Ken Boots
After finishing on the bottom of the ladder in 1950, Avoca was determined to recruit a top footballer as coach.
They appointed Ken Boots, who had coached Traralgon in the Central Gippsland League for the previous two years.
Twenty eight year old Boots had previously been a star player with Glenelg, South Australia`s best football competition.
He was paid 170 pounds, and employed by the local textile Arts Company in its plastics factory.
Ken, who was a brilliant centre man, quickly reaped dividends.
Besides lifting the team into the four, he was voted the best player and polled in every game to finish with 16 votes in the league award.
He also won the best player award the following year.
Again the team finished in the four, but lost the first semi final by 57 points to Moonambel.
Although Ken relinquished the coaching position to Jock McDougall in 1953, he was persuaded to remain as a player.
For most of the premiership season he played at centre half forward, which allowed another brilliant footballer, Bert Cullen, to take over in the centre.
Ken performed best under pressure, and certainly rose to the occasion in the 1953 Grand Final, where he was instrumental in steering Avoca to an historic eight point victory.
Many who saw him play maintain Ken Boots was one of the best footballers ever recruited by the club.
