Kevin Longbottom

Kevin Longbottom

Personal information
Full name	Kevin James Longbottom
Nickname	Lummy
Born	1940 Sydney, New South Wales
Died	13 January 1986 La Perouse, New South Wales
Playing information
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Position	Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1961–69	South Sydney	105	27	134	0	349

Kevin Longbottom (1940 - 1986) was an Aboriginal Australian professional rugby league player of the 1960s. Longbottom was known by the nickname "Lummy" and was renowned for his long-range goal kicking,^[1] sometimes even kicking goals from further than the halfway line.^[2] A large, barrell chested man, he won a premiership with in 1967, and played in the 1965 Souths team that were runners up.^[3] He played Fullback for most of his career.

Longbottom initially forced his way into first grade when full-back, Darrel Chapman became injured.^[4] He kicked a conversion in South Sydney's win over Canterbury in the 1967 Grand final that should have resulted in a 14-10 win.^[5] His three long range penalty goals in the 1965 Grand Final are still regarded as possibly the longest kicks every attempted at the Sydney Cricket Ground.^[6]

Longbottom was a fine golfer, but is better remembered as a famous caddie to many professional golfers including Bruce Devlin, Bob Shearer and American Tommy Bolt.^[7]

Longbottom died from cancer in 1986.

References

1. Roy Masters (rugby league) (18 August 2012). "Souths embody redemption, resilience and the great game". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
2. "Widders and Peachey Attend Apology to Stolen Generation". South Sydney Rabbitohs. 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
3. "PLAYER PROFILE". http://www.nrlstats.com NRLStats.com. Retrieved 2008-08-05. External link in |publisher= (help)
4. Sydney Morning Herald: 07/03/1962
5. Wilkins, Phil (17 September 1967). "This goal is not on record". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
6. Alan Whitaker. rugbyleagueproject.org
7. The Age: Thunder as Tommy Finishes. 16/10/1978