When listing the Eltham greats, one surely to be included is George Le Brocq.
He played in our first league game in the DVFL on 6th May 1922. He played till the end of the 1934 season and was part of our 1930 and 1932 Premierships. A forward who regularly scored goals for Eltham, kicking 9 on one occasion.
He became Secretary of the club in 1926, a position he held till 1934. He then served on the general committee from 1935-41. During this time he was also Eltham’s delegate to the league.
In 1939 he became Secretary of the DVFL’s Permit and Match Committee It was a demanding position as every prospective player had to front the committee and provide proof of his residential address as boundaries limited the flow of imports to DVFL club. He held that position for 20 years.
In 1941 the league elected George Le Brocq to the Secretary position, one that he would hold until 1976.
The league went into recess in 1941 due to the war and it was George Le Brocq who rekindled the interest of local football when hostilities were over, paving the way for the league to resume in 1948.
He was made honorary adviser to the DVFL from1976, a position held until his death in 1985.
In 1955, he put together (with his assistant Kevin Taylor) the first ever DVFL Football Record.
During his life he was awarded Life Membership of the Eltham Football Club, the DVFL and the Victorian Football Union. In 1972 he received an Award of Merit by the Australian National Football Council.
When the DVFL became 2 Divisions the league named the Best & Fairest in division 2 ‘The George Le Brocq Medal’ as well as naming the cup after him, that was presented to the Division 2 Premiers.
His father (Andy) played for Eltham as did his 2 brothers. It is more than likely that the father played in the same side as his two eldest sons George and Mick. His father also captained and coached Eltham in 1924.
As well as football, George was an excellent cricketer (playing for Glen Park where many Eltham footballers played) and tennis (where he was also secretary for a time).
George (and his wife Alma) lived at 13 Luck Street. There was no DVFL headquarters as such. George’s home was where records were kept and meetings held.
New club secretaries would be required to attend his home and get his views on what made a good secretary. Never answer straight away was his advice. The person asking the question has thought about it for some time and you deserve the same time to respond.
A true Eltham legend.
Article contribution from Alan Sheehan
