Harold Oliver (Australian footballer)

Harold Oliver
Personal information
Full name William Harold Oliver
Date of birth (1891-08-12)12 August 1891
Place of birth Waukaringa, South Australia
Date of death 15 November 1958(1958-11-15) (aged 67)
Place of death Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s) Lyrup
Height/Weight 83kg[1]
Position(s) Utility
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1910–1922 Port Adelaide 117 (89)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1911–1912, 1921 South Australia 14 (15)[2]
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 1922 season.
Career highlights

William Harold Oliver (12 August 1891 – 15 November 1958) was an Australian rules footballer. The son of Cornish parents James Oliver and Sarah Mill.[3] He starred in South Australia's victorious 1911 Australian football championship, Port Adelaide's 1914 "Invincible's" team and captained the club to the 1921 SAFL premiership.[4][5]

Early life

Harold Oliver was born to Cornish immigrants James Oliver and Sarah Mill in the gold mining town of Waukaringa. During Oliver's childhood in the 1890s the town was home to 600 people. Today it is a ghost town.[6]

Lyrup Football Club (1908–1909)

Harold Oliver started to grow fruit in Lyrup, South Australia in September 1908. During this time he captained the Lyrup football team. In 1909 the Lyrup football club won the local riverland league premiership and subsequently traveled to Mildura where they were beaten twice by the local side. The Mildura Cultivator praised Oliver's marking and kicking reporting that it was as good as anyone who had played at the ground.[7] An umpire at the game from Melbourne told Harold that he would be welcome in Melbourne to play football if he wanted to. However the following year he joined Port Adelaide.[8]

Port Adelaide Football Club (1910–1922)

Oliver is one of the youngest and, so far as the 1911 season is concerned, has been the most brilliant exponent of all the players in senior football. He is only 20 years of age, and, although he entered the arena as an inexperienced junior last year, he has made remarkable headway to pride of place which The Register unhesitatingly gives to him this year. He holds his own with the best of the more experience exponents of the game, and taking into consideration his age and experience, he is well entitled to the (Magarey) medal. He is a fine type of athlete and possesses all the qualities for a successful and leading footballer for years to come.

The Adelaide Register[9]

During the 1910 Championship of Australia match against VFL premiers Collingwood Harold Oliver kicked 5 goals helping Port Adelaide achieve the win.[10]

Harold Oliver was a member of the South Australian state team that won the 1911 Interstate Carnival defeating the Victorian side 11.11 (77) to 5.4 (34). Players in the 1911 South Australian team included Bert Renfrey (captain), Vic Cumberland, Richard Head, Tom Leahy, Dave Low along with Port Adelaide players Sampson Hosking, Angelo Congear and Frank Hansen. [11]

He kicked 28 goals in the 1912 SAFL season.[12]

In 1913 Port Adelaide won the 1913 SAFL premiership and the 1913 Championship of Australia by defeating VFL premier Fitzroy.

In 1914 Harold Oliver played every game for the year.[13] He was part of Port Adelaide's undefeated 1914 team that defeated VFL premiers Carlton in the 1914 Championship of Australia match at Adelaide Oval. A game played between Port Adelaide and a composite team of the SAFL was played in 1914 with Port Adelaide victors and Harold Oliver awarded the best on ground with arguably the best players of the competition taking to the field on that day.[14]

Harold Oliver's talent was noted by Vic Richardson, captain of the Sturt Football Club and Australian cricket team.

The finest all-round exponent of Australian football in my playing and watching experience of it

Vic Richardson [15]

There is one thing Harold that I must mention to you right here and it is something which ought to make you and Mrs Oliver and also little Miss Oliver phoned and it is this that since leaving Dear old Australia I have heard your name and fame discussed in three different countries namely Egypt, Lemnos Island (Greece) and at the front offensive in the ferocity line even amid the din of battle when bullets bombs and shrapnel were dealing both death and destruction on all sides I have oft times heard your fame discussed in arguments about football and I remember as we were travelling from Port Suez to Cairo going through the valley of the Nile by train we passed some Indians who are stationed there, playing football and as the ball was up in the air someone on our train yelled out the old famous battle cry “Oliver”. I can tell you Harold it sent a thrill of pleasure right through me to hear the good old name and know that others besides myself had not forgotten you.

Corporal William J Powell[16]

During World War I Harold Oliver returned to Berri to maintain his farm. One of his close friends William Powell sent him a letter during his time serving that included a short paragraph describing how Australian soldiers were discussing his prowess and that others were exclaiming "OLIVER" whilst playing the Australian game.

After World War I Harold Oliver was close to retiring from league football playing only 1 game in 1919 and 8 in 1920. However keen supporters of the Port Adelaide Football Club collectively raised funds and bought Harold a motor bike so he could make his commute from Berri where he eventually settled on his own block as a fruit grower for the 1921 season.[17] During the 1921 season, which he served as club captain, he led the club to the SAFL premiership, winning his fourth in the process.

