Australian Football
Charlie Tyson (14 November 1897 – 23 September 1985) was an Australian Rules Footballer who played with Collingwood and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League during the 1920’s. Recruited to Collingwood from Western Australian based Goldfields Football League side Kalgoorlie Railways, Tyson was a half back flanker and made his VFL debut in 1920. He was named club captain in 1924 and despite not making the finals in his first season in charge he led them to Grand Finals in the next two.
Charlie Tyson
It was in the 1926 VFL Grand Final that he found himself in significant controversy.Collingwood lost the match to Melbourne by 57 points and Tyson was accused of ‘playing dead’. To this day it is unclear whether the allegations hold water but what was known is that the Collingwood committee considered his relaxed and laid back demeanor as inappropriate for a club captain and were possibly looking for an excuse to get rid of him. Disgruntled with the allegations, Tyson received a clearance to move to North Melbourne for the 1927 VFL season. Tyson topped North Melbourne’s goal kicking in his first season with the club and subsequently became captain-coach.
The Tyson Brothers
Tyson came from a leading Western Australian footballing family; his father Charles Snr, also played for Kalgoorlie Railways, as well as fellow Goldfields’ club Coolgardie, and Western Australian Football Leaugue (WAFL) club East Fremantle. Additionally, Tyson had five brothers who all played football to a high standard:
- Edward with Kalgoorlie Railways and Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Prahan;
- George, Kalgoorlie Railways and WAFL clubs Perth and West Perth;
- Jack, Kalgoorlie Railways and South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club South Adelaide;
- Sam, Kalgoorlie Railways and West Perth (coaching the club in 1931);
- William, Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie Railways. Additionally, Sam’s son, Ted Tyson played for West Perth from 1930 to 1945, kicking 1203 goals.
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My paternal grandmother Mrs. Greta Wittmer (née Tyson) b. Coolgardie, 1901, was the sister of Charlie Tyson (1897-1985). She came across to Melbourne when Charlie did. She said that Charlie was given the sack by Collingwood because of the stand he made of behalf of his teammates receiving some sort of financial assitance when they were injured. She said that Collingwood saw him as a trouble-maker and invented the story that he layed down in the 1926 Grand Final just to get rid of him.
THanks for getting in touch, what a sad story. Charlie Tyson was a great athelete!!
Yes. I’ve had a little bit of time to reflect on it since the initial email. I suppose what upsets me the most is that the story my Grandma told depicts Charlie as an honourable man whereas the inference that Charlie took a bribe or whatever paints him as dishonourable. I’m just trying to give a voice to a man who no longer has the opportunity to speak. My Grandma was a great woman, and I don’t use that accolade loosely. She was an honest and loving person. I take her words for the truth.
I Was too told this sorry by my Grandma about her uncle Charlie. I hope that you will see this Phil Wittmer and contact myself as we are related. Vicki Cooper My Grandma was Ruby Maude Tyson. her Father William Tyson. they gold mined at St Arnaud Victoria.
So glad you like the post Vicki
Hi Vicki. I guess we are related as well. I also heard the family history from my grandma, Greta Wittmer (nee Tyson) sister of Charlie.
Cheers
Hi Moya my partners Great Uncle is Charlie Tyson his brother George is my partners Grandfather and any information that you have on the family he would love dearly we have been looking in Trove but any information on their mining, football anything would be greatly appreciated.
Thanking you Maria
Hi Maria. I can add a little bit more to the Tyson story. I hope I’m not repeating something you already know.
Charlie had a sister – Greta, (my maternal grandmother) who came to Melbourne with Charlie when he came over to play for Collingwood. I believe some other family came as well, but not sure who.
Charlie and Greta had other siblings, one of whom was Herbert Henry (Herb) Tyson.
Herb volunteered in the 1st A.I.F. in 1915 and served in A company of the 28th Battalion,
On the night of 28th July 1916 the 2nd Division attacked a major German position at Pozieres in France. The 28th Battalion played a major role in the assault and about @360 of its @1000 men were killed wounded or missing. The attack was badly planned and carried out.
Herb was killed in the battle and his body was never recovered. He left behind a young wife named Tekla Marie Tyson and an infant child, who I understand he never met.
There is a fairly substantial account of his war service available on the Australian War Memorial and associated websites.
I hope I’ve given you something.
Regards,
Graeme Spurrell
Melbourne.
Hello. I found this by accident. I’m related to the Tysons as well.
My maternal grandmother is also Greta Wittmer (nee Tyson) the sister of Charlie. I also heard the family stories. I met (great uncle) Charlie one time in Wentworth when I was a kid. Everything about him was honourable. Whoever you are, Maria and Phil, I also add my voice to someone who deserved better than the slurs that were cast on him.
Cheers
Thanks for your efforts and commitment Moya, love your work.
Regards,
Graeme Spurrell
My pleasure Graeme
phil wittmer,Graeme Spurrell and Maria Hughes, sounds like we are connected if you would like to keep in contact my email is vixson2001@yahoo.com.au
I’m committed at the moment as time is not mine. If we could share what we have between us it would be wonderful.
Cheers
Vicki