Richard W. Bray, known as Richie Bray, was an Aboriginal Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club.
| Richie Bray | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Richard W. Bray | ||
| Date of death | November 2017 | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1959, 1962-1966 | Port Adelaide | 77 (65) | |
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Source: AustralianFootball.com | |||
Early life and education
editAs a child, Bray was a resident of St Francis House, a home for inland Aboriginal Australian boys from 1946 to 1959 in the Adelaide suburb of Semaphore South,[1] a beachside suburb of Adelaide near Port Adelaide, South Australia.[2] There he was treated with kindness, sent to the local school, and met other future Aboriginal leaders and activists, including Gordon Briscoe, John Kundereri Moriarty, Charles Perkins, Vince Copley, Malcolm Cooper, and others.[3][4]
Football career
editBray played a single game for Port Adelaide F.C. in 1959, then moved to Alice Springs for a few years.[5]
In 1962 Bray played in his first premiership for the club, and also played in the 1963 and 1965 premiership sides under coach Fos Williams.[6] Over the eight years he spent at the club, he played 77 games. He mostly played half forward flank, and kicked 65 goals,[5] but in the 1962 Grand Final (when Port Adelaide won the Grand Final against West Adelaide), he played on the wing.[7]
He also coached locally at the Semaphore Football Club.[5]
Death
editHe died in November 2017.[5]
References
edit- ^ Smith, Mark J. (28 April 2019). "'I shared my mother with the Aboriginal children'". Alice Springs News. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Chlanda, Erwin (18 September 2013). "The Boys who made the Big Time". Alice Springs News. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ Phillips, Sandra (10 January 2022). "Vince Copley had a vision for a better Australia – and he helped make it happen, with lifelong friend Charles Perkins". The Conversation. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Copley, Vince (12 December 2022). "The Wonder of Little Things". HarperCollins Australia. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d Say, Steph (7 November 2017). "Vale: Richie Bray". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "'I shared my mother with the Aboriginal children' - Alice Springs News". 28 April 2019.
- ^ Devaney, John. "Richie Bray - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 15 February 2021.