About Bert Beard
Lived 1909 – 1983 (aged 74). Bert Beard was an Australian australian rules football player.
Gilbert Vaughan "Bert" Beard (a.k.a. "Blue" Beard; "Bluey" Beard) (5 July 1909 – 8 November 1983) was an Australian rules footballer from Western Australia who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1930s. He also played first-grade cricket for the South Melbourne Cricket Club.
Family The son of John Beard (1848-1924), and Sarah Beard (1866-1951), née Gibson, Gilbert Vaughan Beard was born at Northam, Western Australia on 5 July 1909.
He married Olive Eva Murphy (1909-1961) on 17 August 1935. Their son, Neville played in the West Australian Football League and won the Sandover Medal in 1961.
Football He was a ruckman.
South Fremantle Beard was recruited to South Melbourne from the South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League (WANFL).
South Melbourne He made his VFL debut for South Melbourne in 1932.
He was one of a number of South Melbourne players who were given immediate, long-term, secure, paid employment outside of football within the (137 store) grocery empire of the South Melbourne president, South Melbourne Lord Mayor, and Member of the Victorian Legislative Council, Archie Crofts. The collection of players recruited from interstate in 1932/1933 become known as South Melbourne's "Foreign Legion".
In 1933, he was 19th man in the club's premiership side; he replaced injured half-back flanker Hugh McLaughlin in the second quarter.
Fitzroy He stayed at South Melbourne until the 1935 season when after one game he decided to cross to Fitzroy to play out the season.
South Fremantle Accepting the offer of lucrative employment from a West Australian bakery firm, Beard left Melbourne and returned to Perth in March 1936. Once his clearance from Fitzroy had been obtained, He played his first match, in his return season, on 4 July 1936. By early 1937, he had returned to Victoria.
Bairnsdale In 1938 he was appointed captain-coach of the Bairnsdale Football Club, in the Gippsland Football League, as a replacement for Fred Gilby who has been appointed elsewhere. Despite Beard's efforts ("For Bairnsdale the most outstanding performers were B. Beard (whose marking was superb), …"), Bairnsdale were defeated by the Maffra Football Club, 13.13 (91) to 10.13 (73).
South Melbourne Districts He was appointed captain-coach of the South Melbourne Districts Football Club (in the Sub-District Football League) in 1939.
Footnotes
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Bert Beard's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bert Beard's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bert Beard?
Australian footballer (1909-1983)
When was Bert Beard born?
Bert Beard was born on 5 July 1909 in Northam.
When did Bert Beard die?
Bert Beard died on 8 November 1983.
What was Bert Beard's occupation?
Bert Beard was an australian rules football player.
What nationality was Bert Beard?
Bert Beard was Australian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bert Beard. https://biography.guide/bert-beard/
MLA: "Bert Beard." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bert-beard/.
Chicago: "Bert Beard." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bert-beard/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:30 UTC