Preston Football Club – 1938 Team Photo

1938 Preston Football Club Team photo.

Photo from Round 10, 13 June, 1938, played on the Monday of the King’s Birthday weekend.

Preston 20.15.135 defeated Coburg 11.19.85

Back Row: Don Whitechurch, Thomas ‘Garmah’ Jones, Edwin Gilbert, Kevin Brown, Norm Campbell, Jack Haskett, Bob Muir, Bill Maslen, (Bill Spokes – not playing)

Middle Row: A. Eaton (trainer – seated), Joe Beagley, Jack Clarke, Wyn Murray, George Colban, Alf Roach, Ron Warren, Rex Job

Front Row: Les Ross, Frank Dowling, Aubrey Robinson, Phil Dunstone

The journey began in 2020, to try and identify as many of the faces standing alongside my Grandfather, Alf Roach, in this 1938 Preston Team Photo, taken at Preston City Oval, Cramer Street, Preston.

After much searching, many findings, a mistaken belief or two corrected, and even the occasional contact with actual direct descendants, the identifications currently appear as above.

As always, happy to hear of any corrections, confirmations, or absolutely anything of interest in relation to the photo, and the people pictured in it.

While this post has been completely updated (as at March 2026), a bit of a history of how all this began, as well as how it unfolded, can still be found in these posts –

Part 3

Part 2

Part 1

Players of Round 10, 13 June, 1938 –

Game Details (date is incorrect) – The VFA Project

Edward Gordon ‘Don’ Whitechurch – 18-3-1910 – 26-3-1966. Preston 1935-1936, 1938 (18 games)

Not listed on the above VFA Project link as playing, but as found on Trove, is listed as the 19th man, in the team published in The Sun News Pictorial on Friday 10 June, 1938 –

Back row, first player on the left.

1938 team photo, and enlistment photo.

Thomas Togarmah ‘Garmah’ Jones – 22*-2-1915 – 20-12-1998. Preston 1937 – 1939 (38 games)

*From enlistment papers. Wikipedia states 21-2-1915

Back row, second from left.

1938 team photo, and enlistment photo.

Edwin Cord Gilbert – 10-12-1916 – 30-5-1998. Preston 1937-39 (31 games)

Identified by process of elimination, knowing that Edwin was in both the 1937 and 1938 photos.

A later photo found, on Trove, of a Mr E.C. Gilbert, a ‘merchandising director’ at Paterson’s Pty Ltd, a furniture and television retailer, gave hope of another photo.

Hard to say conclusively that it’s Edwin Cord Gilbert, however the face shape, chin, hairline, and eyebrows, all suggest it could well be.

And then there is another positive, and that is that on his enlistment papers, Edwin Gilbert stated that his occupation was that of a furniture salesman.

Back row, third from left.

1937 and 1938 team photos.

And the photo of Mr. E.C. Gilbert, published in The Argus, on 14 June, 1956, with thanks to Trove.

Kevin John Brown – 23-9-1915 – 18-2-1980. Preston 1935-40 (57 games).

Back row, fourth from left.

1937 and 1938 Preston team photos.

1940 Preston team photo, and the Premiership photo with Preston CYMS, following the 1933/34 cricket season.

Norman ‘Norm’ Campbell – 4-3-1919 – 9-1-1981. Preston 1937-38 (18 games). Collingwood 1939-42, 1946 (68 games).

Back row, fourth player from right.

1938 Preston team photo, 1941 and 1942 Collingwood team photos.

John Maurice ‘Jack’ Haskett – 25-6-1911 – 5-3-1992. Preston 1937-39 (28 games). North Melbourne 1933 (3 games).

Back row, third from right.

1938 Preston team photo, 1934 Northcote team photo, enlistment photo.

Robert ‘Bob’ Muir – 6-4-1907 – 11-6-1973. Preston 1935-39 (68 games), Collingwood 1927-29, 1931-32 (33 games), Footscray 1933-34 (22 games), Fitzroy 1934 (2 games).

Back row, second from right.

1937 and 1938 Preston team photos, and earlier days at Collingwood.

William Batt ‘Bill’ (Also known as ‘Socks’) Maslen – 1-1-1916 – 8-10-1974. 173cms. Preston 1935-41, 1945-49 (172 games). St Kilda 1939-40 (20 games).

Back row, first player from right.

1937, 1938 and 1940 Preston team photos.

1941 Preston team photo, and 1944 Preston Seconds team photo.

Rupert Arthur ‘Joe’ Beagley – 30-4-1912 – 22-10-1995. Preston 1936-40 (64 games).

Middle row, first player on the left.

1937, 1938 and 1939 (taken at Prahran) Preston team photos.

1939 (taken at Preston) Preston team photo, and 1940 Coburg team photo.

Jack Clark – 18-11-1911 – 27-12-1980. Preston 1935-41 (104 games).

Middle row, second on left.

