BIO

Wartime Competition 1942 - 1944

Norwood-North games : 19

Norwood-North goals : 16

“Horrie” Searle was a ruckman and forward for West Torrens before helping Norwood-North to wartime premierships in 1943 and 1944.

Not required for the Port-Torrens team which won the 1942 flag, he was granted a permit to play for Norwood-North and must have savoured the subsequent grand final victories over his old side.  Norwood-North piled on 5.1 to three behinds to streak to a 12.10 to 8.13 win over Port-Torrens in 1943 and hung on to win by six points, 9.7 to 7.13, after a torrid contest in 1944.  Searle kicked a goal in each game – and that was the winning margin in 1944.

He won the best and fairest award for the West Torrens B grade team in 1937.  He was the league centre half-forward in 1939.  In 1940 he was suspended for five matches for striking and umpire abuse.  He was a member of the B grade premiership team in 1941 and played for Port-Torrens in1942.

When regular football resumed in 1945, he played one league game for North Adelaide.

“Horrie” Searle was born on 12 November 1912 and died on 11 January 1985. 

P. Robins January 2025