HERO WORSHIP
Fair-minded followers of football although they have deemed a liking for their own particular team, are always ready to pay homage to heroes in the pastime. There is no more popular player in the league than is Dr. F.N. Le Messurier the champion rover of North Adelaide.
It is questionable whether there is a more capable and effective worker in any side in Australia at present than is this little bundle of cleverness, energy, and untiring dash. Everybody is ready to applaud his efforts, even though those efforts may tell seriously against one’s own particular club’s fancy.
Striking evidence of his popularity and ability was forthcoming at the game at the Adelaide Oval against Sturt on Saturday. Early in the first quarter he received a nasty bump, and was rendered unconscious for some time. So serious was his condition afterwards that he was not able to take up his customary duties as rover. He was instead placed forward, where he immediately made things unpleasant for the foe. His form there hid from the spectators the extent he had been hurt in the accident. At half time he had to lie down in the dressing room and keep very quiet. The reason was that he was suffering from a slight concussion of the brain. To most men that would have been enough to keep them out of the play. Not so, however with Dr. Le Messurier, who has the interests of his club very closely at heart.
After the interval he was again seen forward, and he was easily the best man on the ground. The strain told on him not a little. During the last term it was noticeable that the hero of the day was rather “groggy†in the legs after moments of great activity, and the trainers keep a particular watchful eye on him, and rendered aid to him as right as possible. Nobody could have worked with more will and persistency than he, and it largely owing to his magnificent efforts that North were able to keep so hard upon the heels of the enemy. “If Le Messurier had not been hurt,†remarked a northern barracker, “we would have wonâ€. But that as it may, there is no denying that Le Messurier was handicapped somewhat by a whirling head. When he rose to his feet on having regained consciousness after his fall he was greeted with ringing cheers from all parts of the crowd, and his subsequent work was of such brilliance and consistency that the salvos of applause on his behalf were renewed many times during the remainder of the match, which was remarkable for the evenness of the scoring and the intense excitement among the people. An occurrence which demonstrated the all-absorbing interest taken in the game by the spectators was that M.Guillaux, the airman, was returning to Cheltenham after his flight around the city very few people looked from the play to the see the aeroplane after it had had gone westward of the Oval. They had, witnessed the flight to the metropolis during the long interval in the match, and it appeared to satisfy them. Cheers were given, and hats, handkerchiefs, and parasols were waved as Guillaux passed eastward, and perhaps that international conqueror and hero of the aerial art, from his lofty position caught a glimpse of the homage that was thus paid to him.
(taken from “The Register†Monday June 22nd 1914)
Scores from the game :
Sturt – 4.2 4.6 7.9 10.11 (71)
North - 2.2 4.6 7.8 9.10 (64)
(Le Messurier was named Best on Ground and kicked 2 goals)
(NB: - F.N (“Freddieâ€) Le Messurier played for North from 1908-10 and 1913-1914 (41 games; 22 Goals). He played 1911-12 at University. During WW1 he enlisted with the Australian Army Medical Corps. On his leaving for the front he was presented with a surgeon’s hypodermic pocket case by the supporters and officials of North Adelaide as a going away present. He was also awarded the D.S.O for his actions in France.).
F.N LeMessurier from the team photo of North 1913.
