Jeff Patterson (footballer)

Jeffrey Leo Patterson (3 November 1928 – 28 April 2013) was a boxer, Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne, Richmond and Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL)[1] and event promoter.

Jeff Patterson
Personal information
Full name Jeffrey Leo Patterson
Date of birth (1928-11-03)3 November 1928
Date of death 28 April 2013(2013-04-28) (aged 84)
Original team(s) Castlemaine
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Follower
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1951–52 South Melbourne 20 0(2)
1953–54 Richmond 14 0(4)
1954 Fitzroy 07 0(6)
Total 41 (12)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1954.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

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Born in the great depression, Patterson was abandoned on a doorstep the day he was born, being taken in by the family that owned the bootmaker's shop where he was found. After the death of his adoptive father, he was in and out of boys' homes for truancy.[2]

Football

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Patterson originally started his football career with Maldon, then spent one season with Castlemaine before being recruited by South Melbourne.[3] Between 1951 and 1954, he played a total of 41 games with South Melbourne, Richmond and Fitzroy, before moving to Tasmania. He then played with Cornwall (later known as East Launceston) in the Northern Tasmania Football Association for six seasons. He also played seven games for the Tasmanian State team.[4]

Promoter

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Patterson fled Launceston in 1960, leaving large debts, but remade himself in Europe, involved with famous acts such as the Everly Brothers, Sammy Davis jnr, Roy Orbison, Fats Domino and Edith Piaf. He also had dealings with the likes of the infamous Kray twins.[5]

Notes

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  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 691. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  2. ^ Jeff Patterson (2005). What A Life!. IbisBrewster Publishing. ISBN 9781920923785.
  3. ^ "LEAGUE FOOTBALL". Record. Vol. LXXXII, no. 15. Victoria, Australia. 21 April 1951. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Jeff Patterson". Tigerland Archive.
  5. ^ Rohan Connolly (30 April 2013). "Former VFL tough guy dies after fall, aged 84". The Age.
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