We would like to thank David Evans, who is did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for match against Blackwood on Saturday 26 July 2025, joined by Sons Luke and Todd.
David “Taffy” Evans was made a Mt Lofty District Football Club Life Member in 1992. His two sons and grandchildren call him “FOSL”. Affectionally, David thinks that maybe they are correct!
Way back when the oval was just scrub and some trees, there was one of many community working bees. The rocky base needed to be blasted out using explosives called gelignite. This was then levelled with large machines before the topsoil was added. As a young Heathfield Primary School lad, David remembers vividly that he and Kevin Hampton joined many rows of people lining up with garden rakes and wheelbarrows to clear the rock heaps. There was no council help at all, just the community getting it done.
David played Junior footy for Heathfield Aldgate United, colts footy and filled in with the B2 grade when his dad coached, before moving more permanently to the Bs and As.
Premierships with Heathfield Aldgate United totalled 6 and for Mt Lofty he played in the first 1981 SAFA A grade match which became Mt Lofty’s first A Grade Premiership, as well as the 1986 A grade and 1988 A2 Premiership’s. David also played League and Reserve years at Sturt as player number 797 and was lucky enough to be part of a Grand Final winning team.
He was involved in Auskick coaching and training, helped coach Mt Lofty Bs and was the main bar and security bloke in the club run Casper Discos. Today he is still doing things such as Chairman of the Sports Club and he says he remains a very proud life member of this great club.
Davids playing accolades include:
4 A Grade Premierships, 3 Other Senior Premierships, 2 Junior Premierships:
Thank you sincerely on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty for all that you do for our club.
David with sons Todd and LukeDavid with Lofty Legends Convenor (and Head Trainer) Nikki Moore nee dee RoosDavid, in blue, and Kevin Hampton as young boys when volunteers commenced clearing for the Heathfield Oval around 1965. Both made Life Members of Mt Lofty District Football Club some decades later.David left with father Stan, still playing at 44, and brothers Iain and Andrew David 1st left in the back row in his second United A Grade Premiership in 1976. David 1st in the third row of the SAFA 1981 Mt Lofty District Football Club’s inaugural Premiership. David 2nd from the left in the front row of the 1986 A Grade Mt Lofty District Football Club Premiers in their first year in the HFL. David with John Coventry at the 2016 Reunion which celebrated the 1976 United Premiership and the 1986 Mt Lofty Premiership in which they were team mates. David with sisters Yvonne and Daphne and brothers Andrew and Iain at the unveiling of the Heathfield Oval Historic Sign by his parents Stan, HAU Life Member and Barb, Mt Lofty Life Members.David with sisters Yvonne and Daphne and brothers Andrew and Iain at the unveiling of the Heathfield Oval Historic sign for his parents Stan, HAU Life Member and Barb, Mt Lofty Life Members.
We would like to thank Paul Blows who did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member Coin Toss for the match against Lobethal on Saturday 19 July 2025 on behalf of the Blows family.
Bob and Don Blows, both Life Members of one of our heritage clubs, the Stirling Football Club and who are doing us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin in today’s match against Onkaparinga Valley.
Sadly, Bob and Don’s eldest brother passed away in May this year and so the younger brothers will also be representing Max when they did the coin toss. Three coins have been struck for the occasion – a rare first for us as a club. Paul Blows performed the Life Member Coin Toss using Bob’s commemorative coin.
At the time of the commencement of their football careers, there were no colts teams and so each began playing senior football at just 16 years of age, all going on to be Premiership players during the 1950’s and playing in the club’s last Premiership in 1960.
From what we can ascertain, the three brothers played in a total of 10 Premierships between them over 5 Premiership years during the Stirling Football Club’s dominant era after the second world war through to 1960 – Max in 4 Premierships, Bob in 4 and Don in 2.
In both 1955 and 1960, all three brothers were Premiership players together – certainly a very special and rare feat.
Bob played his entire career with Stirling, while both Don and Max also played at Sturt Football Club, Don making his debut in 1957 as player number 613 and Max in 1959 as player number 643.
The Blows name was certainly synonymous with Stirling Football Club where the brothers gave outstanding service as players, officials and supporters of the club. That support also continued with the formation of Mt Lofty, following the amalgamation of Stirling and Heathfield Aldgate United in 1978.
Thank you sincerely on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty District Football Club for all that you have done Blows family.
We are deeply saddened to share that Richard ‘Dicky’ Symons has passed away peacefully in the late hours of the evening 20 June surrounded by his loving family.
The family asks for privacy at this time.
Funeral and proceedings expected to be on Friday 4 July from 10am.
MLDFC and our clubs pass on our sincerest condolences to Betty and the extended family.
Richard pictured (centre) with grandsons Alex (left) and Jordan (right) Houlahan whilst performing the life member coin toss for MLDFC at Heathfield Oval Saturday 27 May 2023.Richard Symons Coach 1978 HAU B Grade Premiership1978 HAU B Grade Premiers
We are deeply saddened to share that Herman Johannes de Roos (79) has passed away peacefully in the early hours of this morning 20 June surrounded by his loving family.
The de Roos family asks for privacy at this time and a celebration of his life will be announced in due course.
We would like thank Brian Penny who is did us the honour of tossing the coin for the important match against last year’s A Grade Premier, Hahndorf for the Round 8 Coin Toss. Brian was joined on the day by his wife Ann and son Rob.
Brian’s journey began in 1970, when his son Rob first pulled on the boots for the junior colts. Like many great football stories, it started on the sidelines, serving as goal umpire and team manager. But that was just the beginning.
By 1973, he was on the ground, acting as trainer for the Junior Colts, who went on to become premiers that year. His contribution was hands-on and heartfelt, helping to shape a winning team and a stronger club culture.
Throughout the 1970s, he poured energy into a variety of fundraising efforts, finding creative ways to support the club financially, long before sponsorships and grant money were common. These were grassroots efforts driven by passion and perseverance.
In 1977, he took on the role of Assistant Secretary, stepping into the administrative side of club life and further cementing his role as a key figure in our community.
During the 1970s he worked alongside the late, great Frank Clements, assisting in player recruitment and helping to lay the foundations for the future of the club. His support during that time helped shape the teams and culture we still see today.
Brian is also lucky to have seen his son Rob, and Grandson’s Adam, Matthew and Josh all play for the Devils.
On behalf of the the Mt Lofty District Football Club, we thank Brian for his time, his dedication, and his lasting impact on our club.
