Cyril Leonard Gambetta (1 August 1899 – 20 August 1974) was an Italian-Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Due to having suffered from polio as a child he had badly bowed legs which gave him an awkward running style.

Cyril Gambetta
Personal information
Full name Cyril Leonard Gambetta
Date of birth 1 August 1899
Place of birth Eaglehawk, Victoria
Date of death 20 August 1974(1974-08-20) (aged 75)
Place of death Elwood, Victoria
Original team(s) Sandhurst
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1921 Hawthorn (VFA) 012 (33)
1922–1931 St Kilda 129 (75)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1931.
Career highlights

St Kilda best player award 1925

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Gambetta came to Melbourne from Sandhurst in Bendigo at the start of the 1921 season. After being refused a clearance to St Kilda,[1] he joined Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) where he played as a forward.[2]

The next season, he joined St Kilda where he spent most of his time as a key position defender and was twice chosen to represent Victoria at interstate football. He won St Kilda's best player award in 1925[3] and finished equal sixth in the 1928 Brownlow Medal.

In June, 1925, Benalla Football Club offered Gambetta their coaching job, but St.Kilda refused to clear him[4]

References

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  1. ^ "LEAGUE PERMITS". The Argus. Melbourne. 30 April 1921. p. 17 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Gordon, Harry & Michael. One For All : the story of the Hawthorn Football Club. ISBN 978-1-921332-83-8.
  3. ^ "St. Kilda Club". The Argus. Melbourne. 15 December 1925. p. 6 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Gambetta refused a clearance". Benalla Standard. 12 June 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 12 November 2020 – via Trove Newspapers.
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