Frank Sparrow is mainly remembered these days as a top football commentator, arguably the best.  But his involvement in football began in the underage competition that was held when World War Two caused the WAFL competition to come to a halt between 1942 and 1945.Son of Val Sparrow, an East Perth legend, Frank was a star in an era of stars. A centreline player who was also a tough half back, Sparrow represented Western Australia 17 times, and captained his State.He played 126 league games for East Perth from 1945 to 1952, picking up Fairest and Bests in 1948 and 1952, as well as runner up for the Sandover Medal in 1952, captaining the Royals in 1949 and 1951.  He captain-coached the lowly Swan Districts from 1953 to 1955.  1953 at Bassendean was  a good year for Sparrow as a player, winning Swans Fairest and Best award as well as gaining All-Australian selection.  He was lured to West Perth as captain coach in 1956, where he was only to play another six games before hanging up the boots and becoming a full time coach, guiding the Cardinals into the 1957 finals. The following season he decided to try out as a broadcaster with 6IX.  Little did he know that he was embarking on an even more memorable career than the one he’d just left.  The Sparrow took to the calling caper like a Duck to the water and quickly became a household word on the radio. He is not only remembered for the excitement he brought into the description of a football match, but some of the sayings he sparkled his commentaries with.When Channel Seven began their World Of Football show which became an institution at noon on Sundays, Frank Sparrow was a logical choice as Chairman. He became as adept in front of a camera as he was behind a microphone, spending thirteen years on the show, while still calling on Saturdays.    The microphone was finally hung up alongside the boots in 1995, bringing to a close over fifty years of football excellence.Frank Sparrow, commentator and player of excellence.