Warren Foster, A Grade coach of Heathfield Aldgate United for 5 years in the 1970’s, took the side to 5 Grand Final’s, winning 4 during the club’s amazing achievements over its 12-year history in the HFL. Between 1967 and 1978, 30 Premierships were won across all grades including 9 A Grade flags, missing the Grand Final in only one year and winning 87 matches without loss, an Australian record which stood for over 40 years.
Warren, or Sherg as he is affectionately known, instigated a reunion in 2024 and this year 39 former players, partners and officials gathered at the Balhannah Hotel which is managed by Greg Ryan whose children play for Mt Lofty. It was a wonderful day, made even more special by the attendance of 5 Onkaparinga Valley players who played in the legendary United v Onka’s matches which were the HFL equivalent of the AFL Showdowns back in the day.”
Mt Lofty District Football Club would like to thank Haydn Cutting who is did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin this week’s HFL Round 7 match against The Hahndorf Football Club at Heathfield oval in front of the Arkaba Clubhouse on 30 May 2026.
He is joined by his wife Dee, eldest daughter Allison and Granddaughters Mia and Harriet and Sister-in-Law Jill Colotti and James Colotti. His other children Heath and Claire and families all live overseas and cannot be here today, along with sister Annette who lives interstate.
Haydn was made a Life Member of Mt Lofty in 2017 as a volunteer but had played for Heathfield as a junior and for Heathfield Aldgate in the 1968 B Grade Premiership and the 1971 A Grade Premiership.
When his son Heath commenced playing Junior Football for the Devils, Haydn coached those sides for several years and was subsequently a member of the Junior Committee. Later, he and Kevin Hampton worked together to commence the Lofty Legends Group and has since assisted the Football Club and the District Community and Sports Club, of which he is also a Life Member.
Haydn has admiration for the many people who have built Mt Lofty into one of the biggest clubs in South Australia with 20 teams catering for men, women, boys and girls.
He has very fond memories of the people and achievements of the United days, but very special memories are of playing football with his late brother Neil and then, in later years, watching Heath as Captain of the Devil’s A Grade Premierships in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Very proud family moments took place when Heath got to raise the Neil Cutting Memorial Challenge Cup for competition between Mt Lofty and Bridgewater A Grade. Neil had played and volunteered for both clubs, including the Presidency at Bridgewater before his passing at just 44 in 1998.
As a result of being so involved either playing or supporting, he was the co instigator of the Lofty Legends Group in the role of convenor. Bringing together the heritage of the Club so effortlessly with his connection to the current and future of the club. In the role of Convenor he spent countless hours ensuring the history is always respected for reunion day every year and creating the space for many legendary tales to be told well into the evening. Even though he has handed over this role, he is still a part of what makes our club history flow and assists around the club along with fellow lofty legends.
Haydn is extremely honoured to have been made a Life Member of the Devils and is very grateful for the opportunities which so many wonderful Devils people have given him.
On behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty, we thank you sincerely for all you have done for the Mt Lofty District Football Club.
2018 Lofty Legends Reunion of 1968 B Grade Premiership side – LtoR Peter Hunt, Lew Malzard, Richard Symons, Haydn Cutting, Ian O’Riley, Kym Radbone and David Fuller.
Very Proud Moment – 2006 Mt Lofty A Grade side with Captain Heath Cutting and Coach Nathan Grainger holding the Neil Cutting Memorial Challenge Cup won by the A Grade.
Source of Pride and wonderful memories playing together – The Neil Cutting Memorial Challenge Cup so named after Neil playing and volunteering for both Mt Lofty and Bridgewater – Neil is pictured far left with the team drink container used in those days and celebrating the A Grade winning the Courier Cup in 1987.
Mt Lofty District Football Club would like to thank Ian Deans and welcome Ian Deans, who is a Life Member of the Mt Lofty District Football Club and did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member Coin for the 2026 HFL Round 3 match against Uraidla. A round particularly specially being falling on ANZAC Day. Ian was joined by his wife Mary, his two brothers Bruce and Harry Deans with their wives Dianne and Lynda.
