Ray Schofield

Ray Schofield
Personal information
Full name	Raymond John Schofield
Date of birth	7 August 1925
Place of birth	Subiaco, Western Australia
Original team(s)	North Perth
Position(s)	full-back, full-forward
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1943, 1946–1958	West Perth	277 (261)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1958.

Raymond John "Ray" Schofield (born 7 August 1925) was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Perth in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL).

Schofield began his career as a full-forward in the wartime under-age competition, where he headed the WANFL goalkicking in 1943. He did not play in 1944 or 1945 due to service with the Royal Australian Air Force in World War II.^[1] Schofield resumed late in 1946, where he played as a forward in the Cardinals’ Grand Final team.

In 1947, however, coach Stan “Pops” Heal moved Schofield to full-back after former spearhead Bill Baker was not successful there,^[2] and he developed into a champion defender over the next decade.

At full-back, Ray Schofield was a five time best and fairest winner at West Perth, in 1948, 1950 and every season from 1953 to 1955.^[3] He played in West Perth’s 1949 and 1951 premiership teams,^[3] taking several critical marks to help win the latter encounter. In the twilight of his career Schofield returned to attack, heading West Perth’s goalkicking again in 1957.

Amongst his 21 interstate appearances were matches at the 1950 Brisbane and 1953 Adelaide Carnivals.^[3]

Schofield is the full-back in West Perth’s official "Team of the Century" and in 2004 was one of the inaugural inductees in the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.^[3]

References

1. "WW2 Nominal Roll". Government of Australia.
2. Atkinson, Brian; It’s a Grand Old Flag: a History and Comprehensive Statistical Analysis of the West Perth Football Club 1885-2007, p. 104 ISBN 9781921361395
3. Full Points Footy: Ray Schofield (West Perth)