Player, Administrator

Born in Germany in 1872 but unclear what date he arrives in Adelaide or why. Edward Roeder represented the first unofficial South Australia team in 1893 at the age of 21 years. He plays men’s doubles in the SA Lawn Tennis Association Annual Tournament in March 1896.

In 1893 he is familiar with the  the laws of the ‘English Association game’ and describes the format of play very clearly in a letter to The Advertiser that appears 17 June 1893 (see below). He is obviously eager to develop the sport as he has written to the Sydney Association.

These laws were first developed and adopted (somewhat unsuccessfully) by the English Football Association in 186x and further refined and adopted by xxxx in 187x. By 1893, football in England was very well established with xxxx teams in the professional league that commenced in 188x. How had Edward gained his detailed knowledge about the game and skills playing it.

He worked as a travelling grocery products salesperson for D&J Fowler (the Lion Company). In March 1895 he reports missing from his horse trap outside the D&J Fowler building on King William Street a large and distinguishable Scotch plaid blanket. In May 1900 he is recorded as a shipping passenger returning from Spencer’s Gulf, possibly in connection with his grocery sales work. In February 1902 was also stolen from in Edithburgh and the thieves were apprehended. In May 1903 he reports in The Adelaide Observer about eggs exported to Japan. Is it possible he helped to develop football in regional SA as he travelled?

In September 1894 he performs in a singing competition at the SA Literary Societies’ Union and is therefore many talented. At the Annual Grocers Picnic in October 1898 he also provides singing entertainment.

Married Alice Clarry in 1897 (she was aged 18 years) and a son was born in Adelaide in 1899 followed by a daughter in 1900. They were together in Broken Hill in 1913. In September 1913 Edward is in Broken Hill conducting army training as Second Lieutenant of the 12th Barrier Field Company (Engineers). Edward doesn’t appear to return to football after World War 1.