Mather, graduated into Souths playing ranks from Marist Bros High School Darlinghurst. He made his senior grade debut on ANZAC Day 1938 in the Round 2 Third Grade clash against Eastern Suburbs at the Sports Ground. Two weeks later he stepped up into reserve grade in the 1938 Round 4 clash against Wester Suburbs at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He would then be a main stay of the lower grade for over a year before he was called up to make his first grade club debut in the 1939 Tour game against Goulburn at Goulburn. A few weeks later he was called in to make his first grade premiership debut in the 1939 Round 10 clash against Newtown at Earl Park.
Mather was a no-nonsense damaging prop forward. He would play his final first grade premiership game in the 1940 Round 11 clash against Eastern Suburbs at the Sports Ground.
Mather was also a first grade Water Polo player with Maroubra SLC. A fitter and turner and qualified Marine Engineer by trade he worked at the Naval base at Garden Island in Sydney. In 1940 he joined the RAAF, and after training embarked on active service in 1941. As Bomber Commander pilot, he served in North Africa and the Middle East during the war, including air raids during the Battle of Tobruk. In 1943 he returned to Australia to become a RAAF Flying instructor.
Mather played 4 seasons with South Sydney between 1938 and 1940 and then in 1943. He played 11 first grade club games which included 8 first grade premiership games. Overall he played 44 senior grade club games for South Sydney, which included 41 senior grade premiership games.
In 1943 he returned to play with South Sydney for a final fist grade club game in the 1943 Tour game against Tamworth in Tamworth.
Representative Qualification NSW City Date of Birth Parramatta - 3rd May 1918 (Died - 2005) Previous Clubs Military Service (1940-42) RAAF Pilot Bomber Command 104th Squadron (Served in North Africa and Middle East)
Playing Career at South Sydney (1938-40,43)
South Sydney First Grade Debut
1939 Jun 12 Tour2 Glbn v Goulburn (21y 40d)
1939 Jul 1 Rd10 Earl v Newtown (Premiership - 21y 59d)
First Grade
Premiership : State Championship : Tour
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1939 1 1 - - - - - : - - - - - - - : 1 1 - - - - -
1940 7 7 - 1 - - 3 : : 1 1 - - - - -
1943 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - - : 1 1 - 1 - - 3
TOTAL 8 8 - 1 - - 3 : - - - - - - - : 3 3 - 1 - - 3
SS FG 11 11 - 2 - - 6
South Sydney First Grade Debut
1938 Apr 25 Rd02 SSG v Easts (Third Grade)
1938 May 7 Rd04 SCG v Wests (Reserve Grade)
Lower Grades
Reserve Grade : Third Grade :
Year M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts :
1938 6 6 - 1 - - 3 : 6 6 - - - - -
1939 14 14 - 3 - - 9 : - - - - - - -
1940 4 4 - - - - - : 3 3 - - - - -
1943 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
TOTAL 24 24 - 4 - - 12 : 9 9 - - - - -
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : All Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 41 41 - 5 - - 15 : 44 44 - 6 - - 18
Short Form
Short-Game Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts
1939 - - - - - - -
1940 - - - - - - -
1943 - - - - - - -
TOTAL - - - - - - -
SS SF - - - - - - -
Captaincy Record at South Sydney
never
Suspension Record at South Sydney
Year Grade v Wk CHARGE never
Representative Honours at South Sydney
Year Pos Team Versus Match T G/A FG none
After Leaving South Sydney
Mather continued his active service after finishing up with South Sydney, serving in New Guinea until the end of the war. After the war he continued his service in RAAF for another 26 years. Mather was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in the Battle of Tobruk in 1943. He received the Air Force Cross in 1965.
Subsequent Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Military Service (1943-73) RAAF Air Commodore 33rd Squadron (Serving in New Guinea)
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