Steve Marsh (footballer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steve Marsh |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Stephen William Marsh | ||
| Date of birth | 12 September 1924 | ||
| Place of birth | Kalgoorlie, Western Australia | ||
| Date of death | 5 March 2024 (aged 99) | ||
| Original team | Kalgoorlie Railways (GNFL) | ||
| Position(s) | Rover | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Stephen William Marsh (born 12 September 1924 – died 5 March 2024) was a famous Australian rules football player. He played for two big teams in Western Australia: South Fremantle and East Fremantle. He played in the West Australian National Football League (WANFL) during the 1940s and 1950s.
Steve Marsh was known as one of the best rovers of his time. A rover is a player who follows the ball around the field. He was very fast and hard to catch. He was also brave and a great leader. People remembered him for his amazing drop kicks, which helped his team score.
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Steve Marsh: A Football Star
Steve Marsh was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. He started playing football with the Kalgoorlie Railways Football Club. In 1943, he helped them win a championship, kicking four goals in the final game. At that time, he was on leave from the Air Force.
Choosing a Club
In 1945, Steve moved to Fremantle. He visited Fremantle Oval, where both South Fremantle and East Fremantle teams trained. He was invited into the South Fremantle team's rooms first. Because of this, he decided to play for South Fremantle. Many people thought he went into the wrong room by accident, but that's not true!
Amazing Achievements
Steve played 226 games for South Fremantle over 12 seasons. He was part of six championship-winning teams. These wins happened in 1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954. His team, South Fremantle, made it to the finals every year he played for them.
In 1953, he won the Simpson Medal for being the best player in the Grand Final. He also won the Sandover Medal in 1952. This medal is given to the league's best and fairest player. Steve also won South Fremantle's own "Fairest and Best" award four times. He was chosen for the first-ever All-Australian Team in 1953.
Coaching Success
In 1957, Steve made a big move to the East Fremantle Football Club. He became their captain and coach. This was a bit of a surprise at the time. He led East Fremantle to win the championship in 1957. It was their first championship in 11 years!
He played 39 games for East Fremantle. By 1960, he had played a total of 284 career games. After that, he stopped playing professionally.
Playing for Western Australia
Steve Marsh also played for the state team, Western Australia, 19 times. In 1954, he was chosen to be the captain of the Western Australia team.
A True Leader
Steve was known as a player who inspired his teammates. His bravery on the field often made others play better. When he became captain-coach for East Fremantle, his leadership helped them win a championship. Meanwhile, his old club, South Fremantle, missed the finals for the first time in a long time.
Some people believed that Steve's outspoken nature might have cost him more personal awards. However, he was a powerful and motivating force for his teams.
Steve Marsh passed away on 5 March 2024, at the age of 99.
Awards and Honours
Steve Marsh received many honours for his amazing football career:
- In 1995, he became one of the first members of the Fremantle Football Club's Hall of Legends.
- In 2005, he was given "Legend Status" in the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.
- He is also a member of the Western Australian Institute of Sport Hall of Champions.
- The Steve Marsh Entrance at Subiaco Oval is named after him.
- In June 2006, he was added to the Australian Football Hall of Fame as a player.
