LIFE MEMBER COIN TOSS | JEFF PISTOLA
When we think of passionate and knowledgeable Hills Football League people, the name coming instantly to mind is Jeff Pistola, Sporting Editor of the Courier. But more importantly from our perspective, Jeff is a Life Member of the Mt Lofty District Football Club and has been an incredible support as a player, coach and voluntary official to Mt Lofty and heritage clubs, Heathfield Aldgate United and Stirling.
Saturday’s match was a great opportunity to acknowledge Jeff’s tireless dedication over many decades when he carried out the Life Member Coin toss before he resumed his commentary on the Mt Lofty v Lobethal match which was televised by the “Call of the Wild”.
Thanks to Pistols’ media team CALL OF THE WILD you can see the whole thing HERE from 29:27
His introduction to our great game commenced in the Under 13’s for Stirling in 1968, coached by the late Peter Stoddard. Continuing with Stirling, highlights were playing in an Under 16 Grand Final under the late Reg Hewish as coach before making his A grade debut at just 16 in 1973 when Michael Weatherald was coach. He had already suffered a serious knee injury the year before, but on resumption in 1973 went on to play 6 Under 17 matches for Sturt and was a reserve for the A’s in the 2nd semi and preliminary finals before being an emergency in the Grand Final against Heathfield Aldgate United.
Continuing in the Stirling A’s in 1974 and 1975, Jeff made the decision to seek a clearance to Heathfield Aldgate United. That was not an easy decision, especially when his brother Vin was a champion ruckman throughout his career with Stirling and his mother was an “ardent supporter” of the club. In Jeff’s words “… . so much so that she refused to wash my footy gear anymore … ‘I’m not putting that red and green crap on my line’ … therefore as a 20yo having gone to the archrivals, I was forced to launder my own football socks, shorts and jumper … guess that taught me a bit of domestic responsibility!! Admit she became more willing with the red and white after the creation of Mt Lofty.”
Deciding to leave Stirling was just one decision, but 1976 saw Jeff having to appeal twice to the HFL tribunal, missing eight matches before being granted a clearance with the season halfway through.
The move to United generated early success for Jeff and with a full season under his belt in 1977 he became a premiership player for the first time, when the B Grade, guided by the late Richard “Dick” Symons as Captain Coach, defeated Onka Valley. 1978 saw him have an even better season when he made his United A Grade debut but despite playing A Grade games, was still able to win the B Grade Best and Fairest while playing in the midfield and becoming a two-time Premiership player after performing well in the Grand Final, again against Onkas. Guided by Dick Symons, but in a non-playing coaching capacity, the 1978 B Grade was the last Premiership won by United before the amalgamation with Stirling to see Mt Lofty compete in the SAFA competition in 1979.
The new club saw Jeff become part of the original Mt Lofty squad and playing in his first game for a win in the reserves at Hectorville. Another grand final but this time a loss unfortunately. Further Reserves involvement over the next two years saw Jeff act as Captain in 1980 with Captain Coach Michael Wright being injured and selection in the SAFA Reserves and Division 4 in 1981.
With his career demanding more, Jeff made the decision to play in the Devils C Grade in the HFL A3 grade. Another Grand Final in 1982, this time under the late Ross Noble, but unfortunately as runners up again. 1983 saw the A3’s win a premiership in the HFL with Jeff leading the way as best on ground, but this was to be his last match at just 27, with the early knee injuries finally catching up with him.
Two years away from the club saw the footy fire reignited and so commenced the first of many years of dedicated voluntary work for the club which led to Life Membership. 1986, signalling the shift of Mt Lofty to the HFL and an A Grade Premiership, was when Jeff became assistant coach and runner for Peter Milde, the side competing in the A3 Grand Final.
1987 and 1988 and Jeff is in charge in the A3 Coach’s box, defeating Eastern Ranges comfortably in consecutive Grand Finals – 9 goals in ’87 and a massive 16 goals in ’88. This was only the second Mt Lofty side to win consecutive Premierships, but while again making the GF in 1989, the trifecta narrowly escaped the ‘3’s with a one-point loss to Milang.