1938 and 1939 (at Prahran and Preston) Preston team photos.

1940 and 1941 Preston team photos.

1933 South Gambier team photo and enlistment photo.

George Wynyatt ‘Wyn’ Murray – 4-7-1908 – 21-12-1947. Preston 1934-1940 (61 games). Melbourne 1929-34 (65 games).

Middle row, third from left.

1937 and 1938 Preston team photos, and enlistment photo.

Lloyd George ‘George’ Colban – 22-3-1917 – 19-5-1990. Preston 1938-40 (27 games).

Middle row, fourth from left.

1938 and 1939 (Prahran) Preston team photos, and enlistment photo.

Alfred Dennis Stephen ‘Alf’ Roach – 22-4-1918 – 25-8-2012. Preston 1938-41 (60 games).

Middle row, third from right.

1938 and 1939 (at Prahran and Preston) Preston team photos.

1940 Preston team photo, caricature from a 1940 VFA Recorder.

Ronald Roy ‘Ron’ Warren – 3-4-1917 – 1-8-1995. Preston 1938-39 (16 games)

Middle row, second from right.

1938 Preston team photo, and enlistment photo.

Rexford Frederick ‘Rex’ Job – 9-8-1910 – 24-5-1999. Preston 1937-39 (44 games). Carlton 1931 (1 game).

Middle row, far right.

1938 and 1939 (at Prahran) Preston team photos, and 1935 Carlton seconds team photo.

Leslie Welton Hugh ‘Les’ Ross – 13-8-1916 – 6-3-2011. Preston 1938-41, 1946 (57 games).

Front row, first player on the left.

1938 and 1939 (at Prahran and Preston) Preston team photos.

1940 and 1941 Preston team photos, and enlistment photo.

Francis John ‘Frank’ or ‘Dickie’ Dowling – 6*-6-1911 – 9-4-1991. Preston 1931-1941 (160 games).

*There is some confusion on the exact date, with it being either 6 June, or 7 June.

Front row, second from left.

1931, 1932, 1933, 1934 Preston team photos.

1937, 1938, and 1939 (at Prahran) team photos.

1939 (at Preston), 1940 and 1941 Preston team photos.

Aubrey Arthur Mostyn Robinson – ??-??-1912^ – 6-10-1985. Preston 1933*, 1935-38 (54 games)

^Year found on Births, Deaths and Marriages, but actual date yet to be found.

*1933 games have been allocated to Len Robinson, on the VFA Project site. With a number of Robinsons at Preston in the 1930s, games tallies may not be completely accurate.

Front row, second from right.

1933 and 1938 Preston team photos.

Phillip Samuel ‘Phil’ Dunstone – 4-10-1914 – 19-9-2000. Preston 1936-41 (97 games). North Melbourne 1943-44 (13 games).

Front row, first player on the right.

1938, and 1939 (at Prahran and Preston) Preston team photos.

1940 Preston team photo, c1944 RAAF team photo, and enlistment photo.

Rex Job – Middle row, fourth from left.

Update May 2021 –

With new information found on Bill Seedsman, (see 1939, 1940 and 1941) along with further scrutinising of a couple of photos, the realisation of an incorrect identification of Rex Job occurred.

I now believe, based on remaining unidentified players, as well as a match in the 1939 Prahran photo (the 1939 ‘Home’ photo isn’t as compelling), that Job is –

Middle row, fourth from left.

https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/305313/rexs-moment-forever-frozen-in-time

Wyn Murray – Middle row, third from left

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyn_Murray

http://demonwiki.org/gallery379

Joe Beagley – Middle row, far left

1940 Coburg photo – https://www.picturevictoria.vic.gov.au/site/coburg/chs/16056.html

1941 GF photo – http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Reference_+1941+VFA+Grand+Final

Bill Maslen – Back row, far right

http://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Maslen,_Bill_’Socks’.php

Bob Muir – Back row, second from right

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Muir_(footballer)

Norm Campbell – Back row, forth from right

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Campbell

1941 photo – http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Collingwood+Senior+Team+1941+%28Age%29

Frank Dowling – Front row, second from left

http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Preston+Senior+Team+1939+%28BrM%29

W. (Bill) Spokes – Back row, far right, in shirt and jacket

1939 Williamstown premiership photo (second front row, far right) –

https://www.williamstownfc.com.au/premiership-photos

1944 Fitzroy seconds team photo.

http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Fitzroy-Brisbane+Lions+Historical+Society

Alf Roach – Middle row, third from right

George Colbane – Middle row, far right. (Based on being the only one who is only in the 1938 and 1939 Prahran photo)

Phil Dunstone – Front row, far right. (Based on height, and being in 1938, both 1939, 1940 and 1941 photos)

Only photo found – https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188803314

Les Ross – Front row, far left. (Based on height, and being in 1938, both 1939, 1940 and 1941 photos)

Coached Parkside Amateurs in the VAFA and should be in this 1954 Premiership photo (not sure who he is) –

https://websites.sportstg.com/gallery.cgi?g=7272&c=0-3232-160726-0-0&e=160726&et=3&ci=5&ti=0&a=next

Jack Clarke – Middle row, second from left. (Based on remaining unidentified players, height, and being in 1938, both 1939, 1940 and 1941 photos)

Aubrey Robinson – Front row, second from right.

