William C. McClelland
Encyclopedia
William Caldwell McClelland CBE
(9 February 1875 – 30 May 1957) was a medical doctor
and an Australian rules football
player and administrator. Born at Buninyong
, on Victoria
's goldfields, to an Irish-born father (David) and his Victorian-born wife (Mary), McClelland went to Brighton Grammar School
and then to the University of Melbourne
, where he was awarded a BA
in 1899, MA
in 1901 and MB
, BS in 1905. He joined the Melbourne Football Club
in 1898 and was an often brilliant centre half-back
. He played in the club's surprise 1900 premiership triumph and was elected as captain the following year, a position he filled for four seasons. Retiring at the end of the 1904 season with 75 games to his credit, McClelland focussed his energies on his medical career and he was medical officer to the Brighton City Council
for more than four decades.
In 1912, McClelland became president of the Melbourne Football Club, a position he relinquished when elected to the presidency of the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1926, succeeding Baldwin Spencer
. He served in this capacity for two decades and from 1944 was also the president of the Melbourne Cricket Club
, simultaneously holding the two highest profile sporting positions in Victoria for 12 years. He was granted a CBE
for his services to both games in 1955. At the age of 81, he handed over the leadership of the VFL to Kenneth Luke
, who was a more vocal opponent of the hold exerted by cricket
clubs over the finances of VFL clubs. McClelland continued as president of the MCC until 1957, when he died. He did not marry.
McClelland was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 1996. His citation read:
In 1950, the VFL instituted the McClelland Trophy
, awarded to the club with the best overall home-and-away record across the three levels, seniors, reserves and under 19s, over the course of the season. Since the beginning of the Australian Football League
era, with the abolition of the reserves and under 19s, the trophy is given to the team that finishes on top of the ladder after the home and way season (the minor premier).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(9 February 1875 – 30 May 1957) was a medical doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and an Australian rules football
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...
player and administrator. Born at Buninyong
Buninyong, Victoria
Buninyong is a place in Victoria, Australia. The town is on the Midland Highway, south of Ballarat on the road to Geelong. It's known locally as the drug smuggling capital of the South West region. Local Dealers are said to import the majority of their cannabis supply from farmers in Durham Lead...
, on Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
's goldfields, to an Irish-born father (David) and his Victorian-born wife (Mary), McClelland went to Brighton Grammar School
Brighton Grammar School
Brighton Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day school for boys, located in Brighton, a south-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and then to the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where he was awarded a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1899, MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1901 and MB
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
, BS in 1905. He joined the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in 1898 and was an often brilliant centre half-back
Centre half-back
In Australian rules football, the centre half-back refers to a position in the half-back line of a football field.Centre half back is considered a key position in defence. Examples of centre half-backs include Glen Jakovich, Darren Mead, Tom Harley and Chris Tarrant....
. He played in the club's surprise 1900 premiership triumph and was elected as captain the following year, a position he filled for four seasons. Retiring at the end of the 1904 season with 75 games to his credit, McClelland focussed his energies on his medical career and he was medical officer to the Brighton City Council
Brighton, Victoria
Brighton is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Brighton had a population of 20,651...
for more than four decades.
In 1912, McClelland became president of the Melbourne Football Club, a position he relinquished when elected to the presidency of the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1926, succeeding Baldwin Spencer
Baldwin Spencer
Winston Baldwin Spencer is the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. He has been Prime Minister since March 24, 2004, when his party, the United Progressive Party , which he had led as the opposition party for several years, won a parliamentary election...
. He served in this capacity for two decades and from 1944 was also the president of the Melbourne Cricket Club
Melbourne Cricket Club
The Melbourne Cricket Club is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as the oldest sporting club in Australia....
, simultaneously holding the two highest profile sporting positions in Victoria for 12 years. He was granted a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for his services to both games in 1955. At the age of 81, he handed over the leadership of the VFL to Kenneth Luke
Kenneth Luke
Sir Kenneth Luke was a self-made millionaire manufacturer and a leading Australian rules football administrator in the Victorian Football League...
, who was a more vocal opponent of the hold exerted by cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
clubs over the finances of VFL clubs. McClelland continued as president of the MCC until 1957, when he died. He did not marry.
McClelland was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996. His citation read:
- Cool level-headed defender for Melbourne who was club president for 14 years before becoming VFL president from 1926 to 1955.
In 1950, the VFL instituted the McClelland Trophy
McClelland Trophy
The McClelland Trophy is an Australian rules football trophy, currently awarded to the minor premiers in the Australian Football League each year...
, awarded to the club with the best overall home-and-away record across the three levels, seniors, reserves and under 19s, over the course of the season. Since the beginning of the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
era, with the abolition of the reserves and under 19s, the trophy is given to the team that finishes on top of the ladder after the home and way season (the minor premier).