Byfield passes away at 91

Arnold (Bud) Byfield, a member of Claremont’s 1940 WAFL premiership side, has died at the age of 91.

He was a 16-year-old Christ Church Grammar School student and in only his fourth league appearance when he kicked two goals to help the Tigers defeat South Fremantle by 17 points in the 1940 grand final at Subiaco Oval. Earlier that year Byfield was captain of the WA schoolboys’ football team.  

Byfield, born in Northam on November 1, 1923, was a skilful right-footer who played in a forward pocket and on a half-forward flank in most of his 36 league matches. After playing in 20 matches in 1941 he did not play between 1942 and 1945. His best performance in 1941 was his seven-goal effort against Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval on June 21.

He was serving in the Australian Army when he went to Victoria in 1946 and played in 18 matches for Melbourne, including the VFL grand final at the MCG when Essendon were victorious.  

Byfield returned to Perth in 1947 for his final season with Claremont. Then, from 1948, he chalked up 284 matches in country football in WA before retiring and then officiating as a field umpire in a further 152 matches. He was president of the Country Football League from its inception in 1973 to 1991, and in 2004 was inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame.

Byfield was also an outstanding cricketer. A right-hand batsman and right-hand medium-pacer, he made six first-class appearances for Western Australia in 1953 and 1954, scoring 251 runs at an average of 27.88 and taking two wickets at 21.50.

His only wickets came in a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales when his victims were Ian Craig and Bob Simpson, each of who captained Australia in Test cricket. Against a touring South African side in 1953 Byfield scored 16 not out and 38 not out. His nephew Geoff Marsh developed into an outstanding opening batsman for WA and Australia who played in 50 Tests before coaching the Australian and Zimbabwean Test teams.

Byfield was one of only seven men to have played league football for Claremont as well as playing first-class cricket for the State, the others being Wally Langdon, Harry Price, John Munro, Ian Brayshaw, Bruce Duperouzel and Denis Baker.

Apart from being a member of the WA Football Hall of Fame he was a foundation director of the WA Football Development Trust, the recipient of the Australian Football Council merit award, the Order of Australia Medal for his outstanding contribution to sport, the Sportsmen’s Association of Australia May Campbell Award for his contribution to sport in WA and life membership of the WA Football Commission and the WA Country Football League.