BIO

Sergeant Reg Gould pulled off his army boots as World War II was drawing to a conclusion and pulled on his football boots to kick off a hopeful new era with Norwood.

Reg was a forward flanker on debut as a six-goal bag by ruckman Neville Way spearheaded a 15.14 to 10.14 win over North Adelaide.  A week later, pacy West Torrens produced the form that would take it to the premiership that season.  Norwood led by a point at half-time but Torrens then kicked five goals in eight minutes to surge to a 14.17 to 9.12 victory.  One plus for Norwood was the promise shown by young Sam Gallagher at centre half-forward.  Reg, playing as a follower/forward pocket, was credited with a score of 1.4 by The Advertiser but has no goal against his name in club records.

A league career of just two games was a typical result for Reg, whose life was full of ups and downs.  Born at Port Pirie on 20 May 1916 to Walter Gould and his wife Clara (née Reynolds),  Reg had a younger sister, Ellen, and an older brother, Donald.  There are reports that the father left his wife and young family and was charged and jailed in Sydney for desertion.

Reg was living in Norwood in 1938 when the motor cycle he was riding knocked a girl off her bike.  She suffered back injuries and Reg was fined £4 with £1 10/ costs for having ridden without due care.  He enlisted for army service at Port Moresby on 10 July 1942 and was a sergeant in the 13 Field Regiment when discharged on 2 March 1945.

Handsome Reg married Ruth Morcom at Rose Park on 10 November 1945.  He was at the Kalgoorlie goldfields between 1949 and 1965.  His wife divorced him in 1962 and died in 1965.  He married Jean Ellison at Rose Park on 19 October 1963 and she died two years later.  It appears he took a third wife, Hilda Gould, who died on 5 August 1995.  They may have had a son.  Reg Gould died on 26 February 2004 while a resident of Morphett Vale. On his tombstone it says: "Loving husband of Hilda and devoted father to Lynton."

P Robins, D Cox Feb 2019