The Northern Football League is deeply saddened by the passing of John Anderson.
Anderson was the deputy Chairman of the NFL when the league was rebranded in 2007 and served on the board for its first season.
He was also an influential figure at the Northcote Park Football Club after joining the club’s executive in 1986.
A message released from the Northcote Park Football Club stated:
“John served as President, Secretary and, for 22 years, Treasurer. The club was in a parlous state back in 1986 with many, including Ken Molloy, believing it would fold.
“John raised and managed the finances to keep the place going, even paying the DVFL fees on his credit card. He initiated the move from MacDonnell Park to Westgarth Street.
“John saw opportunities first with bingo then with gaming that turned us from struggling Division 2 club to the DVFL powerhouse winning five Division 1 flags in six years (with a bit of luck it could have been seven in seven years).
“He made sure the good years were not wasted and used our new found resources to build new club rooms and change rooms and to buy the Commercial Hotel in High Street which underpin our ability to continue to compete at the highest level. He was always planning for the future.
“We were extremely lucky to have John’s incredible dedication, lateral thinking and organizational skills for so many years.”
Anderson was twice Mayor of Northcote and was an inaugural Councillor of the City of Darebin where he wrote a 16-point Strategic Plan for Council and the Capital Works Plan which endures today.
He was a Life Member of the Australian Labor Party, having joined in the 1960s and had a life-long commitment to social justice, equity and the less fortunate.
He recently retired as an administrator and teacher at William Angliss College having gained his qualifications as one of Gough’s mature age students.
Anderson is survived by his wife Cora and son Steven. The NFL passes on its deepest condolences to the Anderson family.
John Anderson’s funeral will be held at 12:00pm on Monday, April 20 at the Cordell Chapel, Fawkner Cemetery. Guests are then invited to the Northcote Park Football Club rooms at Bill Lawry Oval from 3pm.
