Colin Niven
| Colin Niven | |||
|---|---|---|---|
![]() | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Colin Leslie Niven | ||
| Born |
6 September 1903 Bealiba, Victoria | ||
| Died |
1 December 1968 (aged 65) Cowes, Victoria | ||
| Original team | Maryborough | ||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 90 kg (198 lb) | ||
| Position | Follower | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1929–1932 | Fitzroy | 59 (16) | |
| 1933–1935 | Melbourne | 44 (13) | |
| Total | 103 (29) | ||
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1930–1931 | Fitzroy | 36 (11–25–0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1935. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Colin Niven (6 September 1903 – 1 December 1968)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Family
[edit | edit source]The son of Colin Niven (1870-1938),[2][3] and Ida Bell Niven (1875-1947), née Lewis,[4][5] Colin Leslie Niven was born at Bealiba, Victoria on 6 September 1903.
His cousin once removed, Gordon Jones, also played for Melbourne.
He married Ada Dorothy Smith in 1934.
Footballer
[edit | edit source]Niven, a follower, played with Maryborough in the Ballarat Football League and won their 1927 best and fairest award,[6] prior to joining Fitzroy. He captain-coached Fitzroy in 1930 and 1931 before crossing to Melbourne, which he captained in 1934 and 1935. His brother Ray, who played beside Colin in 1931, later reunited with him at Melbourne where they again appeared together in the same side.
After six months out of the game, Niven was appointed playing coach of Donald in 1936 and he led the team to premierships in 1936,[7] 1937[8] and 1939[9] in the North Central Football League before retiring as a player.[10]
Military service
[edit | edit source]Niven later served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.[11]
Death
[edit | edit source]He died at Cowes, Victoria on 1 December 1968.[12]
Footnotes
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Deaths: Niven, The Argus, (Friday, 1 July 1938), p.12.
- ^ Bealiba, The Age, (Tuesday, 5 July, 1938), p.12.
- ^ Marriage: Niven—Lewis, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 18 December 1897), p.18.
- ^ Deaths: Niven, The Argus, (Thursday, 6 February 1947), p.2.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Deaths: Niven, The Age, (Monday, 2 December 1968), p.18.
References
[edit | edit source]- Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
External links
[edit | edit source]- Colin Niven's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Colin Niven at AustralianFootball.com
- Colin Niven, at Demonwiki.
- Colin Niven, at Boyles Football Photos.
- 1903 births
- 1968 deaths
- Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
- Fitzroy Football Club players
- Fitzroy Football Club coaches
- Melbourne Football Club players
- Melbourne Football Club captains
- Maryborough Football Club players
- Military personnel from Victoria (state)
- Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II
- Royal Australian Air Force airmen
- Australian rules football biography, 1903 birth stubs
