Almanac Local History – Pine Ridge Cemetery Coburg: Pervical and Terence Ogden

 

 

Allan Barden recently published a detailed piece on the Pine Ridge Cemetery at Coburg. We have picked out some of the characters about whom he wrote.

 

This week we focus on Percy Ogden and his son Terence Ogden.

 

Notes researched and written by Kelly Morgan

 

Percy Ogden
Image: Wikipedia

PERCIVAL GORDON OGDEN
1886-1967

 

Percival Gordon Ogden, born on January 25, 1886, in Canterbury, New South Wales, was a prominent football player, captain and coach. He is known for his contributions to Aussie rules football across Melbourne’s suburbs.

 

Ogden began his career in the League with Collingwood in 1905 but only played four games with the club. The Magpies were not satisfied with his performance, particularly after a controversial trip to Adelaide and Broken Hill in August of that year. Consequently, he was dropped from the team for the Grand Final against Fitzroy. Percy was quickly picked up by Preston’s VFA team. After his move to the VFA, he did not return to the VFL until 1910 when he joined Essendon.

 

Percy joined Preston where many of his mates were playing and he played for them between 1906 and 1910.

 

The beginning of his success came when he returned to the League ranks with Essendon in 1910, a place where three men of the Ogden family would come to play for sometime in their sporting lives. Percy’s experience with the VFL at Essendon was the very opposite of his time with Collingwood. Ogden quickly established himself as one of the finest rovers in the game. He was a member of Essendon’s back-to-back premiership wins in 1911 and 1912. The Grand Final in 1911 provided him with the opportunity to show off his skills to Collingwood and show them what they were missing out on by letting him go. During the Great War when Essendon disbanded, Percy made the switch back to Preston which was in the then Victorian Junior Football Association ranks. He served as the captain-coach of Preston until he returned to Essendon when the team resumed in 1918. Upon returning to Windy Hill he captained Essendon in 1919 and served as captain-coach in the following two years.

 

Percy was not only a local star as he had the opportunity to play in the Victorian state team ten times and played in two Grand Finals in 1911 and 1912. He held the position of Vice-Captain in 1918 and Captain-Coach from 1920 to 1921. He also had the honour of captaining the Victorian team in 1919.

 

Percy received rave reviews for his on-field talent. The Weekly Times praised his ‘dashing cleverness, quick judgement, and resourcefulness’ and noted that he used his head while playing. Known for his composure and skill, Ogden was often able to get his kick before being tackled by opponents. In 1920, he won the Sporting Globe’s readers’ poll, earning the title of ‘The Herald’ as the best rover in the league. He received 7,172 votes, while his closest rival garnered only 967. In the same year, he was Essendon’s equal second top goal kicker.

 

Off the field, Ogden’s temperament was not always as composed. Following a match late in the 1911 season, he was charged with assaulting George Holden of Fitzroy over an on-field incident. Facing a three pound fine or 14 days locked up, George received both. However, both clubs and players decided to abandon the charges, avoiding potentially serious consequences to both reputations.

 

After playing 161 games with Essendon, Ogden retired from the League and returned to Northcote in the Victorian Junior Football Association, where he served as captain-coach in 1922. He attempted a return to Essendon in 1923 but was unable to do so due to zoning rules for ‘New Players’ introduced after the war. Ogden was tied to Fitzroy under these rules and his permit to play for Essendon was refused. Since Fitzroy expressed no interest in him, Ogden returned again to Preston. After three years with Preston, he retired for good at the age of 40 at the end of the 1925 season just before Preston was readmitted to the Association ranks.

 

Percival Ogden passed away on July 13, 1967, at the age of 81. His love for sports was evidently passed down to his sons Terence and Gordon who grew up watching their father play football. Their home in Northcote featured a cricket pitch and tennis court, providing an environment that fostered their love.

 

To read more about Percy Ogden click HERE.

 

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Terry Ogden
Image: Carlton Football Club

TERENCE OGDEN
1911-1935

 

Terence William John Ogden, was a remarkable football player whose legacy lives on.

 

Terry Ogden was born on March 25, 1911, into a family deeply rooted in the world of football. His father, Percival Ogden, and his brother Gordon were renowned players and coaches and so Terry had football running through his veins from a young age.

 

An athlete from his schooldays, his journey towards the VFL began in 1928 when he joined the Northcote Catholic Young Men’s Society football and cricket teams, displaying his athletic prowess. Although he initially faced challenges breaking into the senior team, Terry’s determination led him to join his brother Gordon at the Melbourne Football Club in 1931.

 

For three years, the Ogden brothers proudly played side by side, creating a formidable force on the field. Terry’s time with the Melbourne Football Club may have been spent mostly in the Reserves but he became an integral part of their 1933 premiership win.

 

In 1934, fate took a dramatic turn for Terry. Not only did he showcase his athletic abilities by winning the Bendigo Centenary Gift and getting third place in the Wangaratta Gift, but he also received a well-deserved opportunity in Australian Rules Football. Carlton Football Club called upon him and Terry donned guernsey number 27 with pride.

 

As a centre/wing, Terry brought his lightning speed and fearless play to the field. Though his time at Carlton was brief (he played only 15 games), he made a significant impact both on the team and the game itself. Terry Ogden’s potential seemed limitless.

 

But on the fateful day, February 28, 1935, during a routine pre-season training session at Princes Park, Terry’s life took an unexpected and tragic turn. Rushed to hospital, it was believed that an injury sustained on the football field led to his hospitalisation. Carlton Football Club members, including the club secretary Newton Chandler, generously offered blood for a transfusion, in a valiant effort to save Terry’s life.

 

Despite initial signs of improvement, Terry’s condition took a devastating dip. On March 2, 1935, on the eve of the 1935 season at the tender age of 23, he died in a private Fairfield hospital. Initially his cause of death was listed as pneumonia and pleurisy. Many years later it emerged after some family history research that osteomyelitis of the left scapula – inflammation of the bone – and septicaemia were the true nature of his illness.

 

Terry Ogden’s premature passing left a profound impact on the Carlton Football Club and the entire community. Carlton’s President, Mr Crone described him as one of the most beloved players and a true success both on and off the field. His courage, modesty and sincerity were qualities that were admired by all. His funeral became one of the largest gatherings in the district, a testament to the deep respect and affection he had garnered.

 

In recognition of Terry’s contribution, the Carlton Football Club honoured him by naming the ‘Most Improved Player’ award after him, ‘The Terry Ogden Memorial Trophy’. This award, presented between 1935 and 1950, acknowledged Terry’s dedication to self-improvement and his commitment to the team. Although the specific memorial trophy is no longer bestowed, Terry Ogden’s niece holds hope for its reinstatement in the future.

 

To read more about Terry Ogden click HERE.

 

Read more from Allan Barden HERE.

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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