Born in the Australian Rules stronghold of Fitzroy, Victoria, on 19 February 1893, Alfred Ross ‘Ike’ Tolchard was an enduring soccer enthusiast dating back to his East Perth school days, which he represented from 1905 until 1907. He was full-back of diminutive height (5′ 3″/160 cm) and his first trophy success came the following year when Perth Swan won the third division junior title. He then joined Rangers and remained loyal to the Scottish-backed side until 1922. He later captained the team and was the club secretary.
Ike was constantly named in match reports as one of the weekend’s best performers. Ike represented the Junior body in August 1913 for a friendly against a Collie XI that ended 2-2. In 1914 and 1915, he was chosen for ‘Australia’ in a local annual ‘international’ tournament.
‘Wee Tolchard’ as the newspaper described him, went off to war in October 1916 with the AIF 27th Infantry and returned three years later. Ike was back on the football field in 1920 when he played alongside 1928 Australian select Syd Hinton.
Ike played just a couple more seasons before taking up baseball. After passing his printing exams at Perth Technical School in 1915, he took up a letterpress machinist career at WA Newspapers Lad. Ike produced Perth’s first football periodical (WA Soccer News), which commenced in July 1922. It wasn’t on the market for long. Ike was also a part-time entertainer-cum-singer, particularly humorous recitations. ‘Ike’ Tolchard passed away in December 1968, aged 75.
Excerpted from Richard Kreider’s Paddocks to Pitches: The Definitive History of Western Australian Football.