Frank Lonsdale Aldam

 

Frank Aldam was born in Willunga on 19th May 1875.

 

Undoubtedly one of the great names of the club, and in the District, Frank L Aldam played from the 1880's. The first record of F. Aldam on the team list is from 1885 which made him 10 years old. In his final year of playing in 1911 he was the captain coach of the Premiership team.

 

There is a gap in the club records, but we know that he kicked 5 goals in the 1897 season and he is listed in teams between 1885 and 1918. He played Inter-League football for the Southern Football Association in 1899 and 1900

 

He coached Willunga from 1900 until 1911 and was probably Captain for that period as was the norm then. He coached three Premiership wins in a row - twice in 1901,02,03 and 1909,10,11

 

After retiring from playing he became totally involved with the administration of the club and was president from 1921 to 1935, a total of 15 years and was a League delegate from 1921 until 1930

 

He was awarded WFC Life Membership in 1977 and is Life Member Number 1

 

In 2007 Frank Aldam was number 38 in the inaugural Southern Football League Hall of Fame. The number of years played indicate that he may have played in the order of 200 games and that would give him an entitlement to SFL Player Life Membership. That he was inducted without game credits gives an indication of the contribution the SFL recognised that he made in the early years.

 

Frank was not just a footballer. He was a member of Willunga District Council for 8 years with 6 years as Chairman. He was the Secretary of the Agricultural Society for seventeen years and was later elected President. He worked on the Repatriation Committee and the Australia Day Fund during World War 1. As well as his football accolades he played lacrosse, cricket and lawn bowls. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and St Stephens Church.

 

Frank Lonsdale Aldam passed away on 27th January 1949

 

Inducted into Willunga Hall of Fame in 2018

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Other Aldams to play post war for Willunga Ted Aldam 62 games Lon Aldam 81 games Wilfred (Bon) Aldam 127 games David Aldam 123 games