Bill Proudfoot
Encyclopedia
William 'Bill' Proudfoot (born 11 June 1868) was an Australian rules football
er who played for Collingwood
in the VFL
.
A solidly built fullback, Proudfoot was a member of Collingwood's inaugural VFA side in 1892. He became the first ever Collingwood player to represent Victoria when selected to play against South Australia in 1894. He was club captain in 1898, their second in the VFL, and also had the role for the latter half of 1899 and in 1901. He played in Collingwood's first two VFL premiership winning sides, in 1902 and 1903.
Off the football field he was a Police Constable and was banned from playing football by his commissioner. He continued to play however under an assumed name and was involved in an infamous incident during a game in 1886 when he was assaulted trying to protect an umpire. Collingwood were playing North Melbourne when at half-time a riot occurred with the crowd invading the field and turning on the umpire. Proudfoot, while attempting to stop the umpire from getting injured, was himself badly beaten in the melee.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
A solidly built fullback, Proudfoot was a member of Collingwood's inaugural VFA side in 1892. He became the first ever Collingwood player to represent Victoria when selected to play against South Australia in 1894. He was club captain in 1898, their second in the VFL, and also had the role for the latter half of 1899 and in 1901. He played in Collingwood's first two VFL premiership winning sides, in 1902 and 1903.
Off the football field he was a Police Constable and was banned from playing football by his commissioner. He continued to play however under an assumed name and was involved in an infamous incident during a game in 1886 when he was assaulted trying to protect an umpire. Collingwood were playing North Melbourne when at half-time a riot occurred with the crowd invading the field and turning on the umpire. Proudfoot, while attempting to stop the umpire from getting injured, was himself badly beaten in the melee.