Frank Sparrow (1926 – 31 December 2000) was an Australian rules footballer who played for East Perth, Swan Districts and West Perth in the WANFL during the 1940s and 1950s. His father was fellow West Australian Football Hall of Famer Val Sparrow.
Sparrow spent most of his career either as a centreman or across half back. He started his career at his father's club, East Perth in 1943 during the underage period (due to the war, and won the F. D. Book Medal for their 'Fairest and Best' in 1948 and 1952. He captained East Perth in 1951 and the following season finished second in the Sandover Medal count.
Swan Districts acquired his services in 1953, as captain-coach, and he won their 'Fairest and Best' in his first season. He remained in the role for a further two years before crossing to West Perth for one final season, also as captain-coach. In 1957 he retired as a player but remained West Perth's coach, leading them to the final, before joining the media and becoming one of Western Australia's best known football commentator on both television and radio.
A regular interstate representative, Sparrow played 17 games for Western Australia, most notably in 1951 when he was appointed captain and at the 1953 Adelaide Carnival where he achieved All-Australian selection.
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“Nature herself has not provided the most graceful end for her creatures. What becomes of all these birds that people the air and forest for our solacement? The sparrow seems always chipper, never infirm. We do not see their bodies lie about. Yet there is a tragedy at the end of each one of their lives. They must perish miserably; not one of them is translated. True, “not a sparrow falleth to the ground without our Heavenly Father’s knowledge,” but they do fall, nevertheless.”
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