Notice: Undefined variable: ub in /home/dh_ingvwb/ozfooty.net/templates/hot_cars/js/browser.php on line 53

Notice: Undefined variable: ub in /home/dh_ingvwb/ozfooty.net/templates/hot_cars/js/browser.php on line 65

Deprecated: strripos(): Non-string needles will be interpreted as strings in the future. Use an explicit chr() call to preserve the current behavior in /home/dh_ingvwb/ozfooty.net/templates/hot_cars/js/browser.php on line 65

Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /home/dh_ingvwb/ozfooty.net/templates/hot_cars/js/browser.php on line 69

“It was a bonecrushing clash, and Brian sort of twisted in the air and ended on his back, with his face upwards as Somerford took a mark and landed heavily on Brian's face, punching a hole in his forehead,” former Swan Districts and State wingman Dennis Carrick recalled . “He stood up, but was out of it, we could all see that. He was operated on that night for a depressed fracture of the skull.” A distraught Somerford, who was entirely innocent of any blame, visited Currie in hospital that night. The highly promising Narembeen recruit never played for the black and whites again, as doctors warned him of the risks. A scrupulously fair player, Somerford was as upset about the damage to the unfortunate Currie as anyone else, but he was a player who always made the ball his object and if anyone was in the way, bad luck. “You have to stand your ground,” he said. At five foot nine and spending most of his league career at centre half back or full back, Mike copped more than his share from the taller and bulkier opponents he faced week after week. A quick mover and adept with both feet, Mike Somerford debuted for Subiaco in 1950, after going to the club straight from under eighteens at Metropolitan Juniors for the last two seconds games of the previous season. In and out of the league side initially, he became a regular in 1951, playing mainly at centre half back. The Subiaco side were going through a period of permanent residence in the bottom four, despite the presence of top players such as Laurie Kettlewell and Don Carter, when the competition was dominated by South Fremantle and West Perth, with East Fremantle and Perth also fielding strong combinations, and in the late fifties East Perth reigned supreme. Somerford became captain coach of the Subiaco seconds in 1957, winning the Prendergast Medal as best and fairest in the competition, and his concentration on that role resulted in him playing his last league game in 1958, but his mentoring role was to meet with success, with Subiaco winning the 1958 and 59 seconds premierships. After four seasons, he was appointed coach of Metropolitans in the Sunday League. Mike’s coaching once again resulted in premierships, with Metropolitans winning two flags during his tenure.  Subiaco were quick to react, and Somerford was appointed Thirds coach in 1964. One of his protégés in the thirds was Ross Gosden, who rated Mike as a “great coach.” At the same time he was in the chair at Wembley Amateurs, and went on to a decade of coaching juniors for that club, his work over those years influencing the careers of many league players. A clerk during his working life, Mike became a keen fisherman after retiring from the game, and is a dedicated Eagles supporter. He and wife Shirley have two sons, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. You would have thought that a bloke of five foot nine playing centre half back would find most difficulty with the many bigger opponents he played on, but no.  “Laurie Green, from South Fremantle, was the hardest to beat,” Mike said. Out of all of his marksmen, Green was probably the closest to Somerford in height. Not surprisingly, he went for Laurie Kettlewell as best he’d played with. Mike Somerford played seventy eight league games with Subiaco, and was a hardworking and talented player who served his club well both on the field and off.

Search

Keyword

Who's Online?

We have 398 guests and 5 members online

  • Demons Forever
  • Success Hill
  • one time only
  • Tiger Tales
  • GarlicBreath

Newest Footy Recruits

  • MiltonRutty
  • BhoblhRhync
  • MRanker - Fiverr
  • whatoma
  • RobertPes