Arthur Hannaford

Arthur Hannaford was already a big strapping lad when he first played A grade football for United in the Murray Valley Football Association as a thirteen year old. Arthur was like many young country lads of his time, where a boy became a man in his early teens and schooling was sacrificed for the hard toil of a life on the land.

By 1937, Arthur had attracted the interest of league football scouts and accepted an invitation to play trials with Glenelg. He was impressive in his first trial with Glenelg where he played in the centre. Glenelg’s star centreman Ray Hunt did not play in that trial but it was believed that Arthur could still hold down a position on the half forward line.

Arthur badly injured his ankle in his next trial game and returned home to Mantung, he played for United once more when he had recovered. Fully recovered Glenelg invited Arthur back down to Adelaide to make his league debut in late August. Arthur played two games before heading back home to play a key role in United’s 1937 premiership.

In 1938, Arthur moved to the city to continue his league career with Glenelg. He returned to United in mid July to play two matches but completed the season with the ‘Bays’. Arthur returned to Glenelg in 1939 and played the majority of the season in the seconds before returning home to United to play in the finals.

Arthur decided in 1940 that he would devote a full season to United and did so with outstanding results. He played centre half forward all season where he kicked 83 goals and won the Mail Medal. He led the undefeated United to a premiership and captained the East Murray team to a ten goal victory over Murray Lands. An all round sportsman, Arthur’s brilliant football season followed on from a cricket season of equal brilliance. He completed the cricket season with 1004 runs at an average of 100.4, scoring six centuries from thirteen innings with a highest score of 132.

Arthur was back playing with Glenelg in 1941 and then played for the combined West Adelaide/Glenelg team during the SANFL Patriotic Football period. In 1944, Arthur enlisted in the RAAF and when discharged in mid 1946 he made an immediate impact as a wingman on his return with Glenelg. He soon moved to centre half back where he earned high praise for his clearing dashes from defence.

Arthur continued as a regular with Glenelg until mid way through the 1951 season when he was forced into retirement due to injury. Best remembered as an honest, reliable half-back flanker, he played every position for the Bays. Arthur could also be a match winner as shown with his final quarter goal that gave Glenelg a place in the finals with a five point win against North Adelaide in 1950.

He recovered from his injury to continue his career in the country with Tintinara where his contribution was such that he was named as captain of the Tintinara Football Club’s ‘Team of the Century’.