WHEN Steve Yappo celebrated 400 A League games with Warriors Football Club recently, his family gathered to honour the special place sport has in their lives.
Suzanne and Diane Yappo and Bev Port-Louis compiled the story of the Yappo family’s passion for sport, which was presented at Steve's Family Night, held on Friday June 26.
Steven James Yappo was born to Albert Yappo and Thelma (Sally) Rose Councillor in Meekatharra on October 3, 1962.
As a baby, Steve was fostered and raised by his loving grandparents Joe and Bella Yappo.
Aunty Bev and uncles Geoff, Richard, Malcolm and Taffy also helped to play an important role in Steve’s life.
Steve grew up in Moora with his brothers, Johnny, Joey, Mervyn, Patrick and sisters Josie, Lynette and Grace, including his cousins, Diane, Susan, Eddy and Mandy.
The Yappo family are very talented athletes, it is in their blood.
In 1879 our great, great grandfather Patrick (Placid) Yappo, made history by playing in the first all Aboriginal cricket team of New Norcia, called The Invincibles, who travelled to and played in England.
Taffy Yappo was an all-rounder, one of the sporting icons of the Yappo family.
Before turning 20 years of age, Taffy had won 42 individual trophies in four sports.
One of his cricket colleagues, Phil Bullock, summed up the personality of Taffy by saying: “You get some idea of the popularity of Taffy when you walk into the members bar at the WACA and everybody you talk to knows him.”
At the age of 15, Taffy played his first reserves game for West Perth Football Club where he was likened to another great Aboriginal footballer, Sydney Jackson.
Taffy was a great role model and an inspiration, especially for Steven.
Steven has often said that his biggest regret was that he and Taffy didn’t get the opportunity to play footy together.
The Yappo boys love playing volleyball, cricket, bowls, darts, basketball and of course, football and also excelled in schools sports.
Geoff was a professional boxer.
The Yappo girls, not to be outdone by the boys, also performed well at school sports, hockey, softball, indoor cricket, darts, volleyball, basketball, netball and this year they are thrilled to have our first female footballer in Darlene ‘Buddy’ Drayton.
The biggest influence in Steven’s life was his mum (Bella Yappo).
She rarely missed any of Steven’s games and was always there for him, especially on Sundays when she would sit on the sideline, barracking and spurring Steven on.
The Yappo children, when growing up, were taught to love sports and always have a go and were often told that it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, as long as you play your best.
Steven has followed this advice, playing with passion and always giving his best.
Choosing football above all other sports, he has dedicating his life for the past 39 years, to the one football club – Warriors.
Steven is a great sportsman. His ability and skills are second to none. He always plays the game hard but fair and with conviction, qualities which are greatly admired by his team mates, friends, family and opponents past and present.
Steven is a great role model, not only to the Noongar boys and his sons, grandson, nephews, younger brothers and extended family members, but to all footballers, including his talented niece Darlene.
Over the years Steven has actively recruited players to the club and is always encouraging boys to join.
On countless occasions when the club has struggled to field teams, Steven stepped up and played both B and A grade games, on the one weekend. He is truly a Warrior.
Steven’s life with the Warriors Football Club started at the age of eight in nippers and in 2009 Steven is still going strong.
He has won numerous awards, medals and premierships throughout his life with Warriors and also represented at association level for more than seven years.
His career with Warriors Football Club
From 1970 to 74 he played nippers, from 1975 to 77 C grade, from 1978 to 2009 B and A grade and he is still going strong.
His achievements include 1987 best position player, 1988 best player in A grade grand final, 1988 A grade fairest and best, 1989 won McMahon medal, 1990 best utility player, 1991 awarded life membership (played over 200 games), 1995 best utility player, 2000 coaches trophy reserves, 2001 most consistent player Reserves, 2003 runner-up fairest and best reserves, 2004 runner-up fairest and best reserves, 2004 committee member, 2004 coaches trophy reserves, 2005 shared the league coaching duties, 2005 committee member, 2006 A grade fairest and best, 2008 inducted into Warriors Football Club Hall of Fame.
Sunday, June 28, 2009 marked the next historical achievement in Steven’s career when he ran out in his beloved blue and gold to play his 400th A grade league game and take his total career games played from nippers through to C grade, B grade to A grade, to well over 650.
Undoubtedly, Steven will become the games record holder, not only for the Warriors Football Club but also the Central Midlands Coastal League.
The day will be even more special for Steven, as he runs out alongside his sons Richard, Les, Courtney, nephews Matthew and Brayden, and fellow team mates for this momentous occasion.
Steven’s youngest son Terrell will run out for nippers, along with niece Darlene, nephews Dwayne, Kyle and the other little players who refer to Steven as uncle.
Special mention to B grade’s Codie Begg, who Steven believes is the next rising star and also nephew Jordan Dunn.
The young footballers have big football boots to fill to be great footballers, to be just like Steven.
Steven’s proud and loving family congratulates him and thank him for all the wonderful memories so far and hope that his old body will hold up for another couple of years, to enable him to run out on the oval alongside his baby son Terrell.
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