We would like to welcome to Arkaba Oval members of the Wissell family who are representing deceased Life Members of our foundation clubs and are doing us the honour of tossing the Life Member coin for this very important match against Lobethal.
Welcome to Shane and Kirsten Wissell and their sons James and Harry, James is wearing our current Mt. Lofty jumper and Harry is wearing his Pop’s, Brian, original Aldgate Football club jumper. These boys are the 5th generation Wissell’s to play for Mt. Lofty and its foundation clubs.
Shane’s great grandfather Jim Wissell was the first-generation Wissell to play for the Aldgate Football Club, commencing playing in 1901 and taking on many roles until the 1930’s. Jim holds life membership of the Aldgate Football Club.
Shane’s grandfather Harold ‘Chicken’ Wissell was the second generation of Wissell’s to play at Aldgate and was also honoured with Life Membership, playing and filling different roles from the 1930’s through to the 1950’s, he was an A Grade premiership player in 1934 and was the first President of the current Hills Football league.
Then came Brian ‘Woop’ Wissell as the 3rd generation to play and volunteer support in many roles from the late 1940’s until 2009, winning the A grade B&F in 1957. Brian was involved with Aldgate, HAU and Mt. Lofty and is a Life Member of the Aldgate Football Club.
Shane and his brothers Craig and David also played for HAU and then Mt. Lofty Football clubs and became the 4th generation of Wissell’s to add their flair to our club’s history with Shane winning back-to-back SAFA medals in the U16 competition in ‘84 & ‘85 and runner up in the ‘91 A grade mail Medal. The family history of playing and support now spans 121 years with James and Harry Wissell starting their playing in the Candy Stripes at the age of six in our Auskick program.
This family sits in rarefied atmosphere when it comes to support of our club and community, and we look forward to the Wissell tradition continuing at our great club.
Be sure to be a part of the day next weekend for our reunion round that will cover all the 1 & 2 years. Check out the Premiership photos so see if you or someone you know needs to a part of the action!
We wish to invite everyone from the era’s to the Club and 1 & 2 Premiership Reunions
1.00pm Saturday 30 July 2022
1961 Heathfield Senior Colts 1971 Heathfield Aldgate United A Grade, Senior Colts, Junior Colts and Mini Colts 1981 Mt Lofty A Grade (SAFA – first club senior premiership) 1952 Stirling A Grade 1972 Heathfield Aldgate United A Grade, B Grade and Junior Colts 2002 Mt Lofty Senior Colts 2012 Mt Lofty C Grade
We would like to extend a warm welcome to everybody here today at the Arkaba Oval, especially to Richard Melhuish who is doing us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for this important Cup game against Bridgewater.
A life time resident of the area, Richard or Mel or Wally as many know him, is a Life Member of both Heathfield Aldgate United (1978) and the Mt Lofty District Football Club (1986) recognising years of distinguished service as both a multi Premiership player and official of both clubs.
Richard started his junior football at Heathfield, went on to play at Sturt and was enticed back to Heathfield Aldgate United in 1969 to play with his mates and go on to be a member of seven A Grade Premierships at Full Back for HAU and multiple Premierships for Mt Lofty, playing until 1987 at A, B and C Grade levels.. Also a very talented athlete who held many Heathfield High School records for decades, he played 345 games and was a member of the HFL team which won the Lovelock Shield for the first time in 1973.
His record as an official and volunteer was as impressive as his playing career – He became Secretary of HAU at the age of 20 and held the position from 1971 to 1978, sat again as Secretary of Mt Lofty from 1980 to 1984, Football Director from 1980 to 1986, Chairman of the Club in 1989 and finally served as A Grade Team Manager from 1984 to 1994.
Stan Evans is being celebrated today as he does us the honor of tossing the commemorative coin for the A Grade game.
At 91 years of age he is one of our longest serving Life Members and was awarded HAU Life Member status in 1976.
Stan played B Grade for Stirling FC between 1949 and 1955 and then led the formation of the Heathfield Football Club in 1955.
Stan then played for Heathfield, Heathfield Aldgate United and finally Mount Lofty, hanging up his boots at the age of 55.
He has served as president for all three clubs, a devoted man that has spent a lifetime beside his beautiful wife Barb to build these facilities and our great sense of community.
It is with great sadness that we advise of the passing of David Fuller, a very much loved member of and Premiership player with both the Heathfield and Heathfield Aldgate United Football Clubs.
Sadly, Dave’s long battle with illness ended on Saturday night and a service in his memory may take place late this week. David’s family will provide us with more detail as soon as available and we will forward that on together with his wonderful club record.
Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
The Lofty Legends Group Mt Lofty District Football Club
