WAFL great awarded WAFC Life MembershipFriday, November 20, 2015 - 10:35 AM

THE West Australian Football Commission is delighted to announce that Life Membership will be awarded to long-serving football identity Laurie Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy will be inducted at the WAFC Life Members’ Association Christmas Luncheon to be held on Monday, December 7 at Domain Stadium.

Induction to the WAFC Life Members’ Association is regarded as the WAFC’s highest level of recognition, distinct from life membership awarded by individual football clubs and associated bodies, and is awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding overall contribution to football.

WAFC Chairman Murray Henry congratulated Mr Kennedy on receiving the honour of WAFC Life Membership.

“Laurie has given a lifetime of service to football and his significant contribution to the game makes him thoroughly deserving of this honour,” Mr McHenry said.

PROFILE

Laurie Kennedy

Born 26 August 1938

1956 - 1967, 213 league games, 45 goals

1975-76 Assistant Coach East Perth Football Club

1983-89 Board Member East Perth Football Club

1988-89 President East Perth Football Club

1991-2003 Junior District Chairman P&D Tribunal

East Perth Life Member

WAFL Life Member

East Perth District Council Life Member

WAFC Life Member

Laurie Kennedy is a fine example of local young players from the East Perth Junior Council who became league players and gave great service to the East Perth Football Club and the broader football community.

Laurie commenced his junior playing career with the Bedford Park Junior Football Club in 1952 in the under 15s and won the club’s fairest and best in that grade. He was also selected as a member of the victorious 1952 State Schoolboys and captained the side the following year in Brisbane.

In 1954 aged 16, Laurie won the Inglewood-Bedford JFC under 18 Club Fairest and Best and was Vice-Captain of the East Perth inter-district premiership team.

At the start of the 1956 season aged 17 and encouraged by good mates Kevin McGill and Graham Farmer, he attended East Perth’s pre-season training and was selected to play in the reserves team. His first league game soon followed on June 30 at Perth Oval against Subiaco.

From that time onwards he became a regular League player and had only just turned 18 when he played in the 1956 premiership team. Laurie went on to play 213 League games over a period of 12 years including seven grand finals – 1956, 57, 58, 59, 1960, 61 and 1967. Three of these resulted in premierships.

After retiring as a player Laurie gave a significant amount of his time and effort in assisting the club and district in various capacities including as an assistant coach, board member, club president and junior district tribunal chairman.