BIO

Roy Rainsford’s form in his league debut was full of promise, but he did not get another chance because of the dominance of the famous goalkicking duo Bruce Schultz and Ron Brown.

Roy came into the team as a rover/forward pocket against West Torrens at Thebarton Oval on 19 May 1935 and kicked two goals. Full forward Schultz and his sidekick Brown each nabbed three goals, but Torrens capitalized on Norwood’s ruck weakness and with a third quarter burst set up a 14.16 to 10.13 victory.  Norwood finished with 17 men. 

Roy had to be content with 19 goals in 23 reserves games from 1934 to 1935.  He played earlier for East Torrens in the East Torrens Football Association.

He was born to Harold Cleon Rainsford and his wife Isobel Alice, née Dewsnap, at Claremont, WA, on 21 April 1911, and had brothers Harold and Eric among his four siblings. The family lived at Hamilton Street, Erindale.

Roy, a salesman, married Emma Jean Huppatz, daughter of Mrs and the late Mr J. F. Huppatz of Toorak Gardens, at Gartrell Memorial Methodist Church in 1936.  They settled at Myall Avenue, Kensington Gardens, and their daughter Beverley was born in 1941. 

Roy was 95 when he died on 30 May 2006, two years before his daughter

P Robins, D Cox, G Adams Dec 2020