John Todd, WA football legend and former West Coast Eagles coach, dies aged 86

4 June 2024

in Australia

Reading Time: 6 mins read

In scale down: Probably the most adorned avid gamers and coaches in WA soccer historical past, John Todd, has died. Upcoming bursting into the South Fremantle facet as a proficient youngster, his profession used to be derailed by way of a major knee trauma.In spite of the setback, he would journey directly to play games 132 video games of senior soccer, and lecturer six premiership facets during his profession.

John Todd, one of the vital influential figures in WA soccer historical past, has died on the hour of 86.

Todd, who coached the West Coast Eagles for the 1988 and 1989 seasons, made his title within the Western Australian Soccer League (WAFL), first as a celebrity participant and then as a a success lecturer.

He break out onto the scene, debuting for South Fremantle’s senior facet as a 16-year-old in 1955.

He loved a mystical first yr, taking away the Sandover Medal for the league’s highest and fairest participant.

Todd is a legend of WA soccer who loved a glittering profession as a participant and lecturer.(ABC Information)

Tragically, he used to be simply 17 when a major knee trauma seriously curtailed what will have been probably the most biggest careers of all day.

In spite of the trauma, he controlled to journey directly to play games 132 video games for South Fremantle and 9 for Western Australia.

In 1961, he used to be a part of a WA facet that gained the Australian championships and used to be judged an All Australian.

Todd gained the Sandover Medal in his first season of senior soccer for South Fremantle.(Equipped: South Fremantle Soccer Membership)

He started training South Fremantle as participant lecturer in 1959, on the hour of 20, and by way of the day his training profession had led to 2001 he had coached six premierships.

The ones had been for East Fremantle (1974), South Fremantle (1997) and 4 for Swan Districts (1982, 1983, 1984 and 1990).

He additionally coached the West Coast Eagles to their first finals look, in 1988, after they had been overwhelmed in a mystery by way of Melbourne at Waverley Soil.

Tributes then Corridor of Popularity profession

Todd used to be sacked as lecturer of West Coast on the finish of 1989, however returned to Swan Districts please see yr the place he once more gained the WAFL premiership.

Todd coached Swan Districts to 4 premierships within the WAFL.(Equipped)

His ultimate premiership got here in 1997 with the membership the place all of it started, South Fremantle.

Todd used to be inducted into the Australian Soccer Corridor of Popularity in 2003, and in 2004 used to be increased to legend situation within the West Australian Soccer Corridor of Popularity.

In 2011 he used to be inducted into South Fremantle’s Corridor of Popularity as an inaugural legend, and used to be named Swan Districts’ lecturer of the century.

Swan Districts vp Andy Holmes mentioned it used to be an excessively unhappy month for the membership.

“His long service and success at our club was legendary,” he mentioned.

“Those players who played under Toddy knew how uncompromising he was as a coach, but he made us all better players and more importantly better men.

“The membership used to be getting ready for the yearly John Todd Cup in opposition to South Fremantle at our later house recreation on Saturday 15 June.

“It will now be a memorial to a great man who will be sadly missed.”