Life Member
Inducted 1952
Hall of Fame
Inducted 2013
Dr Chris B. Sangster first played for the University Football Club in 1926 and continued to play until 1931. In the last four years of his playing career with ‘the Blacks’ Chris captained both the ‘A’ grade team and the State Amateur side. He was awarded a Blue for Football in 1927, Australian Blues in 1927 and 1931 and a Blue for Cricket in 1928.
A gifted all-round sportsman, Chris also played Inter-Varsity cricket from 1926 to 1932 (the last three years as Captain). He scored five ‘A’ grade centuries whilst at University and won the batting aggregate in 1934. Chris also represented the State in the Sheffield Shield competition.
He represented the University Athletics Club in Inter-Varsity competition in 1926 and played in the first three Golf Inter-Varsities in 1927, 1928 and 1929.
Chris Sangster played in two Premierships with ‘the Blacks’, in 1926 and 1929, captaining the side in the latter season. He was a strong centre half back or ruckman who had rejected chances to play League football because of his love of ‘Varsity and his study of Medicine.
One of the highlights of his career was his win in the 1929 Hone Medal. Chris was the third University footballer to win the A1 Division Medal.
C.B. Sangster also won the Gunning Medal for the Best and Fairest in the A1 team in 1928, 1929 and 1930 – one of a select few to win multiple medals.
Not content with being the star player, Chris also served as Secretary of the Club in 1927 and 1928, showing his strong commitment to the Club.
C.B. Sangster is one of the few amateur footballers to captain the State Amateurs for four seasons (1928 to 1931). He captained the State side to its historic first victory over the Victorian Amateurs in 1930 in a game where he featured in the best players. The match produced a record State Amateur team score of 156 points, with a 63 point margin.
Chris must have enjoyed playing against the Victorians as he was the best player in 1928, 1929 and 1931 – a superb effort which rated him as the top player in the SAAFL at that time.
Having completed Medicine, Chris retired from football, but always retained an active interest in the University Football Club. He returned to ‘the Blacks’ in 1949 to succeed Dr N.S. Gunning as President of the Club and remained in that position until 1953.
Dr C.B. Sangster was later involved in the Club through his two sons J.F. (John) and A.C. (Andrew) Sangster, who both played with distinction with ‘the Blacks’ in the 1960’s. J.F. Sangster also captained the State Amateur team in the mid-1960’s.