CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB - HOME OF THE SEAGULLS

HISTORY OF NFC - 1960 - 1969

1960
The club recruited extensively, won 13 games and lost 8, but went down by only 5 points in the
Grand Final against North Adelaide, 13-12 to 14-11.
The Reserves won their first premiership in 21 years, defeating Port Adelaide 9-7 to 8-5.
The Thirds won their first premiership in 13 years, defeating North Adelaide 13-12 to 1-9.


1961
The team made the Grand Final once more, winning 13 games and losing 9, but were defeated by
West Adelaide 11-7 to 16-13 in what was called the 'Turkish Bath Grand Final', where temperature
rose to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and strong northerly winds.
Bill Wedding was our only representative in the Brisbane Carnival and he was rewarded with
All-Australian selection.
Haydn Bunton was cleared to coach Swan Districts (WAFL) for a record coaching fee.
On 5th August at Prospect Oval, Wally Miller received an injury which resulted in his going to the
Northfield Hospital where doctors diagnosed his complaint as polio.
The Reserves won the premiership, defeating West Torrens 12-17 to 7-10.


1962
Norwood finished third winning 12 matches, losing 8 and drawing 1, losing to West Torrens in the
Preliminary Final, 7-10 to 11-15.
Jon Burton won the Tomkins Medal for best & fairest in the Thirds competition.
Captain Peter Aish retired after 162 games, 5 state matches and two best & fairest awards
President Franz T P 'Ted' Heidenreich passed away December 6 having served as President from
1940 to 1962.


1963
Alan Killigrew accepted the North Melbourne coaching job and was replaced as coach by club
legend Doug Olds.
Although they won 11 games and lost 9, Norwood slipped to fifth on the ladder
The Thirds won the premiership, defeating Sturt 15-19 to 11-4. Brian Woodcock kicked 6 goals.
Jon Burton won the Tomkins Medal for best & fairest in the Thirds competition for the second year
in succession.
The western stand was extended northwards, and was named the William Essery Pavilion.


1964
After being unbeaten up to round 5, the club finished sixth with 9 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw.
Ian Della-Polina was awarded the Reserves Magarey Medal.
Brian Woodcock won the Tomkins Medal for best & fairest in the Thirds competition.
Bonanza star Lorne Greene appeared on a white horse at Norwood Oval, 21 November.


1965
Norwood appointed Haydn Bunton Jr after his very successful stint in WA where he coached
Swan Districts to three premierships in a row from 1961-1963 and won the 1962 Sandover Medal.
The team began slowly but came home very strongly winning 7 games in a row and finishing fourth
winning 13 games, losing 8.
Bill Wedding won his fifth successive best & fairest award, only bettered by Walter Scott and
Michael Taylor who both won six.
Former Collingwood and Claremont full forward Ian Brewer kicked 10 goals against both Central
District and Glenelg at Norwood Oval, and topped the SANFL goal kicking list with 96 goals, the
best tally by a Norwood player since Bruce Schultz in 1941.
The club won the Stanley H Lewis Memorial Trophy for the first time.
The Thirds won the premiership, defeating Glenelg 17-19 to 12-12.
The Colts won their first premiership, defeating North Adelaide 8-7 to 8-5.
West Perth recruit Sid Simeon was charged with assaulting umpire Brian Lees at the completion
of the last minor round game against Central District at Adelaide Oval.
Simeon received a 10 day prison sentence and was disqualified by the SANFL for 12 months.


1966
Norwood went into a slight decline as they found themselves in rebuilding mode, winning 9 games
and losing 11 to finish seventh.
Hobart Australian Carnival representatives were Ron Kneebone, Robert Oatey and Bill Wedding.
Popular stalwart Ron Kneebone won the Magarey Medal playing at full back.
In typical Kneebone fashion, Ron didn't give himself any chance so he went to the Royal Show with
his wife and close friend Bill Wedding, and when people began congratulating him, he realised he'd
won.
Ian Brewer topped the SANFL goal kicking list at the end of the minor round with 76, but was
passed by Port Adelaide's Eric Freeman who played in the finals.
Brian Woodcock was awarded the Reserves Magarey Medal.
The Reserves won the premiership, defeating Port Adelaide 12-28 to 3-7.


1967
After a slightly improved year, Norwood found themselves in sixth position with 10 wins, 10 losses.
Ron Kneebone became the second Redleg to play 200 games against Central District at Norwood
Oval, August 26. He retired at the end of the season with 201 games.
William Keith Potts, affectionately known as 'Tiger' in football circles, passed away on July 22 after
giving Norwood 47 years unbroken service as a player and trainer.
Tiger played in three Norwood premierships, was a member of the 1924 Carnival team in Hobart,
and served as Head Trainer from 1935 up to his death in 1967.


1968
Norwood won only 3 games, lost 16 and drew 1 to finish bottom for the first time since 1919.
Although a poor return on-field, this season under new coach Robert Oatey successfully initiated
the foundation of the rebuilding for the future.
Bill Wedding played his 200th game against Woodville at Norwood Oval, May 25.
Wedding retired at the end of the season with 214 games, 19 state matches, five best & fairest
awards and All-Australian selection in 1961 and was named in the Norwood Team of the Century.
Bill Wedding's 214th and final game equalled the club's games played record.
The Redlegs Club was opened on March 12 and Norwood's new headquarters and social club
moved there from the Sir Edwin Smith Pavilion.
The World Double Wicket Cricket competition was held at Norwood Oval in 14 October.
Teams
Australia 1: Bob Simpson, Graham McKenzie
Australia 2: Bill Lawry, Doug Walters
England 1: Basil D'Oliveira, Fred Trueman
England 2: Colin Milburn, Ian Chappell (replacement for injured Ken Barrington)
South Africa 1: Trevor Goddard, Denis Lindsay
South Africa 2: Graeme Pollock, Peter Pollock
West Indies 1: Garfield Sobers, Wesley Hall
West Indies 2: Rohan Kanhai, Charlie Griffith
West Indies 1 (Sobers & Hall) defeated Australia 2 (Lawry & Walters) in the final.


1969
Although finishing ninth with only 3 wins and 17 losses, there were clear signs we were moving in
the right direction with the integration of a host of talented younger and experienced players.
In appointing Wally Miller as Public Relations/Promotions Officer the club made one of their most
futuristic decisions.
Representatives for the Australian Carnival in Adelaide were Graham Molloy, Damien Nygaard and
Robert Oatey.
Graham Molloy was selected in the All-Australian team and received the Eric Tassie Medal for the
best player in the carnival, an award shared with Peter Eakins of Western Australia.
Round 4 v Glenelg at the Parade witnessed the infamous Kerley-Nygaard incident as Nygaard was
felled by an elbow from Kerley causing ugly scenes to erupt after the final siren.
The Reserves won the premiership, defeating Port Adelaide 13-19 to 10-12.
Playing coach John McInnes won the Reserves Magarey Medal.
An underground players' race was constructed from the Sir Edwin T Smith Pavilion to the oval.
The Coca-Cola sponsored mini-league competition commenced.



A Team of the 1960s:

Coach: Alan Killigrew
F: Mark Skinner, Ian Brewer, Robert Oatey
HF: Brian Sawley, John Lill, Damien Nygaard
C: Denis Modra, John Vickers, Peter Vertudaches
HB: Gil Butchart, Ron Kneebone (vc), Ross Porritt
B: John Inglis, Peter Aish (c), Graham Molloy
Ruck: Bill Wedding, Glen McMahon, Haydn Bunton
Res: Gerry Harrison, Brian Wells, Brian Bowe