Allen Goldfinch

Allen Goldfinch discovered his love for football as a grade four student when he made the school team at Highgate Primary School. He would go on to be school captain for Highgate in 1947 and was selected in the South Australian State Primary Schools football team that played in the Australian Championships in Perth. Allen was in good company as Lindsay Head, Jim Slaven, Geoff Motley, Bob Marshall, Hedley Freundt and Dean Perrott were all selected in the side as well.

At age 15 Allen moved to Loxton with his family and was selected as captain of the Loxton colts team and the following year made his A grade debut for Loxton. As a teenager Allen was something of an all round sportsman as he was selected in the combined Loxton basketball team which against the odds won the South Australian country championships. This led to Allen’s selection in the South Australian under 17 basketball team which competed in the Australian Country Championships.

Allen received invitations from three SANFL clubs to come and train with them and in 1953 ventured to the city to play for Sturt. He played 32 SANFL games for them over two season but returned to Loxton to work in the family business in 1955. Allen played for Loxton during their golden era and was a member of ten premiership teams as a player. He also coached five Loxton premierships, a record for a player and then coach in the 109 year history of Riverland football.

After coaching Loxton to the 1971 premiership Allen was recruited by South Whyalla to coach them in 1972. Allen moved to Whyalla and coached South’s for two seasons. In 1977 Allen moved to Adelaide for business reasons and was appointed coach of Christies Beach. He only coached for one season but took up a position with the Southern Football League in 1978 that would last for the next nineteen years, culminating in life membership of the Southern league. In 2009 as part of the Riverland ‘Centenary of Football’, Allen was selected in the Riverland Champions ‘Team of the Century’ on a half forward flank.

Post football, Allen has become a competent lawn bowler at Division I level winning several club championships. Allan has been supported all through his sporting career by his wife of sixty years, Pat and their four children.