Kevin Longbottom

Kevin Longbottom (23 December 1940 – 13 January 1986) was an Aboriginal Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s. Longbottom was known by the nickname "Lummy" and was renowned for his long-range goal kicking,^[2] sometimes even kicking goals from further than the halfway line.^[3] A large, barrel-chested man, he won a premiership with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1967, and played on the 1965 team that were runners up.^[4] He played Fullback for most of his career.

Kevin Longbottom

Personal information
Full name	Kevin James Longbottom
Born	(1940-12-23)23 December 1940 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	13 January 1986(1986-01-13) (aged 45) La Perouse, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	99 kg (15 st 8 lb)
Position	Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1961–69 South Sydney 105 27 134 0 349
Source: [1]

Longbottom initially forced his way into first grade when full-back Darrel Chapman became injured.^[5] He kicked a conversion in South Sydney's win over Canterbury in the 1967 Grand final that should have resulted in a 14–10 win.^[6] His three long range penalty goals in the 1965 Grand Final are still regarded as possibly the longest kicks ever attempted at the Sydney Cricket Ground.^[7]

Longbottom was a fine golfer, but is better remembered as a famous caddie to many professional golfers including Bruce Devlin, Bob Shearer and American Tommy Bolt.^[8]

Longbottom died from chronic liver disease in 1986 at the age of 45.

References

1. Rugby League Project
2. Roy Masters (rugby league) (18 August 2012). "Souths embody redemption, resilience and the great game". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
3. "Widders and Peachey Attend Apology to Stolen Generation". South Sydney Rabbitohs. 13 February 2008. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
4. "PLAYER PROFILE". nrlstats.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
5. Sydney Morning Herald: 07/03/1962
6. Wilkins, Phil (17 September 1967). "This goal is not on record". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
7. Alan Whitaker. rugbyleagueproject.org
8. The Age: Thunder as Tommy Finishes. 16 October 1978