Ray Allsopp, the former Richmond footballer who developed the coaching program that underpinned the AFL’s widely successful Auskick program, has died, aged 87.
Allsopp played 54 games for the Tigers between 1955-1959 and represented Victoria but it was in football administration where he had enormous impact, beginning the primary school program Vickick, which was the forerunner of Auskick, the entry point to the game for most AFL players.
He recognised the need to resource volunteers in the community (mums and dads) so they could run the programs rather than expecting schools to deliver them, laying the foundations for the professional game. Auskick now has 200,000 boys and girls participating.
Allsopp became an AFL life member in 2010 and was awarded an OAM for his service to sport in 2017.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/auskick-pioneer-and-tigers-player-ray-allsopp-dies-20211028-p5940k.html
