Leslie Clarence "Bro" Dayman (28 October 1901 – 11 March 1979) was an Australian Rules footballer who played for Port Adelaide in the

South Australian National Football League The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL ( or ''S-A-N-F-L''), is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport. Originally formed as t ...

(SANFL) and Footscray in the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL).

Family

The fifth of the seven children of Arthur Ernest Dayman (1873—1944), and Edith Annie Dayman (1872—1937), née Smitham, Leslie Clarence Dayman was born at

Salisbury, South Australia Salisbury is a northern suburb in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the seat of the City of Salisbury, and in the South Australian Legislative Assembly electoral district of Ramsay and the Australian House of Representatives division of Spence. ...

on 28 October 1901. His eldest brother, Clement Gordon Lyle Dayman (1892–1967), also played with Port Adelaide. He married Maria Jane "Ria" Diks (1909-1990) on 2 January 1932. Their son,

Leslie Dayman Leslie Ernest Dayman (born 19 January 1938) credited variously as Les Dayman and Les Daymen, is an Australian retired actor best known for his performances on television (serials and telemovies) and film, major small screen roles including '' Ho ...

, was the notable Australian stage, screen and TV actor, and their grandson,

Chris McDermott Christopher Stephen McDermott (born 4 November 1963) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), and the Glenelg Football Club and North Adelaide Foot ...

, was the inaugural captain of

Adelaide Crows The Adelaide Crows (officially the Adelaide Football Club) are a professional Australian rules football team based in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1990. The Crows has fielded a men's team in the Australian Football League (AFL) since ...

Football

Port Adelaide (1921 - 1931)

Les Dayman started his career at Port Adelaide in 1921, after arriving from Salisbury. During that year he was a member of the club's premiership team. He played beside his brother Clem at the club during the 1920s and was used mostly as a ruckman or in the key forward positions. On three occasions Dayman won Port Adelaide's 'Best and Fairest' award and also topped their goal-kicking four times. He was the league's top goal-kicker in 1929 with 86 goals. A regular South Australian interstate representative, he made a total of 19 appearances and kicked 30 goals for his state.

Footscray (1932 - 1934)

Footscray acquired his services in

1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort to assassinate Emperor Hiro ...

and he had a solid first season, kicking a bag of five against

Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

in his second game and topping the club's goal-kicking with 37 majors.

Coburg (1935 - 1936)

Following the end of his three-year VFL stint, Dayman played briefly at

Coburg Coburg () is a town located on the Itz river in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany. Long part of one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined Bavaria by popular vote only in 1920. Until the revolution of 1918, it ...

in the

Victorian Football Association The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFA).

Port Adelaide (1937)

He returned to Port Adelaide in 1937, making one further appearance for the seniors and going on to serve the club in an off field capacity.

Military service

He served in the Australian army during the Second World War from 8 April 1942 to 14 September 1944.

Death

He died at

Alberton, South Australia Alberton is a metropolitan suburb in the west of Adelaide, South Australia, about 20 minutes drive from the city. Part of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, it is bordered by the suburbs of Rosewater, Queenstown, Cheltenham and Port Adelaide. ...

on 11 March 1979.Leslie Clarence Dayman, at ''findagrave.com''.
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Honours

South Australian Football Hall of Fame

In 2002 he was one of the inaugural inductees into the

South Australian Football Hall of Fame The South Australian Football Hall of Fame enshrines those who have made a most significant contribution to the game of Australian Football. The Hall of Fame was established in 2002 when 114 outstanding individuals became inaugural inductees. S ...

Port Adelaide's "Greatest Team" (1870-2000)

He was selected at centre half-forward in Port Adelaide's official "Greatest Team", which took into account the period 1870 to 2000.

Notes

References

World War Two Nominal Roll: Private Leslie Clarence Dayman (S66657), ''Department of Veterans' Affairs''.

World War Two Service Record: Private Leslie Clarence Dayman (S66657), ''National Archives of Australia''.

External links

* *
Les Dayman, at ''The VFA Project''.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dayman, Les 1901 births 1979 deaths Australian rules footballers from Adelaide Australian Rules footballers: place kick exponents Western Bulldogs players Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) players Port Adelaide Football Club players (all competitions) Coburg Football Club players South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees Australian Army personnel of World War II Military personnel from South Australia