Warburton Rd runs along the train line, off Maling Rd and consists of mainly what were once workers cottages. This was the working class part of Canterbury. Whether this is the reason who knows, but from this street alone came a cavalcade of Canterbury players in the 50s and 60s.
The Coleman family lived there. Ron & Brian went to Canterbury FC where Ron became a premiership player in 1956, and later club president. Their dad Snowy ran the club bar for years, whilst their mum Myrtle, was in the canteen for over a decade.
Brian was picked up by Camberwell VFA from our seniors where he had starred as a rover. From there he was recruited by Hawthorn playing 6 senior games but, many in the Reserves including the clubs first Reserves flag.
Coleman came back to Canterbury in 1966 as Captain-Coach. Again he starred, but the club finished wooden spooners in 1st Div. He then became Under 19’s coach of Hawthorn coaching them to their only Under 19 flag in 1972.
From 1983-95 he was Chairman of selectors of Hawthorn seniors in their greatest era ever. in 1996 he was elected president in the year of the ill fated merger attempt.
Coleman wrote the foreword to our Club history book, and still lives a Drop kick from the ground on Mont Albert Rd.
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