History of the
Glenelg Football Club
affiliated South Australian National Football League

A successful businessman and strong leader Bignell had a solid partnership with Graham Cornes when he was President in those halcyon years in the mid to late 1980s. A benefactor of Glenelg Football Club. Graeme is a retired businessman and was chairman of automotive retailer Adtrans Group, the company he founded, for 23 years until 2011. Mr Bignell has had a long and distinguished career in the automotive industry, having established Stillwell Ford in Adelaide in 1971.

• Vice-president 1972-75, 1978-86
• President 1986-89
• Vice-president since 1990
• Life member 1988.

Made his name as a Toyota dealer but played a major part in the rise of Glenelg from an also­ ran to pacesetter as chairman for 13 years in the 1960s and '70s. Also was involved in key years of SANFL development when Football Park was established.

• Chairman management committee 1965-77
• SANFL management committee in 1970s
• Glenelg vice-president since 1978
• League life member
• Glenelg life member 1974

An absolute gentleman who was a key part of the Glenelg Football Club for more than three decades as medical officer. His son Richard later carried on the tradition as club doctor.

• Medical officer 1949-82
• AMA president in SA
• Glenelg life member 1959

Gave everything for the Glenelg Football Club. A man with a quick wit, he was loved by the players, whom he frequently entertained.

• Committee 1950-58
• Vice-president 1959-88
• Life member 1959
• Vice-patron 1980-88

The nickname "Super" says it all. A legend on the playing field, he is the only man to play in three Glenelg premierships, kicking six goals from centre half-forward in the 1973 grand final, then leading from the front as an inspirational skipper in 1985-86.

• Played an Australian record 448 games and kicked 521 goals for Glenelg between 1971-88
• Best and fairest 1975, 1979, 1981
• Leading goalkicker 1973 (70)
• Kicked 11 goals against North at Glenelg in 1973
• Captain 1983-88
• All-Australian in 1979 and 1980
• Played 19 State games
• First Fos Williams Medallist in 1981
• Club director
• Club President
• Life member in 1980

When Comes was at the Bay, success never seemed far away. In his first season in 1967 Glenelg emerged from the wilderness under Neil Kerley to play in the finals. In 1969 and '70 he played in grand finals and victory in the one that counted finally came in 1973 - when Comes leapt for his historic mark and booted the goal that gave Glenelg the lead in the dying minutes. His other grand finals as a player ended in heartbreak but in 1985, Comes- after two years as South Adelaide coach - returned to the Bay and led the club to successive premierships.

• Played 317 games and kicked 347 goals for Glenelg between 1967-82
• Played 47 games for South Adelaide in 1983-84
• Played five games and kicked 10 goals for North Melbourne in 1979
• Glenelg best and fairest 1968, 1972, 1974
• Leading goalkicker 1977 (72)
• Captain 1978
• Life member in 1976
• Glenelg coach 1985-1990, winning premierships in 1985-86, and making grand finals in 1987-88 and 1990
• Played 21 State games
• All-Australian in 1979 and 1980
• Won Tassie Medal in 1980, Simpson Medal in 1979
• State captain in 1978
• State coach 1986-88, 1992-95, 1999
• Named All­ Australian coach in 1987-88
• Had an incredible 6-2 win-loss record against Victoria in State­ of-Origin matches
• Adelaide's inaugural coach 1991-94, taking club to 1993 preliminary fmal

• 2020 Great of Glenelg Inductee

An integral part of Glenelg from the time he debuted in the reserves in 1929 until his death in 1976, the club could not have had a more loyal servant. Player, coach, committeeman and secretary, he contributed to the Bays in just about every way.

• Began in Glenelg's reserves in 1929
• Played 88 league games for Glenelg between 1931-38
• Senior Colts coach 1939-40
• League Coach 1941, 1945, July 1946-1948
• Coach West-Glenelg 1943-44
• Management committee 1939-53
• Deputy chairman 1949-53
• Secretary for 19 years, 1954-72
• Life member 1941
• Manager/Secretary of Glenelg's Footballers' Club from 1973 until his death in 1976

"John H. Ellers is his name." It was the catchcry for one of SA's best-known Holden dealerships and it became a significant part of Glenelg's great years of the late 1960s and '70s. President for 12 years in an era which saw Glenelg grow from a "social club" to one of the best football clubs in the country and something of a trendsetter, being the first club to appoint a board of directors, the first to offer full membership to women and first to appoint a full­ time director of youth coaching. A great club benefactor. He died in 2001.

