Allan 'the Baron' Ruthven (1940 - 1954)

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http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2888/allanruthven2.jpg

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Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Ruthven)

Universally known as "the Baron", for his dapper dress sense, Ruthven reportedly earned his nickname when a teammate called out "here comes Baron Rothschild" after he turned up to the club in one of his flamboyant suits.

Ruthven stood only 173 centimetres tall and weighed 73 kilograms, but was renowned for his skill, fitness and flawless left-foot kicking.[/URL] Tough, talented and tenacious, Ruthven was also renowned for his ability to gain possession of the ball under the most challenging of circumstances, and use it purposefully. He was also dangerous near goal, winning Fitzroy's goal kicking award on three occasions. Considered the greatest rover of the 1940s and early 1950s, Ruthven was instrumental in Fitzroy's 1944 premiership win.

Fitzroy almost lost Ruthven in 1949 after the Imperial Football Club offered him £18 a week to be captain/coach. Although he accepted, becoming one of the highest paid coaches in Victoria, Fitzroy refused him clearance, claiming that Imperial had approached Ruthven after they had denied permission to interview him for the position. Eventually, Fitzroy won a protracted battle to keep him. Shortly afterwards, Broken Hill offered Ruthven £36 a week; £20 as a player, £8 as the coach and a weekly bonus of £8. Again Fitzroy refused to clear Ruthven and again the controlling body upheld Fitzroy's claim.

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/2316/ruthven4.jpg

[URL="http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/A/Alan_Ruthven.html"]Statistics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Ruthven#cite_note-Age-1)

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fullpointsfooty (http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/r.htm#Alan%20Ruthven%20%28Fitzroy%29)

Alan Ruthven was a champion schoolboy footballer who became one of the greatest rovers of the 1940s and early '50s. While growing up in the Fitzroy district, Ruthven's greatest hero was the club's triple Brownlow Medallist Haydn Bunton, whose number 7 jumper Ruthven would later wear with pride.

Belying his comparatively diminutive stature, he was also a larger than life character who gloried in the nickname of 'The Baron'. First rover in Fitzroy's 1944 premiership side, Ruthven later won club best and fairest awards in 1946 and 1948-9. Somewhat ironically, after playing even better in 1950, and landing the club's sixth Brownlow Medal, he conceded the club award to Bill Stephen.

Tough, talented and tenacious, Ruthven was renowned for his ability to gain possession of the ball under the most challenging of circumstances, and to use it purposefully and well. He was also dangerous near goal, and won the Maroons' goal kicking award on three occasions. In 222 VFL games between 1940 and 1954 he amassed 442 goals. He also played 17 interstate matches for the VFL.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8376/ruthven6.jpg

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Fitzroy profile (http://www.fitzroyfc.com.au/players/allanruthven.html)

Allan Ruthven captained Fitzroy for 103 games in 1948, part of 1950 and 1951 to 1954. He led by the example of his skillful play. He was also coach between 1952 and 1954. Fitzroy made the finals in 1952 and he won the Brownlow medal in 1950.

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/8376/ruthven6.jpg

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1944 premiership team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944_VFL_Grand_Final)

B: Clen Denning Fred Hughson (c) Alan Fields
HB: Laurie Bickerton Norm Hillard Arthur O'Bryan
C: Bruce Calverley George Hoskins Noel Jarvis
HF: Stan Dawson Stan Wright Noel Price
F: Maurie Hearn Ken Sier Keith Stackpole
Foll: Bert Clay Jack Symons Allan Ruthven
Reserve(s): Dan Murray
Coach: Fred Hughson

Fitzroy 9.12 (66)
Richmond 7.9 (51)

Goals

Fitzroy: Sier 3, Stackpole 2, Calverly, Ruthven, Symonds
Richmond: Wilson 3, Randall2, Burge, Dyer

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6026/keithstackpole.jpg
1944 Fitzroy premiership side

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Fitzroy best and fairest winners (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitzroy_FC_honour_roll):

Allan Ruthven: 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949

Fitzroy leading goal kickers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitzroy_FC_honour_roll):

Allan Ruthven: 1944 (46), 1945 (42), 1954 (31)

