Len Pye

Who is Len Pye?

Len 'Apples' Pye was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the VFL during the 1930s. He also had a notable career in the TANFL with North Hobart which saw him named in Tasmania's official 'Team of the Century', on the interchange bench.

Tasmanian Len Pye played his early football in the VFA with Northcote before starting his North Hobart career in 1929. Strong in the air, Pye often played the role of an on baller. He won a William Leitch Medal in 1932 and in doing so became the first player from his club to win it. The previous year he won the first of his four North Hobart 'Best and Fairest' awards, with the others coming in consecutive seasons from 1936 to 1938.

His performance for Tasmania at the 1933 Sydney Carnival helped him get recruited by Fitzroy. He topped Fitzroy's goalkicking with 39 goals in 1934, his debut season, including a bag of eight against North Melbourne at Arden Street. After managing just the single senior appearance in 1935 he returned to North Hobart.

Pye was a member of North Hobart's 1936 premiership winning side to go with his previous premierships in 1929 and 1932.