At present (20 April, 2021), is listed as playing at Preston from 1935 to 1938 here –

http://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Robinson,_Aubrey.php

However, this article, (12 May, 1933) mentions him being from the juniors, along with a photo stating that he is ‘new’ –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243119503?searchTerm=aubrey%20robinson

Article (13 May, 1933), ‘Won in Last Term’, stating that A. Robinson was awarded the H. Porter trophy as best Preston player –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/20686727

20 April, 1934, stating that A. Robinson will be moving to Queensland –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243244865?searchTerm=%22robinson%22

27 June, 1934, article stating that A. Robinson has returned from Queensland, and has been given a clearance to Footscray –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204822155?searchTerm=%22cameron%22%20%22preston%22

Article (3 April, 1935), ‘Many Robinsons at Preston’, stating Aubrey Robinson had returned to Preston from Footscray –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12225520?searchTerm=aubrey%20robinson

Len Robinson –

http://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Robinson,_Len.php

At present (20 April, 2021), is listed as having played at Preston from 1933 to 1935.

However these articles, 31 March, 23 April, and 25 April, 1934, mention him as a new recruit / new player –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243314954?searchTerm=%22robinson%22%20%22preston%22

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10930255?searchTerm=%22robinson%22%20%22preston%22

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203827814?searchTerm=%22robinson%22%20%22preston%22

It appears, therefore, that Len was only at Preston in 1934 and 1935, while Aubrey was there in 1933, and then from 1935 until 1938.

Having played most of the 1933 season, he can also be found in the 1933 team photo.

1933 Preston Team Photo

Aubrey Robinson – Middle row (squatting down), far left.

Thomas G. Jones – Back row, second ~~or third~~ from left. (Guess based on Jones and Gilbert being in both the 37 & 38 photos)

Update August 2021 –

April 1937, to Preston from North Melbourne –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244651749?searchTerm=%22jones%22%20%22preston%22

April 1936, G. Jones, (and gets mentioned in several articles as G. Jones in 1936) the Pascoe Vale centre half back at North Melbourne –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205258001?searchTerm=%22jones%22%20%22north%20melbourne%22

Late May 1936, T. G. Jones finally receives a permit (had been declined earlier) to North Melbourne from Coburg and Pascoe Vale (several mentions of playing at Pascoe Vale in 1935 were found) –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204845816?searchTerm=%22g.%20jones%22%20%22north%20melbourne%22

Searching 1936 North Melbourne players by the name of Jones, revealed a player known as Garmah, which is short for Togarmah. The resultant research found –

Thomas Togarmah ‘Garmah’ Jones – 21-2-1915 – 20-12-1998. 178cms. North Melbourne 1936 (1 game). Preston 1937-39. Coburg 1940-41. Coached Pascoe Vale to a premiership in 1946.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmah_Jones

https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=0-3922-48423-512673-26380828&sID=266360

The clearance from Preston to Coburg in 1940 –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12454827?searchTerm=%22g.%20jones%22%20%22preston%22

ultimately led to the identification, when he was found in a 1940 Coburg team photo found here.

Which, incidentally, I’d had for quite some time, seeing as it helped me find Joe Beagley.

Edwin Gilbert – Back row, ~~second or~~ third from left. (Guess based on Gilbert and Jones being in both the 37 and 38 photos)

Update August 2021 –

With the identification of Thomas Jones, Back row, third from left.

Kevin Brown – CHB, Follower, flanks. Should be in 1937 photo, and will be in 1938 and 1940 photos. Identification (back row, fourth from left) based on what I believe to be a match with the 1940 photo, as well as the 1937 photo. Although the 1937 match isn’t as compelling.

Other players selected for R10, 1938 –

Jack Haskett – 25-6-1911 – 5-3-1992. 180cms. Played in winning GF for Northcote in 1934, with Harry Clack (1937). Northcote 1934 team photo; should be in it; but struggling to make a match –

http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Northcote+Senior+Team+1934+%28SLV+122_076%29

Photo from Trove –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205142707?searchTerm=jack%20haskett

Update May 2021 –

1940 ‘Fags’ Team Photo, with names, from Trove* –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188814681?searchTerm=fags

Will only be in 1938 photo.

*Suspicion is back row, far left, mainly based on remaining unidentified players.

Don Whitechurch – Played Flanks and Pockets.

Not listed on VFA Project, but named in paper day before – https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206964223/19250494

Photo from Trove –

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243225804?searchTerm=don%20whitechurch