Background
Magarey was born in North Adelaide, and educated at Street Peter"s College and the University of Adelaide, from which he graduated in 1884 to become a practising lawyer
Magarey was born in North Adelaide, and educated at Street Peter"s College and the University of Adelaide, from which he graduated in 1884 to become a practising lawyer
He was the first chairman of the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) (later named South Australian National Football League (SANFL)), and a South Australian first-class cricketer, but he is best known for coming up with the idea of the. He then became interested in football administration, and in 1897 was appointed the South Australian Football Association"s inaugural chairman. Magarey, nicknamed "Beautiful Bill", attempted to wipe out much of the rough play from the league by instituting an award which would be given to the fairest and most brilliant player each season.
Despite his contribution to Australian rules football, Magarey excelled most at cricket during his younger years.
He appeared in a first-class cricket match for South Australia vs New South Wales at the Adelaide Oval in December 1890, and he was bowled by Australian Test player Percie Charlton for a duck in his debut innings. He was demoted to number ten in the batting order for the second innings, where he was dismissed by another Test cricketer, Sydney Callaway, for seven.
On 5 March 1910 William Magarey married Gulielma Hack (17 October 1867 – 2 August 1951). They had no children.