Fitzroy captains (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Fitzroy_Football_Club_captains):

Allan Ruthven: 1948; 1950 - 1954

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Fitzroy coaches (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Fitzroy_Football_Club_coaches):

Allan Ruthven: 1952 - 1954

Coaching record (http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/coaches/Alan_Ruthven.html):

27 wins, 1 draw, 27 losses

Most games coached (Fitzroy/Bear/Lions) (http://www.lions.com.au/tabid/5085/default.aspx?newsid=122496):

1. Leigh Matthews (Lions) - 237 (1999-2008)
2. Roberts Walls (Fitzroy/Bears) - 224 (1981-85, 1991-95)
3. Bill Stephen (Fitzroy) - 214 (1955-57, 1965-70, 1976-80)
4. Fred Hughson (Fitzroy) - 96 (1943-47)
5. Vic Belcher (Fitzroy) - 93 (1922-27)
6. Len Smith (Fitzroy) - 92 (1958-62)
7. Percy Parratt (Fitzroy) - 91 (1913-21)
8. Robert Shaw (Fitzroy) - 86 (1991-94)
9. Grahan Donaldson (Fitzroy) - 85 (1971-74)
10. Gordon Rattray (Fitzroy) - 72 (1928, 1937-39)
11. David Parkin (Fitzroy) - 69 (1986-88)
12. Michael Voss (Lions) - 66* (2009-)
13. Kevin Rose (Fitzroy) - 66 (1975-77)
14. Peter Knights (Bears) - 59 (1987-89)
15. Alan Ruthven (Fitzroy) - 57 (1952-54)

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Fitzroy Team of the Century (http://www.footystamps.com/fl_team_of_the_century.htm)


Back Line Bill Stephen Fred Hughson Frank Curico
Half Back Line Kevin Murray (c) Paul Roos Gary Pert
Centre Line Wilfred Smallhorn John Murphy Warwick Irwin
Half Forward Line Owen Abrahams Bernie Quinlan Gary Wilson (vc)
Forward Line Allan Ruthven Jack Moriarty Norm Brown
Followers Alan Gale Norm Johnstone Haydn Bunton
Interchange Michael Conlan Alaistar Lynch Harvey Merrigan
Richard Osborne Percy Parratt Percy Trotter
Coach Len Smith
(http://www.users.on.net/%7Epwong/totc.htm)

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The Harvey Brothers (http://www.evri.com/media/article;jsessionid=1cwv47ju9xa3j?title=Harvey+brothers&page=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_brothers&referring_uri=/person/allan-ruthven-0x87795%3Bjsessionid%3D1cwv47ju9xa3j&referring_title=Evri)

The Harvey brothers are six siblings from Victoria, Australia, known primarily for their success in the sport of cricket between the mid-1930s and the early 1960s.

As recreational facilities and grass ovals were sparse in densely populated Fitzroy, the boys took to playing cricket in a cobblestone laneway between their terraced house. Here they played cricket with a tennis ball, home made cricket bat and a kerosene tin for a wicket.

They were usually joined by other local children, two of whom became elite sportsmen: Allan Ruthven (an Australian rules footballer) and Harold Shillinglaw (both an Australian rules footballer and first-class cricketer)—the group also played Australian rules football, kicking around rolled up cardboard and newspaper.

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Link (http://www.factscollection.com/ALL-853.html) ....

Fitzroy Football Club was so impressed by Allan Ruthven’s potential he was given guernsey number 7, made famous by Brownlow medalist Haydn Bunton.

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/882/ruthven5.jpg

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Keith Stackpole (http://www.evri.com/media/article;jsessionid=1cwv47ju9xa3j?title=Keith+Stackpole+%28fo otballer%29&page=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Stackpole_%2528footballer%2529&referring_uri=/person/allan-ruthven-0x87795%3Bjsessionid%3D1cwv47ju9xa3j&referring_title=Evri)

He formed a strong partnership with fellow rover Allan Ruthven

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Club names replacement for Norm Smith: ALAN RUTHVEN RETURNS AS FITZROY CAPTAIN (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22827808?searchTerm=Alan%20Johnstone&searchLimits=)
Wednesday 10 May 1950

Alan Ruthven, Fitzroy rover, has been chosen to captain the team for the rest of the season. This appointment follows the retirement of Norman Smith, club coach, from the position. A persistent knee injury has been hampering Smith's plays.

