One of a select band of Christian clergymen to have played top level football, Charles 'Red Wing' Perry enjoyed a 58 game league career with Norwood on either side of World War One. Boasting a thick crop of vibrant red hair - hence his nickname - Perry, a Methodist minister, was an ebullient, pacy player who was always in the thick of the action. Capable of playing in a variety of positions, he marked and kicked superbly, and was the consummate team player. In 1915 he tied for the Magarey Medal with South Adelaide's 'Dinky' Barry and 'Shine' Hosking of Port Adelaide, but as the rules in force at the time allowed for only one winner, the SAFL field umpires were called upon to adjudicate, and voted unanimously to confer the award on the South player. Perry and Hosking were later awarded retrospective Medals by the league.

During the Great War, Perry undertook military service in Europe, and in 1916 was one of many top footballers from all over Australia to take part in the famous AIF exhibition match at Queen's Park in London. Perry was appointed captain of the Combined Training Units team which, in front of a crowd estimated at 6,000, lost by 16 points to an AIF Third Division combination led by South Melbourne's Bruce Sloss.

Perry resumed with Norwood after the war, but retired in 1920 without ever tasting premiership success. He represented South Australia on one occasion, and also served as vice-captain of the Redlegs for a time.

*Courtesy of John Devaney at www.fullpointsfooty.net

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