Born in 1893 in the inner western Sydney suburb of Ultimo, as the youngest of six sons in a family of 10, Stephen Harold Stack would make his mark in the game well beyond his playing days in goal with Pyrmont FC. Stack’s father, John, Irish born, was 49 years old when he fathered Stephen, but he would not live to see his son take up arms, be married, or become President of the NSW Soccer Association, passing away in 1913. Stephen though did not lack for father figures with three much older brothers.
Not one of those who put his hand up to serve with eagerness in the early days of the conflict, Stack instead waited till May of 1916 to enlist. He was assigned to the116th Howitzer Brigade. The brigade was dispersed across the fifteen field artillery brigades and exactly where throughout Belgium and France Gunner Stack served is a mystery, but what we do know is that he returned safe and sound to Australia in May of 1919.
For twenty years Stack served as administrator of the Narrabeen Sydney War Veterans homes he established on Sydney’s northern beaches. Stack was also heavily involved with Legacy and received an MBE for his charitable work.
Upon his return home Stack put playing the game behind him and threw himself into promoting the game amongst the juniors of Pyrmont serving as a committeeman for a number of years. He was set for higher office though. In 1924 Stephen Stack became Chairman of the Council of the Soccer Association of NSW and in 1926 took over from the legendary Fred Barlow as the Association’s President, probably the most important role in football in the entire country. He was followed into the role by Syd Storey, a name equally prominent in the history of the game in Australia as Barlow.
Stephen married Florence Tetley in 1922 and the couple crossed the harbour moving to the north side to be closer to his mother. The couple had two children and Stephen, the former clerk in the NSW Public Service lived a life of service until January of 1955 passing away in the Royal North Shore Hospital.