The Williamstown Football Club is saddened to announce that Team of the Century and Hall of Fame member, Len Kent, passed away on Saturday, August 31, at the age of 94. Len, nicknamed “The Silent Assassin” in his playing days, was a four-time premiership player with ‘Town in 1954, 1956, 1958 and 1959.
Len was born in Ballarat in June 1930 and moved with his family to Seddon during World War II as his father was in the Army and wanted to live close to the Army base at nearby Coode Island. Len started his football career with Seddon in the Footscray District Football League. He later transferred to nearby VFL club Footscray in 1949, where he played reserves football for two years before making his senior debut in the number 11 jumper in round 1, 1951, and going on to play a total of 24 senior games and kicking 19 goals. In his first senior game, 20 year-old Len played alongside fellow debutant, a 17 year-old Ted Whitten. Len kicked 2 goals in his debut match against Richmond at the Punt Road Oval, which the Bulldogs won by one point.
Len crossed to Williamstown mid-season in 1953, and debuted in the round 11 game against Oakleigh at Pt Gellibrand. He played 12 games in his first season and was awarded the best utility player for the year. In a highly distinguished career at Williamstown, Len played in the four premiership sides mentioned above, sadly missing the 1955 Grand Final due to an ankle injury from the preliminary final the week before. Len played at Centre Half Forward in the 1954 team, but switched to Centre Half Back for the 1956-58-59 triumphs.
Len won both the Williamstown Advertiser and Williamstown Chronicle Best Player Awards in 1957 and finished 7th in the Liston Medal. Len was also runner-up in the Club Best and Fairest Award to Johnny Martin in 1956 and to Gerry Callahan in 1957, and was voted Most Serviceable player in 1958. Wearing the number 3 jumper, Len played a total of 7 seasons with the Seagulls from 1953-59, appearing in 117 games and kicking 15 goals.
Len twice represented the Victorian Football Association in 1957, firstly against Northern Tasmania and then against the South Australian Football League under lights at the Norwood Oval, where he was named amongst the best players along with teammate Gerry Callahan. Len was credited with giving Club legend Callahan the nickname ‘The Monster’ after he (Callahan) bowled over three teammates in a pre-season intra-club practice match.
Len retired from all football in 1959 after his career at Williamstown and finished his working life as a dispatch clerk at a steel factory in North Sunshine.
From everyone at the Williamstown Football Club, we send our condolences to the Kent family and thank Len for his contribution to our Fabulous 50’s run of premiership flags.
RIP, Len.