The Deans Family were extremely proud to be asked to toss the coin for this ANZAC Day match. This is especially significant, as their parents Frank and Joan, were involved in World War 2. Frank was a Northern Territory Policeman who joined up and saw action in the Malayan Peninsula and the Battle of Singapore. He was captured and imprisoned in Changi for 3 years. Their mother, Joan, was an English woman serving as a Nursing sister on the English Hospital ships throughout the war. Frank and Joan met after the war and married, however due to the terrible deprivation Frank suffered in Changi prison, he endured ill health and died suddenly, leaving Joan with 6 children. The Deans became a Legacy Family, and to this day, are grateful for the support Legacy gave to our mother and our family.
The five boys of the Deans family, Bruce, Harry, Jim, Ian and Tom, have all been involved with, and played in, Aldgate & Heathfield United Football club. This ultimately became the Mt Lofty & District Football Club that we know today. During this time with the Club the Deans brothers have played in a total of 17 Premierships. One in particular stands out, when Harry Deans kicked the winning goal after the final siren to win the 1986 A Grade Grand final. Harry was subsequently presented with the “Golden Boot” which the club still has, and is displayed in the clubrooms. Tom Deans, was the Mt Lofty & District Football Club A Grade Best & Fairest on two occasions.
On behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty, we thank you sincerely for all you have done for the club.
PHOTO ON DAY Back row: Greg Bond, Mt Lofty President, Renae Deans, Mt Lofty Life Member Ian Deans, Daniel Deans, Paul Deans, Seb Deans, Bruce Deans, Diane Deans, Steve Dunning, Haydn O’Shaghnessy, Trevor Ranford. Front row with Harry Deans: Lynda Deans, Laura Deans and Mary DeansPHOTO ON DAY United Premiership Players from the late 1960’s and 1970’s. Don Lobban (official), David Evans, Trevor Ranford, Ian Deans, Haydn O’Shaughnessy, Bruce Deans, Steven Dunning and Harry Deans.PHOTO ON DAY L to R Diane Deans, Laura Deans and Lynda Deans2019 – The Deans Family – Harry, Lynda, Bruce, Diane, Ian and Mary2015 Harry & Ian Deans2015 Ian Deans and Jill Dawes
We would like to thank Lew Malzard who did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the match against Lobethal on Saturday 11 April 2026. Lew was joined by his son Jonathan and grandson Lucas.
Lew was a passionate player, member and supporter playing in many premierships over a long period of time. He spent some time at Sturt Football Club but his first love was always Heathfield FC.
Living in Eden hills he commuted to Heathfield by train each week to train and play on the rough oval in the middle of the skyline raceway where Heathfield High School stands today. Lew regularly stayed overnight with the Strazdins family and very close friendships were formed, spending hours on Sunday mornings clearing rocks and debris to create the oval we play on today.
The formation of the Heathfield Aldgate United Football Club saw the team enter the Hills Central Zone in 1967. Unfortunately, Lew missed this premiership as he was in hospital recovering from a car accident. But before long, the hospital room door burst open, with teammates raising the Premiership cup high with many cheers!
Lew played in the 1961 Under 16 premiership for Heathfield, followed by the 1962 first senior premiership in the Sturt District Football League. In 1971, with Coach Warren “Sherg” Foster at the helm, then began the dynasty of a long period of success with 88 games without a loss. Lew also played in the last B grade Premiership with Heathfield Aldgate United in 1978 before the club amalgamated with Stirling in 1979 to become the Mt Lofty District Football Club. He was a staunch club committee member and along with his wife Elizabeth, a foundation member of the sports club.
Lew was proudly awarded Life Membership prior to Mt Lofty entering SAFA, and eventually retired and took up umpiring. Unfortunately, an achilles injury ended his field umpiring career, however after moving to the Fleurieu Peninsula, Lew took up Goal Umpiring at A grade level in the Great Southern Football League with his now local Club Encounter Bay.
