131. Harold ‘Joe’ Littler

Launceston/Mersey/South Melbourne/City/Wynyard, 1897-1932

> Credited with over 500 games of football
> 10 games, South Melbourne, 1903
> Launceston, 1897-98 and 1908 (including a premiership in his first season aged 16)
> Mersey, 1899-1907 (captained the side in 1899 aged 18)
> Mersey premierships, 1899, 1901, 1902 and 1905
> Represented Tasmania, 1908 National Carnival
> City (Launceston) premiership, 1910
> Wynyard, 1911-32 (including three premierships)

Born in July of 1879, Harold ‘Joe’ Littler became the oldest known senior player in major league football, playing his last game at 53 years. Littler was one of the most durable footballers of the Twentieth Century, giving his greatest service to Wynyard where he was not only a long-term player but also club captain, secretary, league delegate and then club coach. On retirement it was estimated that Littler had played over 500 games. He was described by NTFA legendary football administrator Ron Tyson as the best footballer in Northern Tasmania in the first 40 years of the century.