Western Australian football is profoundly indebted to Frederick Julius Augustus ‘Freddie’ Burt (born 5 December 1877) for resurrecting football in May 1896. Like all the Burt brothers, Frederick learned his football at Repton School (Latham House 1891-95). The fourth child and second son of Septimus Burt QC participated in the first three Western Australian representative matches (1902-04-08) and together with brothers Frank and George, he also enjoyed playing hockey. Freddie was bestowed with a life membership by the controlling body in April 1907 and from the Perth Football Club the following year. He was also on the WACA committee during the early Federation years. Fred resigned from the solicitor firm Stone & Burt in 1914 to live in England. In March 1915 He was passed fit for regular Army duty and served at Gallipoli Peninsula in July, followed by Egypt (1916-17) and Palestine (1917-18) as a signal officer. He returned to England in October 1918 with the rank of Captain. He was demobilized in January 1922 in the rank of Major and doubtlessly resumed a business solicitor. Frederick passed away 26 February 1965, aged 87. The first patron of the Football Hall of Fame WA is Fred’s great-grandson and polo aficionado, Julian Burt.
Excerpted from Richard Kreider’s Paddocks to Pitches: The Definitive History of Western Australian Football.
WA Football Hall of Fame adds that he “captained Perth FC to the Division One title (1902) and lined up in Western Australia’s first ever international fixtures (1902, 1904).” The WA Football Hall of Fame recognises the Burt Clan. “When one talks of the foundations of soccer in WA one cannot help but look to the Burt family. Five of the six sons of Sir Septimus Burt KC, WA’s first Attorney General, had been involved in both the playing and administration sides of the game from day one. They were Archibald, Francis, Fred, George and Reginald. George was considered the best player and represented WA on eight occasions, before retiring in 1909, after the successful tour of the eastern states.”