BIO
Archie Chinnery not only was a stylish footballer in his own right but also sired two prominent Norwood players of the 1930s, Selby and Jack, both of whom represented South Australia.
Norwood finished a disappointing third in 1905 despite having a team at least as strong as that which had won the premiership the year before. In the last match of the minor round, the Redlegs suffered a surprise 4.13 to 3.16 loss to Sturt. ‘Tartan’ in the journal Quiz wrote: “Many of those playing against Sturt appeared troubled with a tired feeling. An exception was Archie Chinnery, whose little form is almost as popular among the ladies as (North Adelaide’s) Charlie Jessop. He is a neat and accomplished little player who makes the most of every opportunity.”
Norwood was eliminated a week later by North, which swept towards its third premiership with a 13.12 to 4.17 victory before an Adelaide Oval crowd of 10,000. ‘Tartan’ commented: “Norwoods were inferior in every branch, but many individual men rendered yeoman service . . . Archie Chinnery and Alby Bahr together were responsible for many entertaining glimpses of effective ruck work.”
Norwood won 12 of its 14 matches in 1906, but again finished third. Archie dropped out halfway through the season and was not there for Norwood’s 1907 premiership. His sons had no luck either. Together they played a total of 157 games for Norwood between 1930 and 1938 – Selby as captain in 1934 - without tasting premiership success. Jack was killed in 1944 when the Halifax bomber in which he was serving as a rear gunner was shot down over Belgium.
Archie was born at Magill on 27 July 1884 to Thomas Chinnery and his wife Lanowlee, née Brown. He had siblings Thomas, Lanowlee and Alexander, and half-sibling s Mabel, Albert and Dorothy.
Archie married Melinda Cocker at Norwood in 1909. He established the Home Park Winery on Penfolds Road, Magill. When Jack joined the firm it became A. G. Chinnery & Sons. Archie served a number of terms as a Campbelltown and Burnside councillor. He relaxed on the bowling green with Kensington Gardens. He was 62 when he died at Magill on 15 March 1947.
P. Robins, D. Cox Sept 2021