It is with great sadness that we advise of the passing of Mt Lofty Sports Club Life Governor, and long-time player, volunteer and supporter of both the Stirling and Mt Lofty Football Clubs, Lynton Laffey.
A staunch supporter, with his wife Margaret, who attended all Mt Lofty matches until ill health prevented this several years ago, Lynton remained fully across the club’s progress until his passing on Thursday 31 July 2025.
Following in the footsteps of his father, who was a champion goal kicking forward for Stirling, Lynton played his football for the heritage club, being a member of the 1963 Senior Colts Premiership side and later becoming a very strong and passionate volunteer on the formation of the Mt Lofty Football Club. Such was his dedication that he and Margaret became Life Governors of the then Mt Lofty Sports Club which was fundamental to the construction of the Licensed Club building, now referred to as the Pavilion.
Lynton’s passion for Mt Lofty saw him provide much voluntary work for the club in the background and his support grew even further when his son Chris proudly wore the red and white as a junior and senior player, being a member of the 1998 Senior Colts Premiership. The family’s conviction to Mt Lofty has certainly been very strong through Lynton, Margaret, Chris and Lynton’s sister Helen Hewitt and a family connection with Grandson, Charlie Ness still playing in the U14’s with Mt Lofty.
Lynton’s Funeral service will be held in the Carr Memorial Chapel, 1 Morphett St, Mt Barker on Thursday 7th August 2025, at 10.00am.
The Lofty Legends Group and the Mt Lofty District Football Club pass on our sincere condolences at this very sad time to Margaret, Kerryn, Chris and their families and the extended family.
STIRLING COLTS 1963 PREMIERSHIP TEAM
Back Row L-R: Andy Reid, Hans Mulder, Vin Pistola; Bill Pattullo 2nd To Back Row: George Healey, Dennis Tolcher, Neville Pauley, Greg Cotton, John Johansen. 3rd to Back Row: Nigel Hague, Martin Ellis, Trevor (?) Gill, Alan Evans, John Sandford, Chris Chardon, Lynton Laffey, George Matic. Front Row: Terry Cotton, Peter Cutting, Brenton Williams, Lyn Evans (coach), Philip Riggs (captain), Wayne Radbone, Frank Johansen. Sitting on Ground: Robert Healey, Trevor Renfrey, J. Hodges, Robert Brown
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.
