Bob Spargo Sr. Explained

Bob Spargo
Fullname:Robert Henry Spargo
Birth Date:7 July 1913
Birth Place:South Dudley, Victoria
Death Place:Wonthaggi, Victoria
Originalteam:Riverside (FDFL)
Height:175 cm
Weight:69 kg
Statsend:1942
Years1:1934–41
Games Goals1:65 (6)
Years2:1941
Club2:Williamstown (VFA)
Games Goals2:  9 (0)
Years3:1942
Games Goals3:  2 (0)
Years4:1941
Club4:Prahran (VFA)
Games Goals4:19 (3)
Games Goalstotal:95 (9)

Robert Henry Spargo (7 July 1913 – 14 May 1994) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Family

The son of Luke Spargo (1878-1944), and Rena Ann Spargo (1891-1980), née McHenry, Robert Henry Spargo was born at South Dudley, Victoria on 7 July 1913.

He married Dorothy Annie "Dot" White (1913–2016) in 1938. Spargo's two sons Bob Jr and Ricky also both played for Footscray Football Club. His grandson Paul played for North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears and great-grandson Charlie plays for Melbourne Football Club.[2]

Football

As a schoolboy, he played for the Wonthaggi Technical School team, alongside Fred Backway and Bernie Guthrie.[3]

Footscray (VFL)

Recruited from the Riverside Football Club in the Footscray Football League (FDFL), he played 65 senior games, and scored 6 goals, in his eight seasons with Footscray.[4] During that time he also represented Victoria.[5] [6]

Essendon (VFL)

Having already begun training with Essendon,[7] [8] he was cleared from Footscray to Essendon on 5 June 1941.[9] He played three matches for the Essendon Second XVIII (on 14 June, 21 June, and 27 June); and, without having played in the First XVIII, he applied for a clearance to Williamstown.[10]

Williamstown (VFA)

Cleared from Essendon on 2 July 1941,[11] he played his first match for Williamstown, against Yarraville, on 5 July 1941.[12] He played in all of the 1941 season's remaining home-and-away: a total of 9 senior matches.

Melbourne (VFL)

Cleared from Williamstown on 13 May 1942,[13] he played in two senior matches for Melbourne (16 May and 23 May 1942).

Prahran (VFA)

Cleared from Williamstown to Prahran on 11 April 1945,[14] he played in the first 19 (of 20) home-and-away matches in the 1945 season. He injured his foot in the 1 September 1945 match against Brighton, and could not play in the last match of the season against Camberwell.

Athlete

Employed as a fireman, Spargo was an accomplished professional athlete who was placed 3rd in both the 1936 and 1940 Stawell Gift finals.[15] In 1936 he was 3rd off 9¾yds to Roy McCann and in 1940 he was 3rd off 8yds to Alex Reid.

Death

He died at Wonthaggi, Victoria on 14 May 1994.

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Holmesby & Main (2009), p.786.
  2. Web site: Four-gen footy family: Young Dee to make history. AFL NSW / ACT. 28 May 2018. 8 December 2017.
  3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183739478 Footscray Find, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 15 September 1934), p.7.
  4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206957544 Spargo's Plans: Fitzroy Sounded, The Age, (Wednesday, 11 May 1938), p.9.
  5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32868057 Interstate Football, The West Australian, (Wednesday, 26 June 1935), p.21.
  6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74125943 South Australia Outclassed In Football Match, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Monday, 1 July 1935), p.9.
  7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article180298771 Spargo for Dons, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 21 May 1941), p.11.
  8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8179646 Taylor, Percy, "Many Changes in Teams: Essendon", The Argus, (Friday, 6 June 1941), p.14.
  9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205155550 League Permits, The Age, (Thursday, 5 June 1941), p.4.
  10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8189533 Association Notes: Williamstown, The Argus, (Wednesday, 2 July 1941), p.10.
  11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205166045 V.F.L. Permits, The Age, (Thursday, 3 July 1941), p.3.
  12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8190476 Association in Wet, The Argus, (Monday, 7 July 1941), p.8.
  13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206816138 Thirty V.F.A. Players Transfer to League, The Age, (Thursday, 14 May 1942), p.4.
  14. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1111413 40 League Players go to Association, The Argus, (Thursday, 12 April 1945), p.13.
  15. News: AFL draft 2017: Charlie Spargo a pocket rocket that looms as fourth generation VFL/AFL player. Morris. Tom. 21 November 2017. Fox Sports (Australia). News Corp Australia. 29 April 2018.