Mt Lofty fielded an A Grade team in the HFL Division 2 in 1991 and Jeff became an A grade coach for the first time. A very slow start was followed by winning 12 of the remaining 15 matches which saw the side play in the grand final but minor premier, Mt Torrens, proved bigger and stronger to take the premiership. Nevertheless, much good came from this side with many younger players going on to become important contributors in A Grade football, after an enjoyable season.
In 1992 he moved to the HFL Division 1 as Coach of the B Grade, progressing to the elimination final, one of only a few times where J. Pistola coached teams did not make the Grand Final.
Five years passed, and like many fathers before him, Jeff took on junior coaching beginning in 1997 as his son’s gradually pulled on the Devils guernsey over the next few years. 4 seasons of coaching the Under 10’s saw two seasons undefeated, before taking the Under 14 Junior Colts to a first semi-final in 2001.
A return to senior coaching with Jeff as B Grade Coach and assistant coach to the then A Grade Coach Bob Head over the 2002/2003 seasons, proved a challenging period for the club with a lack of success.
A step toward years of administrative and promotional work for the Devils began in 2004 where Jeff’s incredible passion for football and Mt Lofty became even more obvious with roles over 11 seasons which included team manager, timekeeper, assistant coach, 2 years as club secretary, HFL delegate and committee member. A Grade Team Manager between 2010 to 2014, saw him working closely with senior coaches Ben Coleman, Sean Nolan and Bruce Dawes culminating in Bruce taking the A’s to the 2014 Country Division premiership, the club winning 4 premierships in the only season playing in Country Division.
Many firsts in the club’s development were initiated by Jeff over the years – initiating annual reunions and historical displays in the late 1990’s – providing content for the club’s then new web site – producing a club newsletter “The Devils Advocate” – initiating the “Challenge Cup”, later becoming the “Neil Cutting Challenge Cup” for matches between Mt Lofty and neighbours Bridgewater – suggesting the name “Lofty Legends” as part of the founding group.
Tireless work as a player, coach and official since Mt Lofty’s inception in 1978 was eventually rewarded with Jeff receiving Life Membership in 1995. Exceptional passion for the club was at the base of Jeff’s dedication.
Thinking of Mt Lofty and its heritage club’s also prompts thoughts of players involved over the many decades and the playing history among the three clubs. Few would have played for all three; Heathfield Aldgate United, Stirling and Mt Lofty but the late Herman de Roos was one and Jeff is another one of what is probably a very select group. 7 seasons at Stirling, 3 at Heathfield-Aldgate to amalgamation and 5 seasons for Mt Lofty before retiring due to injury.
Another rare achievement was to have coached Mt Lofty at every level from Under 10’s through to A Grade.
Involvement in the playing side of football was rekindled for Jeff between 1992 and 1997 when he took on the role of playing coach for the Hills Tigers in the SA Superules football. He recruited many past teammates which saw the struggling team climb to a position of strength: John Coventry, John Bowes, Ray “Dasher” Daly, the late Neil Cutting, Craig Winter, Haydn Cutting and Malcolm Foale.
With three sons all guided in their junior football by Jeff, the Pistola name continued to feature prominently with Matt, Brett and Ryan each serving as team captains over the years and playing in numerous premierships, culminating in Brett, at 18, being a member of the 2008 A Grade premiership after an incredible season featuring his high scoring as a very effective forward.
While Jeff’s career has seen him not closely involved with Mt Lofty after 37 years dedication to the Devils, his football passion nevertheless continues to benefit Mt Lofty and the Hills Football League and member clubs through unmatched coverage and promotion as the Courier Sports Editor and media presenter on 88.9 Hills Radio and the televised “Call of the Wild”.
Mt Lofty District Football Club and the Hills Football League will forever be indebted to the exceptional work of Jeff Pistola.
A sincere thank you to you Jeff for an amazing football life of exceptional achievement.
Jeff is pictured second from the right together with B Grade Coach, the late Dick Symons, Andrew Clements, Keith White, Lew Malzard, and Richard Henderson.
