Percy Foster

Manager 1956 Olympics

The Melbourne Metropolitan Basketball Association was established in 1936. Percy Foster became the first President of the Association.

With colleague Charlie Silver, Percy arranged and leased the Exhibition Building in Melbourne for the 1937 State Championships. Five basketball courts were established at the Exhibition Building. Percy represented the Metro Association on the Victorian Basketball Association (VBA).

He showed his forward thinking when he proposed and helped organize the Victorian Championships on a home-and-away competition.

He became a member of the VBA Executive Committee, Vice President and eventually President in 1949. He was VBA President from 1949 to 1962.

A Baptist, Percy coached the North Fitzroy Church of Christ Youth Club teams in the Metro and VBA competitions for 40 years and became responsible for establishing the United Churches Basketball Association.

He was instrumental in extending the Victorian State Championships to a season long competition. He also was a strong advocate of a central two court basketball stadium owned by the VBA.

Foster was replaced as Victorian State President by Jack Carter in 1962. He continued his work in basketball mainly at the junior levels and promoting the game generally for many years.

In 1956 he became the Manager of Australia’s first ever Olympic basketball team at the Melbourne Olympics. His was a difficult task in helping coach Ken Watson to bring the team together from all over Australia and for the one week preparation in Melbourne prior to the Olympics. As President of the VBA he was also involved in the organization and operations of the Olympic Basketball Tournament.

The Australian Team under Foster’s management was Australia’s first ever Olympic Basketball Team. They went on to secure 12th position in the Olympic Tournament.

Percy Foster had a profound effect on Victorian domestic and interstate basketball in his roles with the Metro and Victorian Basketball Associations. His influences and forward thinking laid the foundations for what was to become Australia’s strongest and most influential basketball State.

Percy Foster is a Life Member of Basketball Victoria.

He played a very positive role in the development of Victorian basketball. He became President of the Metropolitan Association in and with colleague Charlie Silver arranged and leased the in for the 1937 State Championships.

After the War, Foster continued his work in Victorian basketball. In 1949 he replaced Allan Hughes as President of Victoria and played a strong role in the development of Victorian basketball.