Christopher Francis Lethbridge (24 May 1890 – 25 March 1970)^[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.^[2]

Family

The son of Christopher Montague Lethbridge (1852-1906),^[3] and Alice Maud Lethbridge (-1922), née Emmerson,^[4] Christopher Francis Lethbridge was born in Brighton East on 24 May 1890. The family moved to Wagga Wagga in New South Wales very early in his life.

He married Bertha Lillian White (1893-1974) on 18 March 1916.^[5]

Football

Lethbridge was originally from New South Wales and played in defence for Fitzroy.

Granted a clearance from Y.M.C.A. Sydney on 23 May 1913,^[6] he made his debut, against South Melbourne, on 7 June 1913;^[7] and was a member of Fitzroy's premiership side that year.

In 1921 he took over the captaincy from Percy Parratt and in 1922 he captained Fitzroy to another flag before retiring at the season's end, thus becoming one of the few players in league history to be a member of premiership sides in his first and last season.

Non-playing coach

Lethbridge returned to the Fitzroy in 1925 and — replacing Vic Belcher, who had gone to coach the City Football Club in Launceston^[8] — served as its non-playing coach for the 1925 season.^[9]

The announcement of his appointment caused genuine pleasure, for few players enjoy the popularity that Lethbridge does. It was in 1922 he led the Fitzroy team to the premiership, made his fearless play as a half-back made him famous wherever the Australian game was played. Lethbridge is a renowned footballer, and he has the reputation of being one of the toughest men the game has known. A fighter of great courage, it is a wonder his fearlessness has never cost him serious injury, but he generally emerged unscathed. (The Sporting Globe, 22 April 1925.)^[10]