Ruthven led the side in 1948, when he succeeded Fred Hughson. In that year Charlie Cameron was non-playing coach - a position Smith will now hold.

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Alan Ruthven wins coveted title (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22910621?searchTerm=&searchLimits=l-publictag=Alan+Ruthven)
Thursday 31 August 1950
By Percy Taylor

Alan Ruthven, Fitzroy captain and rover, has won the 1950 Brownlow Medal for the best and fairest player in the Victorian Football League.

Details of the voting:
A. Ruthven (Fitzroy) 21
F. Flanagan (Geelong) 18
B. Phillips (St Kilda) 17
C. Sutton (Footscray) 17
W. Morris (Richmond) 17

Ruthven has given such good service to Fitzroy over the years that the award will be generally acclaimed. He came originally from Ivanhoe, and had his first senior game in 1940. He completed his 150th game last Saturday and has kicked 321 goal in that period.

His pace and dash as a rover has always worried opponents, and he is clever at handball and deadly with his passing, while his snapshots for goal have brought him many goals. Almost automatically he has been chosen each year to play in State games.

Alan wins (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/1734105?zoomLevel=1&searchTerm=&searchLimits=l-publictag=Alan+Ruthven)
Thursday 31 August 1950

Mrs Ruthven was the first to congratulate her husband Alan on winning the 1950 Brownlow medal.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/882/ruthven5.jpg

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Link (http://m.afl.com.au/news.htm?action=handleNewsArticleById&id=122833&listRetrievedBy=TEAM&listId=36) ....

Brownlow Medallists Bernie Quinlan (1981) and Allan Ruthven (1950) ultimately failed to claim the Club's top prize, losing out to Ron Alexander and Bill Stephen in their respective seasons.

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footystamps (http://www.footystamps.com/ot_brownlow_medal.htm)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/882/ruthven5.jpg

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cartoonsandcaricatures (http://cartoonsandcaricatures.com.au/FootyClubs/Fitzroy.html)

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Ruthven May Have Played Last Game (http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19520621&id=xK5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GcQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5023,5570515)
June 21, 1952

He has kidney trouble, the result of a football injury suffered in 1942. Ruthven will go into hospital Sunday, when a specialist will examine him. The specialist's report will decide whether Ruthven will lead the Maroons again this season. Last night Ruthven said he would not play football again unless the specialist game him a clean bill of health.

In any case, Ruthven intended to finish as a player at the end of this season and to concentrate on coaching. In 1942, as the result of his back injury, Ruthven was in hospital for three months and had three operations and it was feared he would never play football again. He missed the remainder of that season but, against medical advice, came back again the next year to League football.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/882/ruthven5.jpg

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Semi Final vs Carlton:

It's Win or Bust Tomorrow (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23214648?searchTerm=Allan%20ruthven&searchLimits=)
Friday 5 September 1952
Percy Taylor

Even more important, though, is that the rovers are first class. George Coates, usually second to Alan Ruthven (captain), is having grand season. Young Jack Gervasoni has settled down to be a lively rover, while Alan himself has by no means lost the art.

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Link (http://gorey.com.au/archives/3335)

Fitzroy were third in 1952, although only just. (The first semi-final victory over Carlton was achieved when 1950 Brownlow Medallist Allan The Baron Ruthven kicked the winning score in the dying moments of a nail-biting finish).

Fitzroy's first leg in by point (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/57563208?searchTerm=Allan%20ruthven&searchLimits=)
Saturday 6 September

Fitzroy 10 - 9
Carlton 8 - 20

Fitzroy's dogged determination and strong defence stood up to the sustained barrage for more than five minutes. This was the turning point of the game.

Fitzroy drew level and went ahead. The Carlton led by a point. Again they were level, and in the last minute Fitzroy's captain-coach Allan Ruthven, kicked the winning point.

