Len Thomas

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Len Thomas
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Personal information
Birth July 20, 1908, South Melbourne
Recruited from
Height and weight 179 cm / 80 kg
Death August 17, 1943 (aged 35), Salamaua,
New Guinea
Playing career¹
Debut 1927, South Melbourne vs. , at
Team(s) South Melbourne (1927-38)
  • 187 games, 54 goals

Hawthorn (1939)

  • 16 games, 15 goals

North Melbourne (1940)

  • 6 games, 9 goals

Total - 209 Games, 78 Goals
Coaching career¹
Team(s) Hawthorn (1939)

North Melbourne (1940)
Total - 30 Games, 9 Wins, 20 Loses, 1 Draw
¹ Statistics to end of 1940 season
Career highlights

Len Thomas (born July 20, 1908 - August 17, 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played 187 games with South Melbourne in the VFL during the 1930s, before finishing his career as captain-coach at both Hawthorn and North Melbourne. He was the son of South Melbourne player William Thomas.

Contents

[edit] Football career

Thomas made his debut for South Melbourne in 1927 and went on to become one of their better players during the 1930's. He won the Bob Skilton Medal for the club's Best and Fairest player in 1931 and 1938. A premiership player in 1933, he played through the centre in their Grand Final victory over Richmond.

In 1939 he moved to Hawthorn where he had accepted the role of captain-coach. The club finished 10th and the following season he crossed to North Melbourne with the same leadership role but couldn't prevent them from winning the wooden spoon. At the seasons end he announced his retirement from football in order to take up military service.

[edit] Military career

Although Thomas had attained the rank of Corporal, upon his evacuation from the Middle East in September 1941 he requested that he be allowed to revert to the rank of Private, so that he could serve as a commando. His request was granted. He served with the 2/3rd Independent (Commando) Company, Second A.I.F.

He became the most experienced footballer to be killed in war when he lost his life fighting the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943[1].

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Roll of Honour. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.

[edit] References

  • Main, J. & Allen, D., "Thomas, Len", pp.338-341 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen — The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
1933 South Melbourne Premiership Players
Captain: Bissett | Austin | Bertram | Bowe | Brain | Clarke | Diggins | Faul | Kelleher | Matthews | McKay | McKenzie | McLaughlin | Nash | O'Meara | Pratt | Reville | Thomas | Reserve: Beard
Coach: Bissett