Philip Gallagher honoured with AFL Life Membership

SANFL congratulates long-serving SA Football Commissioner and Norwood premiership great Philip Gallagher on his richly-deserved AFL Life Membership.

Philip’s involvement in the game in South Australia spans five decades, making an impact as an outstanding player across 292 games with the Redlegs from 1973 to 1986 before serving with distinction on the South Australian Football Commission since 2000.

In between, Philip commenced his distinguished post-playing career in football administration, initially with the Norwood Football Club where he performed the roles of selector, board member, chairman and League director.

A chartered accountant, Philip has become the longest-serving non-executive SA Football Commissioner whilst acting as Chairman of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee for the past 21 years.

Appointed Deputy Chairman of the SA Football Commission in 2016, Philip was also an inaugural board member of the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority in 2009.

”SANFL and the SA Football Commission congratulates Philip on being awarded Life Membership of the AFL,” SA Football Commission Chairman Rob Kerin said.

”Philip has had a tremendous influence on the future of football in South Australia, assisting in the development of the financial model which led to SANFL moving from West Lakes to Adelaide Oval, a move which would be of great benefit to SANFL, the Adelaide and Port Adelaide Football Clubs.

”Philip’s legacy will be long lasting in South Australian football and by extension, the Australian football landscape. There is no more fitting way to recognise and acknowledge his outstanding contribution than by being awarded AFL Life Membership.”

On the field, Philip was widely regarded as one of the state’s most brilliant wingmen, playing in four premierships for Norwood and representing South Australia on eight occasions.

As a result, he was an inaugural member of the Redlegs’ Hall of Fame whilst also being selected on the wing in the Club’s Team of the Century.

A SANFL Life Member, Philip was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Norwood Football Club

• 300 Games (292 Norwood FC & 8 State Games for South Australia)

• 216 goals for Norwood FC

• 33 Finals Games – on retirement highest in the Norwood FC’s history

• 4 time Norwood FC Premiership Player

• Captain of Norwood FC – 1981 – 1982

• Selected in the Norwood FC Team of the Century (wing)

• Norwood FC Board / Football Committee 1990 – 1999

• Norwood FC Chairman 1996 – 1999

• League Director 1995 – 1999

• Inaugural Member of Norwood Hall of Fame (Inducted 2006)

SANFL

• Longest serving Non-Executive Commissioner in history 2000 – 2021 (ongoing)

• Chairman of Finance, Audit & Risk Committee 2000 – 2021 (ongoing)

• Deputy Chairman 2016 – 2021 (ongoing)

• SANFL Life Member

• Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

Adelaide Oval

• Appointed to the original Board of the Adelaide Oval Stadium Authority Management Ltd (AOSMA) in 2009.

• Appointed inaugural Chairman of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee in 2009. Has remained Chairman to 2021 (ongoing).