Today marks the 90th anniversary of a remarkable individual record for the Carlton Football Club. On this day in 1921 against St Kilda, Carlton centre half forward Horrie Clover kicked 13 goals in what is still to this day the single best individual goalkicking acheivement from a Carlton player in the history of the club.
The fact that it happened in 1921, a time when goals were much more scarce than today makes it even more incredible.
Horrie Clover was a champion of our club who played 147 game and kicked an amazing 397 goals mainly as a centre half forward. Sadly he never tasted premiership success playing in our team from 1920 to 1931.
This from the Blueseum:
From Maryborough in central Victoria, Horrie enlisted in the 1st AIF in September 1915. After basic training, he embarked for France with reinforcements for the 7th Battalion in January of 1916. Soon pitched into the horrors of trench warfare, he fought and survived until September of that year, when he was transferred to a machine gun company and promoted to the rank of Corporal.
On Christmas day, 1916, Horrie was struck down with acute appendicitis. He was evacuated to a field hospital for emergency surgery, where the doctors discovered that his appendix was gangrenous and that his life was in danger. He was immediately transferred to London for specialist treatment, and months of recuperation. Pronounced unfit for further front-line service, he was repatriated back to Australia in August 1917, and honourably discharged in May of the following year – six months before the Armistice.
Having recovered, and keen to have a crack at senior football, Clover trained with Richmond and Melbourne before Carlton gave him an opportunity at VFL level. And how he delivered! In his first match in 1920 – ironically, against Richmond – he kicked four goals from centre half-forward, and hit the post three times! By the end of his first season at Princes Park, Clover was one of Carlton’s drawcards. Former Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies was just one of the many Carlton fans who were captivated; “he was the most artistic of high marks, unforgettable at half-forward,” said Menzies.
Horrie could kick a football, too. A balanced, deceptively quick mover, he was a glorious running drop-kick for goal. Playing against Richmond again at Princes Park in July, 1921, he let fly with a monster kick that was later measured at 86.26 metres – that’s 94 yards, 2 feet in imperial terms! And there are numerous other instances where he roosted the ball more than 70 metres. In round 12 of 1921, he slotted 13 goals in a game against St Kilda; a club record which still stands today.
To gain further insight into the man read the wonderful article ‘A Letter From Horrie’ which outlines a heartfelt letter Horrie wrote to a fan in a time of pain.
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=105
An extract:
Prior to our trip to Sydney I was not very hopeful of our team winning the Premiership simply because I did not think that our team was good enough, but later in the season I was of the opinion that our team was on the improve whilst others were losing form and thinking this years premiership might be easily won. I was very hopeful of our team succeeding, although I always had my doubts regarding a few positions in our side when the pinch came in the second round.
Personally I played the last three games under great disabilities, but I struggled on, in the hope of recovering from my injuries whilst I continue to play.
At Hawthorn I had a nerve in the hip shattered and this prevented me training to any great extent, in act, I couldn’t run on training afternoons. I couldn’t sleep at night and certainly was not fit to play in any of our matches following our Hawthorn engagement.
I didn’t have a good nights rest for three weeks owing to the aching hip and leg similar to nemalgia and ‘the spot’ on my hip was so sore to the touch that I would hop if it was touched by a finger.
In each of the three matches I played with the hip trouble, I had it knocked and consequently it did not have a chance to mend up and in the semi final I received two hard knocks on that sore and sensitive spot before the game had been in progress five minutes and in the last quarter I fell very heavily on my ‘lame’ hip which caused me agonizing pain.
Horrie was a veteran of WWI, and served his country with distinction reaching the rank of Corporal. After fighting in the trenches in France, Horrie was struck down with acute appendicitis which became gangrenous and resulted in months in hospital and finally a discharge. Horrie was no stranger to pain.
In these circumstances you can imagine my feelings after the match.
Carlton lost the semi-final to Richmond by just one goal. Amazingly, despite his injuries, Horrie managed to kick three goals in the game. If it were not for the injury he might have tasted that premiership success he so dearly wanted but sadly never experienced.
I was broken down physically and dejected and disappointed mentally, so much so that I couldn’t rest for days, my brain was in a whirl and my leg ached and ached.
My good wife brought me your letter on the Tuesday morning I think – which I read before rising from my bed. I think I read it two or three times. It comforted me.
Numerous eulogistic references have been made in newspapers, letters and speeches to my ability as a footballer, many of them I think, undeserved, but I value your letter more than any of them, and I will keep and treasure it as my best and most appreciative football “souvenir”.
It is enticing to speculate that the letter Horrie refers to is still a Clover family keepsake. Perhaps another mystery for the Blueseum to explore.
I have received hundreds of letters from good friends many of whom –like yourself – I have never met, and I sincerely appreciate them all and am delighted to know that my play and conduct on the field has appealed to so many football enthusiasts, but the circumstance connected with your letter together with the evident sincerity, hearty good will, and human understanding of the wise and also the many appreciative references to my ability and conduct elevate it to the highest point in my estimation.
I must apologise for wearying you so with these details but I trust that you will understand my feelings in the matter and be assured that your letter brought a ray of sunshine to a sad and disheartened footballer.
Thanking you again most sincerely.
I remain yours faithfully.
H.R. Clover.
This letter reveals an intelligent, modest and empathetic man who was obviously shattered at getting so close to the ultimate success and his body not allowing him to get there. It would be another 11 years before the Blues would once again taste the ultimate success. Not through any fault of fine men such as Horrie Clover.
This record has managed to stand proud for 90 years it may stand for many more. It is something that should be acknowledged and appreciated.