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The Fitzroy ‘flood’ match of 1953 (http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/22%20memorable%20moments/tabid/17920/default.aspx)

Rd 5, 1953- Footscray faced up to Fitzroy in some of the most bizarre circumstances ever seen on a football ground. The Western Oval was awash with pools of water a foot deep in places, after a deluge of rain had blocked drains causing the playing surface to be partly submerged - some blamed the blocked drains on the curators. In one of the more extraordinary scoreline’s, Footscray ran out winners 10-6-66 to Fitzroy’s solitary 1-0-6, the lowest score kicked that century. The ‘Roy’s only goal came from a fluke kick by Alan Ruthven late in the game. One of oval’s curators at the time was a young fellow by the name of Ted Whitten.

Link (http://www.fnwb.com.au/heritage/july-1st-1978)

In 1953 Footscray almost kept Fitzroy scoreless. A goal very close to the end of the last quarter by Alan Ruthven prevented Fitzroy from the unwanted distinction of being whitewashed during a game. My father was there and he claimed it broke his heart at the time. So close to a no score were Fitzroy, saved from this hideous tag by their 1950 Brownlow Medal winner’s late effort.

Lowest For Century (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/59680146?searchTerm=Allan%20ruthven&searchLimits=)
Sunday 4 October 1953

Red letter day for Footscray was May 23 when Fitzroy, then in the "four" was held to the lowest League score this century - one goal!

An uncanny shot in which Allan Ruthven kicked the ball in midair saved the Maroons from becoming the first VFL team ever to be "whitewashed". It was scored with only minutes left to play.

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Hall of Fame (http://www.afl.com.au/*****/awards/halloffame/players/tabid/856/default.aspx)

Allan Ruthven (Fitzroy)16/4/1922-14/3/2003

Inducted: 1998

Left-footed rover nicknamed the ‘Baron’ who also coached Fitzroy.

Playing career: 1940-1941, 1943-1954.

Games: 222 Goals: 442

Player honors: Brownlow Medal 1950, Best & Fairest: 1946, 1948, 1949; club leading goalkicker 1944, 1945, 1954; captain 1948, 1950-1954; premiership 1944; Fitz Team of the Century; Victoria (17 games, 47 goals).

Coaching record: Fitz 1952-1954 (57 games, 28 wins, 28 losses, 1 draw).

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/6582/ruthven3.jpg

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Haydn Bunton, Alan Ruthven, Bernie Quinlan and Kevin Murray

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Fitzroy legend Ruthven dies (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/14/1047583703993.html)
March 15 2003

Fitzroy VFL legend and 1950 Brownlow medallist Allan Ruthven died yesterday after suffering a second stroke. He was aged 80. Kevin Murray, the only man to have won more Fitzroy best and fairest awards than Ruthven, said it was a very sad day for the club.

"Great bloke, great player, very sad loss," Murray said yesterday as he watched the club's successor - the Brisbane Lions - train at Fitzroy's old Brunswick Street Oval. Ruthven was a keen supporter of the 1996 merger between Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears that gave birth to the powerhouse Brisbane Lions team that has won the last two AFL premierships.

"He was a fantastic player and a fantastic person - a real leader around our club," Murray said. "I played under him when I first started in the thirds and seconds and he gave the young fellas something to look up to, and something to try to follow, just as the young fellas of today look up to Michael Voss. He gave us the world. He was a ball player, never in trouble with the umpires, and a real inspiration to anyone privileged to meet him."

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Link (http://www.allstars.com.au/ruthven/) ....

Ruthven, who would have been 81 on 16 April, was known as the aristocrat of Fitzroy. He would attend training in flamboyant suits, brightly colored shirts, ties and socks, and picked up his nickname when a teammate declared ‘here comes Baron Rothschild’.

A product of Falconer Street School in North Fitzroy, he joined Fitzroy in 1940. So impressed was the club by the potential of the Victorian schoolboys ace that they gave him the No.7 jumper worn previously by triple Brownlow Medallist Haydn Bunton. Ruthven was regarded by Fitzroy stalwarts as a perfect rover – a sturdy 173cm, quick off the mark, clean in his ball-handling, with great stamina, and a pin-point left-foot kick.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6582/ruthven3.jpg