The Port Adelaide Football Club mourns the passing of premiership player and club life member Ian Hannaford who passed away yesterday at the age of 82.

Hannaford was a key forward and ruckman representing Port Adelaide in 123 games from 1958 to 1964, kicking 108 goals.

Hannaford won a premiership with Port Adelaide in 1958 as an 18-year old, the club’s fifth premiership in a row during the golden era of the 1950s.

 He also played in the club’s back-to-back flags in 1962 and 1963 and represented South Australia on 17 occasions.

Hannaford retired prematurely in 1964 as a 24-year old to focus on his career as an architect. He designed the historic Victor Richardson gates at Adelaide Oval, which still remain at the redeveloped ground today.

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson says Hannaford’s passing was a sad day for Port Adelaide.

“The Port Adelaide Football Club extends its heartfelt condolences to son Nicholas, daughter Rachel, grandchildren Darcy, Oliver and Jesse, stepchildren Sam, Digby and Fiona and the entire Hannaford family during this time,” Mr Richardson said.

“Ian was a remarkable person. He had equal doses of brilliance both on and off the field. On the field, he was a powerful, athletic forward that burst onto the scene as an 18-year old and went on to win three premierships at Port Adelaide and represent South Australia 17 times by the time he retired at the age of 24. An incredible achievement for someone so young, especially in that era of football.

“Ian played a pivotal role in the Port Adelaide side through the golden era of the late 1950s and early 1960s that has created such a great legacy for our club today.

“Upon his early retirement, Ian focussed on his career becoming one of the preeminent architects in South Australia designing a number of landmarks around Adelaide, most notably the Victor Richardson gates at Adelaide Oval.

“Despite his success, Ian was humble and understated in his demeanour, articulate and passionate.”

Port Adelaide legend Geof Motley, a teammate of Hannaford across his entire career, described him as an exceptional player and a fiercely loyal and passionate teammate.

“Ian wasn’t a good player,” Motley recalled, “he was a great player”.

“Ian was the complete player, and I mean complete. He had great hands, could fly for a mark, could kick the ball a country mile and was a magnificent athlete.

“Ian played both centre-half-forward and ruck. He was just such a versatile big man.

“And yet he didn’t reach his peak as a player. If Ian didn’t retire as a 24-year old we’d still be talking about him today as of Port Adelaide’s greatest players of all time.”

Motley also recalled a man with incredible intellect.

“Ian was one of the most intelligent people you could ever meet,” Motley said.

“He was a gifted architect recognised nationally for some of his remarkable designs in Adelaide, especially landmark buildings in North Adelaide.

“But beyond his athleticism and intellect was a most humble, loyal and passionate person. Ian was as good a mate as I’ve had in my whole life.”