• Vice-president 1968
• President 1968-80
• Life member 1977
• Vice-president since 1981

Thomas Gleghorn was born in 1925, in Thornley, England. Three years later, he emigrated with his family to the town of Warner’s Bay, on the shores of Lake Macquarie in NSW.
Thomas worked as an artist designer for Grace Bros, then for Farmers, Sydney, director of Blaxland Galleries, Sydney, taught at the National Art School, Sydney in 1960, was Head of Canberra Art School, Lecturer in Art, the senior lecturer at Bedford Park Teachers College, Adelaide.
For almost 50 years Tom has consistently won a multitude of art prizes; his works are represented across Australia, from regional and state galleries, to National Gallery of Australia. Corporate collections include IBM, ICC, State Bank, Perth, Sydney, London and Hong Kong.
Thomas was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the arts as a painter and teacher. Thomas’s enduring love of art is matched by his love of good food and wine.
A much-loved, humble character of the Glenelg Football Club, Thomas Gleghorn has strongly contributed to the club over the years by donating paintings and designing wine labels that have raised substantial funds. Tom was awarded the honour of Great of Glenelg at our Hall of Fame and 1973 premiership and 40th anniversary Dinner.

• 2013 Inductee for Outstanding Service and Dedication

Legendary head trainer who treated countless Glenelg footballers on his dining room table in Bath St. It was not unusual for him to have three to five players at his house at one time, his treatment most often being with thumbs, hot water and towels and usually very effective.

• Reserves trainer 1930-34
• Trainer 1935-84
• Head trainer 1935-79
• Life member 1944

The man who turned Glenelg from a social club into one of the most feared football clubs in the nation in a magnificent 10 year coaching career in which the club reached five grand finals and won the 1973 premiership.

• Played 59 games and kicked 37 goals for Glenelg between 1967 – 69
• Captain Coach 1967 – 69
• Coach 1967 – 76
• Best and Fairest 1967
• Glenelg Life Member 1976

As a lanky ruckman Harry Kernahan first won over Tiger fans in 1959. A wonderful player who showed just how talented he was in State footy, Kernahan was the club's general manager through its most successful years from 1973-87. During this time, Glenelg won three of its four premierships and the next generation of Kernahan stars emerged in sons Stephen and David.

• Played 176 games and kicked 149 goals for Glenelg between 1959-65 and 1969-71
• Captain 1964-65
• 10 State games
• Leading goalkicker 1960 (29)
• Life member 1971
• Assistant coach 1971-72
• Secretary/general manager 1973-87

Progressed from grass roots to chairman in a complete involvement with the club he loved.

• Colts committee 1960-64
• Second 18 committee 1965
• A grade committee 1966-68, 1974-77
• Chairman management committee 1978-80
• SANFL Second 18 secretary 1969-73
• Glenelg life member 1975

The long-serving treasurer became an institution at the club, where he would be seen at every function and every game.

• Colts committee 1954-59
• Committee of management 1962-65
• Second 18 committee 1960-64
• Glenelg Football Club treasurer 1965, 1967-85
• Life member 1964

Started as a player at the Bay in 1957 and has been seen in a variety of roles since – junior and senior colts coach, selector, chairman of selectors, committee man and chairman from 1987-95. A member of the Hall of Fame selection committee for the past 12 years.

• 46 league games 1957-59
• Junior colts coach 1960
• Senior colts coach 1961-62
• Selector 1967-71 and chairman of selectors under John Nicholls, John Halbert, Kym Hodgeman and Mark Williams
• Management committee 1976-95
• Chairman 1987-95
• Life member 1975

Laurie Rosewarne for over 40 years has given extensive service to the Glenelg Football Club not only through his playing and coaching career but also through various administrative roles within the club. Laurie’s playing career spanned from 1965 – 1973 when he played 169 games, kicked 18 goals and was Vice-Captain from 1972 – 1973.
Throughout Laurie’s time at Glenelg Football Club he has been Assistant Secretary, on the Management Committee, Youth Coaching Director, Under 19 coach, General Manager of the Football Club, on the Board, Member and Chairman of the Past Players and Officials Committee and part of the Hall of Fame Selection committee. Laurie was awarded the honour of Great of Glenelg at our Hall of Fame Dinner and 1985/86 Premiership Reunion. Congratulations Laurie – A well deserving recipient of this prestigious honour.

• 2015 Great of Glenelg Inductee

He played three league games for the club in 1922 before becoming a Vice-president for nearly 30 years and Vice-patron from 1980-89. A marvellous benefactor

• Vice-president 1956-58, 1964-89
• Vice-patron 1980-89
• Life member 1972