c Full Points Footy (2008). AFL Player: Alan 'Butch' Gale Archived 4 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 May 2008.
  3. ^ a b Brisbane Lions (2008). Fitzroy Football Club Honour Board 1897–1996 Archived 10 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 May 2008.
  4. ^ Piesse, Ken (1993). The Complete Guide to Australian Football. Melbourne: Pan MacMillan Australia Pty Limited. p. 114. ISBN 0330357123.
  5. ^ Footy Stamps (2006). Fitzroy's Team of the Century. Retrieved on 11 July 2008.
  6. ^ Brisbane Lions (2007). Our Kings of the Pride Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 July 2008.
  7. ^ AFL Stats (2008). AFL PLayers: Alan Gale. Retrieved on 11 May 2008.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alan_Gale&oldid=1153571658"