George Sparrow

Who is George Sparrow?

George S. Sparrow was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne and both played for and coached St Kilda in the VFL.

Nicknamed 'Sugar', Sparrow began his career in the Victorian Football Association where he donned the Richmond colours. He joined the VFL in its second season and represented South Melbourne before switching to St Kilda the following year.

After retiring, Sparrow turned to coaching and was appointed senior coach of St Kilda in 1913. He steered the club to their first ever Grand Final appearance that season but the Saints lost the decider to Fitzroy. Sparrow didn't coach again until 1920 but he couldn't repeat the success of 1913, and the club finished with the wooden spoon. He returned again in 1928, this time for a two-season stint, and in 1929 coached St Kilda to the semifinals.