Harold Oliver

Originally from Broken Hill, Harold Oliver captained Lyrup to a flag in the first season of the Upper Murray association in 1909 at 18 years of age. Within two years he was Port Adelaide’s best player with five goals when they defeated Collingwood to become champions of Australia.

Harold was named best and fairest for Port Adelaide in 1911 and 1912, he represented South Australia in the 1911 Interstate Carnival playing his part in the downfall of Victoria in the final. Harold was a member of Port’s 1910, 1913 and 1914 premiership teams and was also a key player in their champions of Australia wins over Fitzroy and Carlton in 1913 and 1914.

Despite all of the accolades that go with the crown of a football champion, Harold was still a country boy at heart and missed the farming life of his home on the river. He therefore gave football away and returned to his farm at Berri just on the outbreak of WWI. He continued playing for Port Adelaide spasmodically during the war years, maintaining his fitness with the heavy workload on his farm.

Desperate for their hero to return on a full time basis, Port made a concerted effort to get him to play in 1921. They went as far as to buy him a motor bike with which he could ride to Adelaide each weekend to play. One final sweetener was agreed to and Harold Oliver resumed his league career as Port Adelaide captain. Harold retired the following season with 104 games to his credit and 89 goals and was then named captain of Berri in 1923.

While playing a game with Berri in June 1925, Harold came in for a fair amount of heckling from a small group of supporters. During a quarter time break Harold was approached by an abusive spectator who punched him, Harold retaliated knocking the man down and breaking his nose. The man, John Purcell fell ill and was admitted to hospital and two days later Harold Oliver was arrested and charged with assault. Later that afternoon the charges were upgraded to manslaughter when Purcell passed away in the Renmark Hospital.

After an inquest into the incident, Harold Oliver was bailed to appear in court in September to answer the charges. At his trial in the Adelaide Criminal Court, no evidence was tendered by the defence however Harold made a statement from the dock. Following this statement the jury retired to consider their verdict and returned within five minutes with a decision of not guilty.

A naturally reserved person, Harold Oliver was humbled by the support he received from the Berri community and that of the wider football fraternity. Harold was appointed coach of the Berri team and made a welcome return to football as a player midway through the 1926 season. His comeback was welcomed by all football followers on the Murray. Harold did not disappoint his many supporters, kicking eight goals from full forward on his return.

Harold coached Berri from in 1926 and 1927, and captained them in 1928. He was responsible in recommending Berri players, Jack and Steve Wade to Port Adelaide. In 1929 Harold defied his age to have an outstanding season where he kicked one hundred goals for the season. He kicked 73 goals from ten games for Berri including a bag of six in the grand final. Harold represented the Upper Murray in a post season country carnival held in Adelaide. He excelled in the carnival as the Upper Murray goal sneak kicking 27 goals from three qualifying matches. Harold was injured in the final match and missed the semi final in which Upper Murray were defeated.

In 1930 Harold retired from football and became an umpire in the Upper Murray association. He made a brief comeback at forty years of age in 1931 kicking 19 goals in five matches including six in the grand final where Berri claimed a third successive premiership.

When Harold retired from league football, Tom Leahy (champion North Adelaide ruckman), Harry Cumberland (Sturt Magarey Medalist and Melbourne premiership player), Mick Donaghy (Carlton, Geelong and Port Adelaide champion) and Phil Matson (highly successful Western Australian player and coach) were just a few to declare Harold Oliver as the best player they had seen in Australia. In 2001 Harold Oliver was named in Port Adelaide Football Club’s greatest ever team on a half forward flank.