Collingwood Harriers Athletic Club Inc

MEMBER BIO

Don Watsford

Don Watsford’s father Goldie played football with Fitzroy in the mid 1890s just prior to the formation of the VFL.

It is not known whether young Don had any aspirations to follow in his dad’s footsteps , however he was one of the very early members of the newly formed Collingwood Harriers.

In 1928 Don won the Club’s Blue Ribbon for the summer season when he crossed the line first in the 100 yards Club Championship.

Many years later, two of his nephews, Ian (1966) and Peter (1973) Crump also competed in the black and white. Victorian Junior Javelin Champion from the mid-sixties, Peter Whittaker, married into the Crump family and Dean Simonson a great nephew of Don also had a run with the Club for a few seasons beginning in 1979.

According to the Club’s records Don left the Club in 1930. It would seem that he may have been one of quite some number who joined the professional ranks. For many people in this time of the depression, the chance to pick up some extra money was a very big incentive to leave the ranks of the lilywhites.

August 2014

NAVIGATION