SA Footy

Sad news for all South supporters.
Unfortunately our patron Allan Hickinbotham passed away earlier today. Mr Hickinbotham played many games for the club,captained the club, was a state player for SA and played in the VFL for Geelong. He was the chairman of the SAFC for many years and our home ground at Noarlunga bears his name.
Vale Allan Hickinbotham.

sad news, didnt know that he was sick.

He would have been 85 at least.

OK, maybe 84.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sa-builder-alan-hickinbotham-dies-after-long-illness/story-e6frea6u-1225871236841

Without Alan Hickinbotham support and hard work over decades of dedication to SAFC i believe the grand old club would have been just a memory of the SANFL many years ago. His passing is a great loss to our club but rightfully his memory and name will live on in the appropriate naming of our home ground at Noarlunga.

contrary to recent publicity, he was a bloody nice bloke. Had a fair bit to do with him & his sons & daughter over the last 12 years through work. Always had plenty of time for everyone.

Very sad. A great supporter of the SAFC and a great individual in terms of what he did for SA.

If my grandfather's to be believed, he was the one who actually introduced Alan to the SAFC. He was trying to get a game with North Adelaide (colts I think) and Grandpa, who playing colts at the time knew that he wouldn't get a game, so introduced him to a mate at South.

Can't confirm, but there's no reason he'd make it up...

As an aside, was Hickinbotham Oval named in honour of Alan, or is it a naming rights arrangement?

*Correction. Was talking with Grandpa this afternoon. Apparently he wanted to get a game for Sturt. Who could blame him!

Cambridge Clarrie wrote:Very sad. A great supporter of the SAFC and a great individual in terms of what he did for SA.

If my grandfather's to be believed, he was the one who actually introduced Alan to the SAFC. He was trying to get a game with North Adelaide (colts I think) and Grandpa, who playing colts at the time knew that he wouldn't get a game, so introduced him to a mate at South.

Can't confirm, but there's no reason he'd make it up...

As an aside, was Hickinbotham Oval named in honour of Alan, or is it a naming rights arrangement?

It is named in honour of Alan not a sponsorship deal.

Good to hear.

Whilst I'm not old enough to fully appreciate Allan's contribution to SAFC, this is very sad news.

A win this week to honour him would be nice.

fat chance of that happening, sunshine! And I was going to invite him to the President's Luncheon too!

Maybe yourself and your President may care to join him.........................

..from the SAFC website...


ALAN HICKINBOTHAM AM

We are saddened to advise the passing of our esteemed Patron Alan Hickinbotham.

Alan died on Tuesday May 25, after a long illness and our Club is in deep mourning on this happening.

Alan was a significant figure at South Adelaide for over 60 years, as a champion player, a distinguished administrator and latterly as Patron of our Club. He has been a wise and generous benefactor and will be sadly missed.

Alan’s association with the South Adelaide Football Club began with the 42 games he played as a strong and dynamic centre-half back between 1944 and 1948, in which period he also represented South Australia for three years. When employment took him to Geelong he represented that club in the VFL for four seasons, coached Irimpyle in the Mildura League for two years, and then returned to South as coach in 1954.

In the years since then his involvement with our club has included periods as delegate to the SANFL, and as chairman from 1965-70, 1972-9, and again in 1989. He was instrumental in forming the Panther Club in the 1960’s, and in the construction of Panther Park and the licensed clubrooms. Alan also formed and chaired the Budget and Finance committee from 1983-87, and served as president of the Club from 1983-88, as well as founding and chairing the SAFC Foundation in 1987.

Alan was on the Board of Management of the SANFL from 1964-69, and a member of the Foundation Board that formed West Lakes; his efforts in these roles have previously been recognised with life membership of the SANFL, and his overall services to the community resulted in the award of a Member of the Order of Australia in 1998. Alan has been patron of the SAFC since 1997.

Alan was awarded life membership of the SAFC in 1967, and was inducted into the SAFC Hall of Fame in 2004.

In 2006 the South Adelaide Football Club Oval was re named the Hickinbotham Oval to honour and pay tribute to Alan for his long and devoted service to the Club that he loved so much.

Our thoughts are with his family and on behalf the Board of Directors, Staff, Players, Volunteers and all Members of the South Adelaide Football Club we extend to Alan’s wife Margaret, and her family, our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy for the loss of their loved one.



Colin Francis

President South Adelaide Football Club

prowling panther wrote:Maybe yourself and your President may care to join him.........................

nice guy! Are you going on Saturday? Look forward to bumping into you! Certainly no cake OR Gummi Bears for you.

CENTURION wrote:Certainly no cake OR Gummi Bears for you.

Gummi bear time in 3 weeks......

SJABC wrote:

CENTURION wrote:Certainly no cake OR Gummi Bears for you.

Gummi bear time in 3 weeks......

It will be my pleasure, might even invite you to Our President's Luncheon, together with UKFan, RoyalCity & DirtyLeedsBastard!