Ken Seymour
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer (1930–1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Ken Seymour
| image =
| fullname = Kenneth James Seymour
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|9|16|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|1993|3|27|1930|9|16|df=y}}
| death_place =
| originalteam =
| height = 185 cm
| weight = 103 kg
| position =
| club1 = Brunswick
| years1 = 1951–1955
| games_goals1 =
| club2 = Fitzroy
| years2 = 1956
| games_goals2 = {{0}}4 (1)
| club3 = South Melbourne
| years3 = 1956–1957
| games_goals3 = {{0}}8 (5)
| club4 = Brunswick
| years4 = 1957–1958
| games_goals4 =
| club5 = Sunshine
| years5 = 1959–1960
| games_goals5 =
| statsend = 1960
| careerhighlights =
}}
Kenneth James Seymour (16 September 1930 – 27 March 1993) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Football career
Seymour, a follower, started his senior career in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23048016 |title=Permit mix-up on follower Brunswick take Seymour. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=25 April 1951 |access-date=15 March 2015 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}} He played initially in the Brunswick seconds, then after a brief stint at Fitzroy, without playing a league game, was cleared by Fitzroy to Coburg in 1951. Due to a mix up with the permit, as a clearance was also required from Brunswick for him to play at another VFA club, Seymour ended up back at Brunswick. He remained with Brunswick until midway through the 1955 VFA season, which ended early for Seymour when the VFA tribunal handed down a long suspension. Claiming victimisation, Seymour vowed he would never to play VFA football again and began training with Fitzroy.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71665990 |title=V.F.A. umpires under fire. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=6 July 1955 |access-date=15 March 2015 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71669910 |title=Seymour trains with Maroons. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=27 July 1955 |access-date=15 March 2015 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Aged 25, Seymour made his VFL debut in the opening round of the 1956 VFL season, against Footscray at Western Oval, coming on as a reserve.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71798275 |title=A 'Merrett' at Fitzroy. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=19 April 1956 |access-date=15 March 2015 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}} He only played three more games for Fitzroy, then in late June was cleared to South Melbourne.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71811312 |title=Maroon keeping his (bruised) fingers crossed. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=27 June 1956 |access-date=15 March 2015 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}} In round 13, Seymour debuted for South Melbourne and remained in the side for the rest of the season. His performance in South Melbourne's win over Footscray at Lake Oval earned praise.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71650355 |title=League Snapshots. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=6 August 1956 |access-date=15 March 2015 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Seymour played two games with South Melbourne the following year, before Brunswick regained his services halfway through the 1957 VFA season.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19570621&id=sDNVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2ZQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6965,2947947|title=Powerful Brunswick Side for Main Game|last=Meeking|first=Michael|date=21 June 1957|work=The Age|page=17|access-date=15 March 2015}}
Seymour was the inaugural captain-coach of VFA club Sunshine when they were admitted into the competition in 1959.{{cite book|last=Fiddian|first=Marc|title=The VFA – A History of the Victorian Football Association 1877 – 1995|year=2013|publisher=Melbourne Sports Books}} Sunshine managed six wins, which placed them 13th on the ladder, from 16 teams. Not long into the 1960 VFA season, Seymour retired from football to open up a business.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19600610&id=iZ8UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TasDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5646,1801538|title=Yarraville Acts On Slump With Four Changes|last=Davis|first=Trevor|date=10 June 1960|work=The Age|page=28|access-date=15 March 2015}} He ended up reversing his decision six weeks later and resumed his career, only to have it ended two months later when he was suspended until 1962, for his actions in a game against Yarraville.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=64|date=17 August 1960|title=VFA player is out till 1962}} He was charged with treading on an opponent, misconduct against an umpire and three separate striking charges.
In 1962 he was back at Brunswick, but before the season began was de-registered by the VFA, as he was again due to face the tribunal, for disputing an umpires decision and using abusive language, in a practice match.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19620430&id=hMVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yMUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4563,4104147|title=V.F.A. Bars Ken Seymour|date=30 April 1962|work=The Age|page=18|access-date=15 March 2015}}
Over the course of his career in the VFA, Seymour was suspended for a total of 40 weeks.{{cite book|last1=Holmesby|first1=Russell|last2=Main|first2=Jim|title=The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers| publisher=BAS Publishing|year=2007|isbn=9781920910785}}
Swimming
Seymour was also a competitive swimmer. In 1948 he unofficially equalled the Australian record for the {{convert|110|yard|m|adj=on}} breaststroke during a trial swim.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43793420 |title=Equals Swimming Record. |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=30 November 1948 |access-date=15 March 2015 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} He also held the Victorian state record in the 100 yard breast stroke.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22708714 |title=Swimmers set new records. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=9 December 1948 |access-date=15 March 2015 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}
His son, Ross Seymour, was an accomplished swimmer, who represented Australia at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19760122&id=0eBUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QZIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3768,3896597|title=Seymour Swim Captain|last=Knox|first=Ken|date=22 January 1976|work=The Age|page=25|access-date=14 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://corporate.olympics.com.au/athlete/ross-seymour|title=Australian Olympic Committee: Ross Seymour|publisher=Australian Olympic Committee|access-date=15 March 2015}}
Death
Seymour died on 27 March 1993, at the age of 62.{{cite web |title=Ken Seymour |url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/ken%2Bseymour/8641 |website=Australian Football |access-date=28 December 2023}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{AFL Tables|ref=K/Ken_Seymour.html}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seymour, Ken}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Fitzroy Football Club players
Category:Brunswick Football Club players
Category:Sunshine Football Club (VFA) players
Category:Sunshine Football Club (VFA) coaches