In 1922 after playing only 5 league matches for the season his career at Port Adelaide finally came to an end due to commitments regarding his farm at Berri and disputes regarding game compensation. His contract termination meant he was paid ₤76 of ₤100 pounds for the season.[18][19]


Port's 1911 South Australia representatives. (L-R: Congear, Oliver, Hosking, Hansen.)
Oliver taking a mark during the 1914 SAFL Semi Final against Sturt at Adelaide Oval.
Oliver, third left middle row, with Port Adelaide's 1914 "Invincible's" team.
Oliver in full Port Adelaide playing kit.
Oliver captained Port Adelaide's 1921 SAFL premiership.

Return to Riverland football (1923–1932)

Harold Oliver, second from right, with the 1938 Berri Football Club URML premiers.

When Harold Oliver retired from league football he returned to the river-land living in Berri. He became captain-coach of the Berri Football Club in 1923.[20] Berri Football Club replanted a new oval in 1927 and Harold Oliver worked as a groundskeeper.[21] In 1929 at the age of 38 he had kicked 21 goals from the opening three games for the Upper Murray Association football team and averaged more than 10 goals at the clubs Berri home ground for the season.[22] He played his last ever football game in 1931 when his club won the Upper Murray Association premiership defeating Barmera.[23] During the match he kicked six goals from six shots at goal.[24]Oliver coached Berri to premierships in 1937 and 1938. During the 1938 post season Oliver organised an exhibition match between Berri and his old club Port Adelaide. [25]

After football

He was often considered one of the best South Australian players never to win the Magarey Medal.[26] Charlie Checkett, longserving curator of the Adelaide Oval considered Harold Oliver "The greatest footballer this state [South Australia] has produced".[27] Within South Australia he was unanimously considered the best exponent of the spectacular high flying mark.[28]

In 2001 Harold Oliver was named in the Port Adelaide Football Club's greatest team on the Half Forward Flank.[29]

Personal life

Harold Oliver married a Mrs Downer of Lyrup on the 19th of July, 1914.[30] They had one child Beryl.

He died on the 15 November 1958 aged 67. The only club representatives at his funeral were Bob McLean and Charles Darwent leading to the former to say in his book '100 Years with the Magpies' that "There is a very true saying, when referring to the champions, that they are peacock's feathers today and feather dusters tomorrow...How the mighty fall!".[31]

References

  1. ↑ "PLAY AND PLAYERS.". Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 - 1924) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 4 August 1922. p. 7. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Port Adelaide Football Club Yearbook 2014
  3. ↑ "RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: South Australian people". wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  4. ↑ "W (Harold) Oliver". SANFL.
  5. ↑ "Harold Oliver". Australian Football.com.
  6. ↑ "Ghost Towns of Australia". www.oocities.org. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  7. ↑ "PASTIME.". The Mildura Cultivator (Vic. : 1888 - 1920) (Vic.: National Library of Australia). 14 August 1909. p. 8. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Family tree. Details of William Harold OLIVER (1891–1958)". www.users.on.net. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  9. ↑ Rucci, Michelangelo (8 May 2015). "How soon we forget the stars of yesteryear" – via The Advertiser.
  10. ↑ "FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 17 October 1910. p. 12. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "The South Australian team". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA). 5 August 1911. p. 17.
  12. ↑ "FOOTBALL. PORT ADELAIDE CLUB.". Daily Herald. 1912-03-09. p. 12. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  13. ↑ "Australian Football". footybets.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  14. ↑ "FOOTBALL.". Observer (Adelaide newspaper) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 17 October 1914. p. 33. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "Australian Football - Harold Oliver - Player Bio". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 2015-10-17.
  16. ↑ "A letter from Corporal William J Powell". www.murraypioneer.com.au. Retrieved 2015-10-17.
  17. ↑ "Family tree. Details of William Harold OLIVER (1891–1958)". www.users.on.net. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  18. ↑ "PLAY AND PLAYERS NOTES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.". Daily Herald. 1922-08-04. p. 7. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  19. ↑ "RBA: Inflation Calculator". www.rba.gov.au. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  20. ↑ "PORT". News. 1926-03-04. p. 11. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  21. ↑ "No Title.". News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 19 September 1929. p. 4 Edition: HOME EDITION. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "FOOTBALL VETERAN HAROLD OLIVER IN FORM Former Port Captain". News. 1929-09-19. p. 4. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  23. ↑ "HAROLD OLIVER'S LAST GAME.". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 9 October 1931. p. 9. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "NOTES ON THE GAME.". Advertiser and Register (Adelaide, SA : 1931) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 4 September 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  25. ↑ "Random Notes on U.M. Football.". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 - 1942) (Renmark, SA: National Library of Australia). 22 September 1938. p. 10. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "Australian Football - Harold Oliver - Player Bio". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  27. ↑ "GENERAL NOTES.". Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 - 1924) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 30 May 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  28. ↑ "O-L-I-V-E-R! Marking Controversy WAS HE HIGHEST FLYER?". News. 1927-06-09. p. 14. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  29. ↑ "Greatest Team - portadelaidefc.com.au". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  30. ↑ "WEDDING AT LYRUP. OLIVER—DOWNER.". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record. 1913-08-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  31. ↑ McLean, Robert (1971). 100 Years with the Magpies. Adelaide: Letterpress. pp. 17–18.

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