Len Thompson
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | August 27, 1947, Victoria, Australia |
| Recruited from | North Reservoir |
| Death | September 18, 2007 (aged 60), |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | 1965, Collingwood vs. Essendon, at MCG (Prel. Final) |
| Team(s) | Collingwood (1965-78)
270 Games, 217 Goals South Melbourne (1979) 20 Games, 39 Goals Fitzroy (1980) 13 Games, 19 Goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 1980 season | |
| Career highlights | |
|
|
Len Thompson (August 27, 1947 – September 18, 2007) was an Australian rules footballer, best remembered for his playing career at Collingwood.
Combining great physical size (200cm, 95.5kg) with tremendous athleticism provided Collingwood with a formidable around the ground presence.[1] The Magpies recruited Thompson from North Reservoir after he had initially been training and rejected by Essendon - a club which, ironically, would end up struggling in the ruck for much of Thompson's career.
Thompson played a total of 272 VFL games and booted 217 goals for the Magpies between 1965 and 1978, winning the club's best and fairest award a record 5 times, as well as the 1972 Brownlow Medal.[2] Undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of Len Thompson's auspicious, sixteen season, 305-game VFL career was his failure to play in a premiership team, despite appearing in four grand finals (1966, 1970 and 1977 in which the Pies lost on the replay).
In 1970 he and Des Tuddenham, vice captain and club captain respectively, refused to play for Collingwood, going on strike to protest at the perceived unfair salaries being paid to lure interstate players east.[3] While this protest resulted in temporary souring the relationship between Thompson and the Collingwood football club, Thompson returned to a leadership position quickly, as vice-captain 1973-7 and captain 1978.
Thompson later played seasons for both South Melbourne (20 games and 39 goals in 1979) and Fitzroy (13 games, 19 goals, 1980).
Thompson was also a regular Victorian interstate representative, and achieved All Australian selection after the 1972 Perth Carnival. He served on the Collingwood board in 1982 and 1983. When Collingwood selected its official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' Len Thompson was selected as the first ruck.
[edit] Death
On September 18, 2007, Thompson died at the home of his former wife after a heart attack. He is survived by six children - Kari-Anne, Nicolas, Sam, Lachlan, Laura and Emily - and former partners Julie, Susi and Browyn.[4]
[edit] Funeral
Len Thompson's funeral took place at Saint Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, at 10.30am on Thursday 25 September 2007. Conducted by The Dean, The Very Reverend David Richardson, it was attended by more than 1,200 mourners, led by his six children and including notable members of the AFL fraternity, friends and fans.
Sons Nicolas, Sam and Lachlan contributed a poem and personal reflections, daughter Laura delivered a eulogy and Emily read a scripture (John 14: 1-6).
Tributes were delivered by Barry Breen (St. Kilda) & Gary Dempsey (Footscray), Peter McKenna (Collingwood), John Nicholls (Carlton), Des Tuddenham (Collingwood), Mike Williamson (former HSV 7 television commentator) and Eddie McGuire (Collingwood FC President) all of whom had long, close friendships with 'Thommo'.
Musical contributions were made by tenor Peter Brocklehurst (Ave Maria), Kate Ceberano (Wind Beneath My Wings) and Mike Brady sang 'One Day in September' in which he varied the lyrics to sing 'Thommo, you were part of this old town; In life you were the best man on the ground'.
The service ran for two hours and has been acclaimed as a moving and celebratory tribute to one of the humblest champions to have played at the elite level of Australian football.
[edit] References
The otherside of the medal. Len Thompson
- ^ Despite this, Thompson was able to avoid National Service, through the agency of the medical examiner declaring that he had a foot problem that rendered him unfit for military service.
- ^ Profile on fullpointsfooty.net
- ^ Pies legend Len Thompson dies | Herald Sun
- ^ Pies legend Len Thompson dies | Herald Sun
| Preceded by Terry Waters |
Copeland Trophy winner 1967 & 1968 |
Succeeded by Barry Price |
| Preceded by Wayne Richardson |
Copeland Trophy winner 1972 & 1973 |
Succeeded by Wayne Richardson |
| Preceded by Robert Hyde |
Copeland Trophy winner 1977 |
Succeeded by Ray Shaw |
| Preceded by Ian Stewart |
Brownlow Medal winner 1972 |
Succeeded by Keith Greig |
