Born in Rosevears, north of Launceston, Tasmania, Cyril Furnard Plummer (at 187cm, perhaps inevitably) kept for West Tamar in 1913 before (also probably inevitably) playing Australian Rules in 1914 and 1915.
The orchardist joined up at the end of 1915 and was soon appointed as a Driver and transferred to the 10th Field Ambulance. Dogged by sickness in France, he was discharged in early 1918 because of chronic rheumatism.
After the war a Plummer played in goal for Patons and Baldwin in 1926. We need more evidence, however, to confirm it was Cyril.
Cyril died on 29 November 1984.
The story invites some speculation. Was Cyril urged to try British Football by his British workmates, some of whom played for West Tamar? Similarly, post war; did the Englishmen imported to work for his employer, knitting yarn manufacturer Patons and Baldwins, convinced him to have another go?
Cyril’s brother Austin Strahan Plummer (a half inch taller than Cyril) is also mentioned on a West Tamar team list in 1913. At 15 he was quite young but maybe his height made up for that when he was selected. Sadly Austin was killed at the front a month before Cyril’s return. He is not considered a Soccer Anzac because of his minimal contact with the game.