Francis Ernest Langley (13 October 1882 – 22 March 1946) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the early 1900s.

Family

The son of Henry Archdall Langley (1840–1906), Anglican Bishop of Bendigo, and Elizabeth Mary Langley (1842–1923), née Strachan, and the tenth of 12 children, Langley was born at Prahran on 13 October 1882. One of his elder brothers, Henry Thomas Langley, became Dean of Melbourne, while many of his other siblings took roles within the Anglican church and the education system. He married Lillie Kate Mills (1876–1967), the daughter of George Peter Mills (1835–1933), and Mary "Minnie" Mills (1848–1913), née Kyte, on 25 April 1908.

Education

Langley was educated at Caulfield Grammar School, and at Trinity College, University of Melbourne where he earned a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree. After completing university he worked as a medical practitioner.

Footballer

He was recruited directly from Caulfield Grammar School in 1900. While continuing as a student at Caulfield Grammar School, he played every senior game that season, and was forward pocket in the Melbourne team that won the Grand Final that year, with "Old Boy", the football correspondent for The Argus noting that, for Melbourne, "Langley's play in the third quarter was wonderful. He is only a school-boy, but during that trying time on the lower wing he was cool and sure as a veteran". Langley could play many roles on the field but was primarily a hard running defender who on occasions was used on the ball. He was often rested up forward and his 17 goals in 1901 was enough to top Melbourne's goal kicking. In 1903, and 1904, he represented Victoria at interstate football. In 1905 he captained Melbourne for the year, with the club finishing last.

After football

Conducting his medical practice from Dandenong, he was not only a valuable cricketer for the Dandenong Cricket Club, but also served as its president.

Death

Langley died at his home in Dandenong in 1946. He was survived by his wife Lillie and three children, Dorothy, Eric and Roy.

Footnotes