Lew is proud of his association with this club and it has been a pleasure to connect with so many over a lifetime. He wishes everyone associated with Hills Football an enjoyable 2026 and his hope to see Mt Lofty get the win on the day came to fruition against the 2025 runner up!
On behalf of everybody at Mt MLDFC, we thank you sincerely for all you have done for the club.
Lew doing us the honour of performing the Life Member Coin Toss. Mt Lofty won the Toss, Mt Lofty Captain Tyson Hone elected to kick uphill first and we won the match.L-R Son Jonathan, Lew Malzard, Grandson LucasL-R President Greg Bond, Lew Malzard, A Grade Coach Michael Bawden, Lofty Legends Convenor and Head Trainer Nikki Moore
Very sad news to hear of the passing of Cliff “Chappy” Chaplin on Wednesday 7th January 2026, just shy of 101 years. Having resided in Hahndorf Nursing Home, Chappy became unwell and was transferred to Mt Barker Hospital where he passed with Mabel by his side.
Chappy was a significant part of Mt Lofty Football Club’s heritage, commencing his playing days with Stirling, becoming a foundation member of the Heathfield Football Club and later Heathfield Aldgate United where his incredible dedication to the clubs’ and the Heathfield community were recognised with Life Membership of Heathfield Aldgate United in 1975. HAU was an amazing Football Club and Chappy did so much to build the culture of the club. Volunteering for many roles including Goal Umpire and Trainer, we will never forget the amazing Scurvy Pirates and the Heathfield Heartthrobs created by Chappy. A fair dinkum Aussie who proudly served his country in the Navy in the Second World War, he really brought some of the fun songs to life with the A grade teams over the years at the annual presentation. He could never have done it so well without Mabel’s talented accompaniment on piano. Chappys contribution along with Mabel as a dedicated volunteer, their son Barry as a 6 time Premiership player across the grades and daughter Dianne one of the passionate supporters, they were one of many families of that era to all contribute enormously towards the club we proudly call Mt Lofty today.
We also have a story about Mabel over the last few weeks! She still resides at the family home and was on respite in Hahndorf Nursing Home during the Christmas/New Year to be closer to Cliff. Unfortunately she had a fall resulting in a fractured ankle so when Cliff was transferred to Mt Barker Hospital, so was Mabel. The hospital team organised for them both to share a room together, so she really was by his side until the end! Family have said that was probably appropriate given their union over 76 years! Mabel is now in rehab in Gumeracha Hospital, doing very well with her recovery and is hoping to return home in the next week or so under the care of Dianne and home help.
Cliff didn’t want a fuss at his passing so his family will have a private cremation and will spread his ashes together.
Please enjoy the photos below and send any condolences via legends@mtloftydevils.com.au these will be passed on to the family.
Devils, please find below the details of the amazing Stan and Barb’s funeral to be held this Friday, 9th January, 1pm, Heathfield Oval.
The Evans family would like to pass on the following information:
All past and current players of Mt Lofty and heritage clubs are encouraged to wear something that identifies their club (eg; gurnsey, polo, hat, beanie, scarf etc).
When the hearse leaves the oval it will journey towards the clubroom wing, follow the boundary past the top goals and exit through the gate opposite the clubrooms. During this time, all past and current members of all sports clubs, will be invited to form a guard of honour at the exit gate. More information will be provided at the conclusion of the service.
There will be a drop off point near the top side of the change-rooms which has a ramp (disability) to access down to the oval, Berry Funeral will direct from there for drop off.
Planning for the forecasted weather, there will be a large marquee for shelter on the oval for the service, misting fans and plenty of water.
A reminder that the service will be on the oval, so please ensure you are comfortable in your footwear for the approximate 2 hour duration. Afternoon tea will also be provided.
FOR LIVE-STREAMING DETAILS AND MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE PLEASE VISIT : BERRYFUNERALS.COM.AU
