BIO

Ray Brumby was a versatile player who joined Norwood from Sturt in 1949.   Norwood finished third that year, between premierships in 1948 and 1950, and fierce competition for team spots limited his opportunity to one senior game in two seasons.

Ray was born on 19 October 1926 at Rosefield (now Highgate) and played with Sturt from colts through to league. He was a member of the Sturt-South Adelaide team in the World War II patriotic competition in 1944. His football career was interrupted by his RAAF service  as a leading aircraftman from 1944 to 1946.

A small hiccup occurred late in 1944 when Ray, aged 19, was fined two pounds with 10 shillings costs for placing a bet with a bookmaker at Morphettville racecourse as a minor.

In 1946, Ray was a follower resting in the back pocket for Sturt in a losing semi-final against West Adelaide.  He also played as a forward for Sturt.  He was named as 19th man for his one league game with Norwood, which Port Adelaide won by two points, 11.8 to 10.12, at Kensington Oval.
Ray kicked 21 goals in 29 games with Norwood seconds in 1949 and 1950.  

He played with Glenelg seconds in 1951 and emerged as a league field umpire in 1953.

Ray Brumby was 90 when he died in Adelaide on 20 June 2017, survived by his wife of 70 years, Dorothy, and daughters Judy, Barb, Wendy and Debbie.

P Robins Nov 2017