Norm Beckton
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer and coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Norm Beckton
| image =
| fullname = Norman Aubrey Beckton
| birth_date = 4 May 1898
| birth_place = Brunswick, Victoria
| death_date = {{death date and age|1984|9|8|1898|5|4|df=yes}}
| death_place = Leongatha, Victoria
| originalteam = Essendon Association (VFA)
| height = 189 cm
| weight = 93 kg
| position =
| statsend = 1930
| years1 = 1921–1930
| club1 = Essendon
| games_goals1 = 173 (157)
| careerhighlights =
}}
Norman Aubrey Beckton (4 May 1898 – 8 September 1984){{cite web |url=http://australianfootball.com/players/player/Norman+Beckton/3864 |title=Norman Beckton - Player Bio |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=10 December 2014}} was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1920s.
Born in Brunswick, Beckton enlisted aged 18 in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 18 July 1916, and served as a sapper with the 3rd Division Signal Corps.{{cite web |title=Norman Aubrey Beckton |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2157794 |website=First World War Nominal Roll |publisher=Australian War Memorial |access-date=14 May 2025}} The 3rd Division Signal Corps served on the Western Front until the end of the War,{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Linton |title=3rd Division Signals Company |url=https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/3rd_Division_Signals_Company |website=BirtwistleWiki |publisher=Our Contribution |access-date=14 May 2025}} and Beckton returned to Australia on 25 March 1919.
Football
A ruckman, Beckton was recruited from Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Essendon Association, and made his senior VFL debut for Essendon in Round 1 of the 1921 season,{{cite web |first1=Paul |title=Norm Beckton |url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/N/Norm_Beckton.html |website=AFL Tables |access-date=13 May 2025}} against Melbourne at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, kicking two goals.{{cite web |first1=Paul |title=Round: 1 Venue: East Melbourne Date: Sat, 7-May-1921 |url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1921/051119210507.html |website=AFL Tables |publisher=Paul |access-date=13 May 2025}}
Beckton played in the Essendon premierships of 1923 and 1924, won Essendon's
best and fairest in 1928 and captained Essendon in 1929 and 1930. He also represented Victoria during his career.
In the famous photo of Roy Cazaly taking a one-handed mark, Beckton is the opposition player seen from behind. Seeing the mark, Beckton asked Cazaly "How the fuck did you do that?"Stoward, p. 79.
Following the end of his VFL career, Beckton captain-coached Sandringham in the VFA, playing 74 games and kicking 59 goals before his retirement at the end of 1934.{{cite web |last1=Riley |first1=Michael |title=Beckton, Norm |url=https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Beckton,_Norm.php |website=The VFA Project |publisher=Michael Riley |access-date=13 May 2025}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article184836852 Australia's Biggest Footballer: Who can claim the distinction?: Beckton -- The Man and His Physique, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 2 June 1926), p.1.]
- Maplestone, M. (1996), Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club: Melbourne. {{ISBN|0-9591740-2-8}}
- Stoward, J. (2002) Australian Rules Football in Tasmania, self-published: Hobart. {{ISBN|0957751575}}.
External links
- {{AFL Tables|ref=N/Norm_Beckton.html}}
- [http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Norm+Beckton Norm Beckton] at Boyles Football Photos.
- [http://www.essendonfc.com.au/champions/profile.asp?ID=3 Profile at Essendonfc.com]
{{1923/24 Essendon dual premiership players}}
{{W. S. Crichton Medal}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beckton, Norm}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne
Category:Australian Rules footballers: place kick exponents
Category:Essendon Football Club players
Category:Essendon Football Club premiership players
Category:Sandringham Football Club players
Category:Sandringham Football Club coaches
Category:Essendon Association Football Club players
Category:Crichton Medal winners
Category:Australian military personnel of World War I
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players
Category:People from Brunswick, Victoria
Category:Military personnel from Melbourne
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