Cyril Hoft

Cyril Hoft
Personal information
Full nameCyril Louis Hoft
Date of birthOctober 1897
Date of death5 July 1949 (age 51)
Place of deathPerth, Western Australia
Height/Weight177 cm / 63 kg[1]
Position(s)Wing
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1914–15
1919–28
1924–27		North Fremantle
Perth
Glenelg		11 (?)
88 (?)
56 (?)
Representative team honours
YearsTeamGames (Goals)
1921–23
1924–27		Western Australia
South Australia		3 (1)
unknown
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 1928 season.
Career highlights

Cyril Louis Hoft (October 1897 – 5 July 1949) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the North Fremantle and Perth Football Clubs in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and the Glenelg Football Club in the South Australian Football League (SAFL). Having attended Scotch College in Perth, Hoft began his career with North Fremantle in 1914, enlisting in the Australian Army the following year, where he served in Europe during World War I. He resumed his football career in 1919 with Perth (North Fremantle having disbanded during the war), and tied with Tom Outridge in the inaugural Sandover Medal count in 1921, for which he was retrospectively awarded a medal in 1997. In 1924, Hoft moved to South Australia to captain Glenelg, and the following season was made captain-coach. He returned to Perth in 1928 for one final season with the club. During his career, Hoft also represented both Western Australia and South Australia in interstate matches.

Career

Hoft grew up in the South-West region of Western Australia, moving to Perth to attend Scotch College, where he played in the school's football team. Due to the fact that his school was located in North Fremantle recruitment zone, Hoft began his career with that club, playing eleven games for North Fremantle in 1914. Along with many others from his team, Hoft enlisted in the Australian Army in 1915, forcing the club to disband.[2] Enrolled as a private in the 44 Infantry Battalion, he served in the European theatre,[3] also participating in the October 1916 "Pioneer Exhibition Game", an exhibition match in benefit of the war organised by Frank Beaurepaire.[4] Resuming his league career with Perth in 1919, Hoft finished equal on votes with Subiaco's Tom Outridge in the inaugural Sandover Medal count in 1921. As was customary at the time, the WAFL president had the deciding vote, which he gave to Outridge. In 1997, Hoft, along with other players that had finished equal on votes but lost on countback, was awarded a retrospective medal. Hoft represented Western Australia in the 1921 Perth Carnival.[4] In 1924, Hoft switched to Glenelg in the SAFL. Standing out in a team that had yet to win a match, Hoft was appointed captain two rounds into the season, and won the club's best and fairest in 1924, also representing South Australia at the 1924 Hobart Carnival. He was appointed captain-coach in 1925, and guided the club to its first ever win, against reigning premiers West Torrens. Hoft returned to Perth in 1928, playing one final season with the club before retiring.[4] He died in July 1949 after a long illness, leaving his wife (Dorothy, née Davies) and six children (June, Kevin, Les, Lois, Maureen, and Peter).[5]

References

  1. ↑ Cyril Hoft – Snouts Louts. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  2. ↑ CYRIL HOFT. – The Advertiser. Published 23 May 1924. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Cyril Louis Hoft - First World War Embarkation Roll – awm.gov.au. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Cyril Hoft – FullPointsFooty. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  5. ↑ Former Perth Winger Dies – The Daily News. Published 6 July 1949. Retrieved 21 August 2012.