Australian Football

Raymond Kutcher was the man chiefly responsible, as Sturt chairman, for bringing Jack Oatey to the club as coach in 1962. Oatey of course transformed the Blues from perennial under-achievers into one of the finest teams ever to grace South Australian football.

Kutcher, who had played league football for both Sturt (41 games, 1948-51) and West Torrens (15 games, 1952-4), was a highly influential administrator who, in addition to his 13-year stint as chairman of Sturt, served both the SANFL and National Football League in a number of capacities, including as president of the latter body between 1974 and 1978. He was also Project Director of Football Park when the ground was being constructed from 1972 to 1974.

In 2002 Ray Kutcher was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Author - John Devaney