Queenscliff is mourning the death of one of its greatest-ever players after the passing of Kevin Coltish.
A life member of the club. Coltish made his mark during the Coutas’ greatest era.
Between 1959 and 1969, Queenscliff played in 10 of a possible 11 Polwarth League grand finals, winning seven premierships, including five consecutive from 1961-65.
He was playing coach of the 1965, 1967 and 1968 premiership teams.
In that period, Coltish won the league goalkicking ten consecutive years, topping the ton in 1959, 1960 and 1961.
He also won two club best-and-fairest awards, with his coaching tenure finishing at the end of the 1971 season – the first year of the newly-formed Bellarine and District League.
Post-retirement, Coltish served two years as president in the late 1970s.
“By any measure, Kevin was one of the greats to pull on a Queenscliff jumper. But to generations of Coutas, Kevin Coltish was so much more than the numbers,” a statement on Queenscliff’s Facebook page said.
“He was part of the fabric of our club and our town. Long after his playing days were over, Kevin remained a familiar and much-loved presence around the Coutas – supporting, volunteering as president, sharing stories and taking enormous pride in the club he loved.
“Kevin was a champion footballer, a wonderful clubman and, most importantly, a genuinely lovely man who was held in enormous affection by so many.
“There are people who play for a football club, and then there are people who become part of its history.
“Kevin Coltish will forever be part of ours.”
Coltish was also a talented cricketer, playing in two Bellarine Peninsula Association A-grade premierships during the 1960s.
X: @krockfootball
