BIO

Born in Pinaroo, Gary "Alby" Menzel was recruited by Norwood from the Ngallo Football Club (Victoria), in the Lameroo and District Football League. In 1977 he won the Norwood Under 19's Best and Fairest award.
 
Menzel then made his League debut in 1978 , making 11 senior appearances for the season. He was runner-up in the 1978 Reserves Best and Fairest award, as well as playing in the Reserves premiership.
 
Early in his career, the exciting rover/forward had trouble cementing a spot in the League team; his task made difficult by the presence of such quality on-ballers as Neil Craig, Michael Nunan, David Palm, Trevor Sapwell, Greg Turbill and Terry Von Bertouch.
 
Menzel  played in a premiership for St. Mary's Football Club (Northern Territory Football League) in the 1978-79 "off-season" and 1979 saw Menzel play another 17 league games for the Redlegs.
 
The following year the "blonde bomb-shell" established himself as a regular League player. He made 26 senior appearances, reached his 50 game milestone, played in the Grand Final against Port Adelaide and won the "Most Improved Player" award.
 
His good form continued into 1981. He was the leading goal-kicker with 37 majors from his 21 games and made the State practice squad to play against Western Australia. Unfortunately, Menzel broke his leg late in the 1981 season. "Alby" suffered another broken leg (fractured shin) in Norwood's last  pre-season trial against North Adelaide in March 1982. He had initially injured his leg the previous week in an AFC match against South Fremantle. The leg was put in plaster for eight weeks, but when the cast was removed it became necessary to break the fibula and place the leg back in plaster for a further six weeks. The injury restricted him to only one senior game in 1982 but he managed to play four games in the Reserves late in the season.
 
Menzel then played in a losing Grand Final for St. Mary's in the 1982-83 Northern Territory Football League season.
 
Back at The Parade in 1983, he played 11 senior games and was runner-up in the Reserves best and fairest.
 
He captained the 1985 and 1986 Reserves premiership sides. In 1985 he played his 100th League game for the Redlegs and was runner-up in the Reserves Best and Fairest.
 
After 102 League and 81 Reserves games, the popular "Alby" retired as a player from senior football.
 
Later, Menzel took on coaching, and in 1995 led the newly merged Payneham Norwood Union Football Club in the South Australian Football Association.

In 1998-1999 he coached the Norwood Under 19 team.

R Cialini August 2017