Full name George Stephen Sparrow Name George Sparrow Date of birth 20 November 1869 Died April 6, 1933 | Years Club Years Club | |
 | ||
Date of death 6 April 1933(1933-04-06) (aged 63) 18981899Total South MelbourneSt Kilda Role Australian Rules Footballer | ||
Original team Richmond Football Club | ||
George Stephen Sparrow (20 November 1869 – 6 April 1933) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne and both played for and coached St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Nicknamed 'Sugar', Sparrow began his career in the Victorian Football Association playing for Richmond, where he was captain for two years.
He joined the VFL in its second season, having to sit out 1897 to gain a clearance, and represented South Melbourne before switching to St Kilda the following year.
After retiring, Sparrow turned to coaching and was appointed senior coach of St Kilda in 1913. He coached the club to its first ever Grand Final: the Saints had defeated Minor Premiers Fitzroy in the Final, but under the rules at the time, Fitzroy had an automatic right of challenge, and theybwon the Grand Final the following week.
Sparrow quit as coach at the end of his first season in 1913, coaching five games as caretaker coach in 1920. He returned again in 1928, this time for a two-season stint, with the Saints finishing 6th, missing the finals on percentage. In 1929 he coached St Kilda to the finals again, with a Semi Final loss ending the club's season.
He finished with a winning percentage of 58.73% as a coach.