Here you go Grassy
This article is from the 15 June 2016 issue of The West Australian Newspaper Digital Edition.
JACK ENSOR Football coach and educator Born: Geraldton, 1928 Died: Perth, aged 88
Jack Ensor, the football coach and physical education teacher, was never known to blow his own trumpet. But his natural modesty underscored a formidable record of success. It was a record which came as a total surprise to his new neighbour in Shelley, back in 1987.
Journalist Bob Cronin had quit the editorship of the mass-circulation Melbourne Sun newspaper to take control of Robert Holmes a Court’s Perth weekly, the Western Mail, which the entrepreneur was using as a stalking horse in his ultimately successful strategy to acquire The West Australian.
Cronin, who is now The West’s Editor-in-Chief , was living in Shelley waiting for his family to arrive from Melbourne, and found his neighbour to be welcoming and generous. So he invited him to a lunch organised by the Carbine Club, which has strong sporting links.
When the members were asked to introduce their guests, Cronin stood up and said: “My guest is my neighbour, Jack Ensor.” What happened next astonished him. “All the members rose to their feet and started applauding. I had no idea Jack had a sporting background, let alone such a formidable record as a football coach. He hadn’t said anything about it.”
Jack Ensor had a very formidable coaching record indeed. He initially played for Perth’s seconds at the WACA Ground in 1948. But his leadership skills started to emerge when, as captain coach, he led South Perth to an A-grade amateur premiership in the early 1950s.
He also played a key role in the formation of Perth’s junior council in 1952 and became the council’s director of umpiring the following year. He cajoled many former league players, including star full forward Ron Tucker, to take up umpiring, much to the delight of the youngsters.
When the WANFL launched an underage thirds competition in 1957, Perth invited Ensor to coach the club’s inaugural team. It was a smart move. He took his players to six premierships over the next nine years, helping lay the groundwork for the most successful era in the club’s history.
After rugged defender Malcolm Atwell was lured from East Perth as captain-coach of Perth’s league team for the 1966 season, Ensor was appointed his assistant. It was a winning mix.
With champion rover Barry Cable promoted to vice-captain , Perth swept all before them with three successive premierships. The trio proved to be the most formidable leadership team in the WA competition.
While Atwell was immersed in the on-field action, it was Ensor observing from the sidelines who was able to give the coach strategic feedback which proved so crucial to the club’s success.
“It was a pleasure to work with you (Ensor) during our premiership years from 1966 to 1968,” Atwell said in a tribute in The West. “We were a good team and you made a big contribution towards our success. I’ve always treasured your friendship and loyalty.”
Many of Ensor’s proteges from the thirds were part of that success. They included Frank Pyke (father of Adelaide Crows coach and former Eagle, Don Pyke), Sandover Medallists Pat Dalton and Ian Miller, Pat Astone, Greg Brehaut, Ray Lawrence, Graham Jenzen, Ross Millson, Ray Mills, Bob Shields, Greg Bennett and Graham Ramshaw.
Former Perth player Allan Stiles told more than 200 mourners at Ensor’s funeral that he was eloquent, articulate and a great communicator. But he could also be tough, asking his players to do nothing more than he could do himself.
Naturally, Ensor was keen to try out as senior coach but his opportunities at Perth were limited. He was snapped up when a vacancy occurred at Swan Districts and he took the club to two preliminary finals. In 1976 he was appointed director of coaching at Subiaco.
He also had stints as a panellist on Channel 7’s Sunday program, the World of Football, and as a commentator on 6PR.
In addition, Ensor was guiding the careers — both in football and the wider world — of thousands of teenagers through the State Schoolboys teams. He was a selector from 1960 to 1996, as well as being the coach for 10 years.
John Francis Ensor was born in Geraldton on February 9, 1928, to Eugene — a World War I veteran and schoolteacher — and Eileen. He was the second of seven children and enrolled at Claremont Teachers College after his Leaving Certificate year at Aquinas College.
Following National Service training in the psychology corps in Melbourne, he took up a teaching appointment at the Kalgoorlie Central School. Later he helped establish the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards program in WA before taking up the first of many high-school appointments in 1981.
Ensor married physical education teacher Eleanor Richardson in 1963.They had three sons, Rhys, Shaun and Brett, and have five grandchildren . But the marriage did not last and he did not remarry.
He served on the Australian Press Council for nine years, and was a life member of the Perth Football Club, the WA Football Commission, School Sport Australia and School Sport WA. He was also an inaugural inductee last year in Perth’s Hall of Fame.
Jack Ensor, who died on May 25, remained an active member of the club’s nominations committee, recommending honours for players and members. His last visit to Perth’s home ground at Lathlain Park was in April for a reunion of the 1960s premiership teams.
Peter Kennedy
The author is a member of the Perth Football Club
