History
Soccer has been played by our Deaf members since 1927. Here is the history as shared by our oldest Deaf member Percy Bates with his experiences playing soccer while growing up in Queensland.
A HUGE thank you to Percy Bates "Old time - Rabbit Soccer" for sharing his soccer memories and with us! We are very lucky to have an old time great sportsman still alive in the Deaf Community with such a good memory to be able to share the history of Deaf Sports in Queensland.
1927 - Deaf Boy's Soccer, at Deaf School, Corn Wall Street. Dutton Park.
Two old time Deaf School teachers suggested that the deaf school boys start training to play soccer. The training sessions were hard and we had a vigorous practice schedule, every day in afternoon after school classes for twelve months. It was very hard to learn and very strict. Coached by Teachers (the late) A.landers and (the late) G Ferguson.
1928 - Deaf school, boys soccer team won the Premiership Cup of State schools championship
The teachers confirmed that the Deaf School Soccer boys would join school fixtures teams every Friday against hearing school teams. It was first time in history that this had occurred in this area. The deaf school boys were very strong built and played in the D grade. (The late) Ally Lewis was Captain of Deaf School team and Percy Bates was vice captain. They were coached by A Landers, G.Ferguson and (the late) I.McCahon. They won the state school premiership and were undefeated in 1928.
1929 - Deaf School Soccer team won premiership again, They were too strong!
The Deaf boys still played strong in the C grade and were undefeated: winning state School Premiership again. Percy Bates was Captain. (The late) E. (Ned) Moore was vice - captain. Coached by I. McCahon and (the late) M. Gowlett. Percy Bates tells the story of one of his teammates that year:
"Once again, I am reminded to tell about my long time mate (the late) Mew McDowall, he was a small and strong boy at his age of seven. One of our Deaf School soccer players was not well being sick and he was sent off. I (myself) was team captain at that time at the age of 14. Our team was one short and we needed eleven in full. So the Deaf School teacher brings Mew McDowall to me to ask me to allow Mew to join. I was not sure about him and was a bit doubtful, but I coached him to play soccer and was surprised that Mew was good & picked up so quickly. We allowed him to play with Deaf School boys team, that won in the final. Since then Mew became a new mate and we stayed along together for 80 years. He passed away last October 2009. All Deaf School soccer players are now gone away, passed away, while I still live alive at age of 94 ½, how sadly, all gone. Only myself alone."
1930 - Deaf School Soccer Team won for the 3rd time in a row
Again the boys played strongly through the first round of B grade. They then progressed in the second round to A grade. They played and won. They were undefeated in the state School premiership again. Percy Bates was Captain again and (the late) Conrad Burns was vice - captain. Coached by I. McCahon and M. Gowlett.
Percy Bates was selected for Queensland State Primary school soccer team. He was the first Deaf soccer player in history to be chosen to play in the state team. They played against the NSW state school team, it was a very hard game and they lost at the Gabba Cricket Oval.
1931 - Deaf School Boys Soccer Team make it to the Grand Final for the 4th time
Percy Bates was Captain again and (the late) Conrad Burns was also vice - captain. The Deaf Team played in the Senior School A Grade, and was in the Grand Final against Kangaroo point State Team. This was the forth time they made it to the finals but unfortunately lost 0 - 1. It was a very close game.
1931 & 1932 - Ault Soccer Team, the "Deaf Rovers"
Old time Deaf players joined the "C" grade soccer competition. The team was called the "Deaf Rovers" of the old time Queensland Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission, North Quay. The Deaf team was not very successful and dropped out and finished after only 2 years of deaf soccer.
1931 - 1934
In 1931 Percy Bates, former captain of the Deaf Boys Soccer team left Deaf School at age of 16. He joined a hearing team named "Red Farm" in New Farm (the Valley), it was "A" Division. He played there for one season and was a strong player before moving to Nundah with his parents and siblings. He then joined the Toombul "A" Division club to play and was a very strong player. All the different clubs called him "Rabbit" because they found it hard to get the ball off his feet because of all the tricks he used to push the ball to the goals. He played with them, from 1931 to 1934
In 1934 the Coach of the Toombul soccer club was very surprised to received an official letter to praise his Deaf player Percy Bates who was selected, and offered a sum of £1000 from the "Liverpool" English Soccer League. Unfortunately he was unable to go due to injury. Percy tells the story:
"He (the coach) reported it to my father and we couldn't believe it! But it was true! It was a huge surprise. Unfortunately a few weeks later I was attacked and my ankle was broken it was very painful. I couldn't play and had to finish and retire. My future in competitive soccer was over, I was very disappointed to not be able to go to England to join the "Liverpool" English Soccer League, and dropped out. What a shame."
