Vale Nancy McTaggart

The Victorian Amateur Football Association extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of VAFA Life Member, Nancy McTaggart, who recently passed away.

Nancy, who was the second female inducted as a life member of the VAFA in 2001, had a truly remarkable record dating back to 1969.

Her main role was as VAFA Scores Recorder whereby she audited every score from each match to ensure the correct balance of ladders every weekend.

For years, Nancy assisted her late husband George McTaggart with the organisation of the independent tribunal and interstate representative matches.

She was involved in the VAFA Umpires Association and Umpires Social Club as well as being part of the team who produced The Amateur Footballer record.

Nancy also served as a goal umpire for several years and volunteered to work on Saturdays at the VAFA office to answer phone call queries and offer guidance and advice to clubs and umpires to assist them with any match day issues. Furthermore, Nancy worked tirelessly to ensure match details were provided to media outlets for publication each week.

In 2019, Nancy became the first woman from the VAFA to be recognised with an AFL Merit Award for her 50 years of incredible service to the Association.

“The VAFA has been full of admiration and in awe of her hard work as Nancy was always up to the challenge of doing whatever is required in support of clubs, players, officials, administrators and umpires during her 50 years of unprecedented service,” Brian Goodman said following Nancy’s AFL Merit Award.

“She epitomizes everything that is good in the VAFA and her contribution in so many ways reflects the contribution of so many people within our clubs.”

Speaking with VAFA Media in October last year, fellow Life Member, Sue Anderson, spoke of Nancy’s contribution, saying “it’s no wonder she won the AFL Award, her history speaks for itself”.

“Apart from doing all the tribunal work, she was also one of the first female goal umpires,” Sue said.

“I worked with her a lot during my time at the VAFA and she was amazing and so thorough, picking up every umpire score card and checking every goal and behind for years. Who would do something like that?”