George Coates (footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Albert Phillip Coates (born 3 July 1923) was an Australian rules football
er who played with Fitzroy
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Coates had a delayed start to league football due to the war. He served as a Leading Aircraftman with the No. 67 Squadron
of the Royal Australian Air Force
. A rover, he made his debut in 1947 and proved to be a consistent goal-kicker for Fitzroy, kicking at least 20 goals in three of his first four seasons. Coates played finals football in 1947 and 1952, ending up on a losing preliminary final team on each occasion. He represented Victoria in 1949.
Once he left Fitzroy, Coates spent some time as coach of State Savings Bank in the Victorian Amateur Football Association
.
Coates was later a Fitzroy administrator for over 20 years. His son, Michael, played for the club in the 1980s. In 1965 he designed the prowling lion logo which would used by Fitzroy on their guernseys and adopted by the Brisbane Lions
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
Coates had a delayed start to league football due to the war. He served as a Leading Aircraftman with the No. 67 Squadron
No. 67 Squadron RAAF
No. 67 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in January 1943, conducted patrols off the southern Australian coastline until the end of the war and was disbanded in November 1945....
of the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. A rover, he made his debut in 1947 and proved to be a consistent goal-kicker for Fitzroy, kicking at least 20 goals in three of his first four seasons. Coates played finals football in 1947 and 1952, ending up on a losing preliminary final team on each occasion. He represented Victoria in 1949.
Once he left Fitzroy, Coates spent some time as coach of State Savings Bank in the Victorian Amateur Football Association
Victorian Amateur Football Association
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria...
.
Coates was later a Fitzroy administrator for over 20 years. His son, Michael, played for the club in the 1980s. In 1965 he designed the prowling lion logo which would used by Fitzroy on their guernseys and adopted by the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
.