Les "Soapy' Tillet
A Tiger Champion — On the Field and Through the Years
Premiership Player | Captain-Coach | Club Fairest & Best | BCFC All Star
Every football club has players whose names remain part of its history long after the final siren. For Boulder City Football Club, Les “Soapy” Tillett is one of those men. A premiership player, club champion, captain and coach, Soapy was a respected figure in the Black and Gold during the late 1950s and early 1960s. His football journey included premiership glory, individual honours and the responsibility of leading the Tigers through seasons when success proved harder to find. And decades later, his contribution would be recognised among the finest players in Boulder City's history.
From Premiership Glory to Club Leadership
In 1959, Soapy was a member of Boulder's League Premiership team, experiencing the ultimate reward in club football. Two years later, in 1961, he claimed the club's League Fairest & Best award, recognition of his outstanding contribution on the field. By 1962, Soapy had taken on the demanding role of captain-coach, combining his playing responsibilities with the challenge of leading the team.
The following season, he again captained the Tigers, guiding Boulder into the 1963 League Grand Final. Although the premiership eluded them, Soapy's leadership during those years became an important part of the club's story. The early 1960s were not among Boulder's most successful premiership periods, but they produced footballers whose commitment and ability would be remembered long after their playing careers ended.
Soapy was certainly one of them. An All Star at Centre Half Back Perhaps the greatest recognition of Soapy's football standing came with his selection in the Boulder City Football Club All Star Team.
Chosen at Centre Half Back, he earned his place among some of the most accomplished players ever to represent the Tigers.
It was a fitting tribute to a footballer who had experienced premiership success, won the club's highest individual playing honour and accepted the responsibilities of captaincy and coaching. His selection ensured that the name Les “Soapy” Tillett would remain firmly embedded in the club's football history.
Tiger Treasures — The Soapy Tillett Collection
Football history is not preserved through match results alone. Sometimes the most meaningful stories are found in the treasured possessions players keep long after their playing days. Soapy's remarkable collection of memorabilia provides a wonderful connection to the Boulder Tigers of another era.
Among the surviving items is an illustrated Boulder City Football Club Corps of Centurions certificate, dated 15 April 1961, recognising his achievement of reaching 100 games for the club. The certificate is accompanied by engraved presentation cups, a personalised Tiger display and an impressive collection of historic Boulder football badges. A traditional black-and-gold Boulder pennant, decorated with badges from different periods, adds another fascinating piece to the collection. These are more than football souvenirs. They represent achievement, recognition, friendships and a lifelong attachment to the Tigers.
Preserved across the decades, they now form a valuable part of the club's growing Digital Museum.
The Friendships That Never Fade One of the enduring pleasures of football is the friendships that survive long after the players have hung up their boots.
A photograph from the Boulder Tigers Perth Reunion captures three familiar football identities together: Stephen Michael, Allen “Radar” Phillips and Les “Soapy” Tillet. Three men connected through football, shared memories and the traditions of the Black and Gold. It is a reminder that the Boulder story extends well beyond the football oval.
In 2025, Soapy celebrated his 90th birthday, with reports at the time that he remained in good health and spirits.
A wonderful milestone for one of the club's respected old champions.
Career Highlights
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1959 — Boulder City League Premiership Player
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1961 — BCFC League Fairest & Best
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1961 — Recognised by the Corps of Centurions for 100 games
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1962 — Boulder City Captain-Coach
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1963 — Boulder City League Captain and Grand Finalist
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BCFC All Star Team — Selected at Centre Half Back
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2025 — Celebrated his 90th birthday
Forever Part of the Tiger Story
Not every great footballer is remembered simply for the number of premierships he won. Some are remembered for their leadership, their loyalty and the standard they maintained when the going became difficult.
Les “Soapy” Tillett experienced both sides of football — the excitement of premiership success and the responsibility of leading his club through challenging seasons. His selection in the Boulder City All Star Team stands as lasting recognition of his ability. And the remarkable collection of memorabilia preserved in his name provides another connection between the Tigers of yesterday and the generations of tomorrow.
A premiership player. A club champion. A captain-coach. An All Star.
Les “Soapy” Tillett — Forever a Tiger.
A Tiger Beyond the Boundary
When his playing days ended, Radar's association with Boulder did not. He continued contributing as a committee man, remaining connected to the club and the people who had shared those earlier football years.
Like so many volunteers from his generation, his contribution cannot be measured simply by games played or awards won. Clubs survive because people continue to give their time, maintain friendships and keep the spirit alive long after their last match. Radar was one of those people.
From Boulder to Gwelup
The years have passed, and life has taken Radar from Boulder to Gwelup. Yet the connection remains.
At 91, his memories provide a window into a football world that has changed enormously — a world of hard grounds, tough opponents, close-knit families and characters whose stories deserve to be preserved. There is something especially valuable about hearing that history from the people who lived it. Radar does not need to embellish his memories. His humour, honesty and affection for his old teammates tell their own story.
The Legacy of Allen “Radar” Phillips Every football club has its premiership heroes, champion players and famous victories. But its history also belongs to those who helped establish its character. Allen “Radar” Phillips was a talented and versatile footballer, a Goldfields representative, an All Star selection and a committed club man. More importantly, he belongs to a generation whose loyalty and friendships helped shape the Boulder City Football Club we know today.
A Tiger at 17.
A Tiger at 91.
A Champion Honoured
In 2021, Ted's standing within Goldfields football was recognised when he performed the ceremonial coin toss at the GFL Grand Final. It was a fitting acknowledgement of a man whose contribution had helped shape the competition over many decades. An even greater honour followed in 2026. Ted Robinson was inducted into the Goldfields Sporting Hall of Fame, recognising a lifetime of outstanding sporting achievement and service. The occasion was made particularly special by the presence of his brother Percy. As Ted addressed those gathered, the familiar presence and determination that had characterised his football years were still evident.
The applause was not simply for a champion footballer. It was for a leader, a brother, a teammate, a mentor and a man whose influence had touched so many lives.
Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger
Ted Robinson's football journey carried him through different clubs, competitions and sporting pursuits. He collected medals, coached premierships, represented his abilities at WAFL level and earned recognition among the great sporting figures of the Goldfields. Yet the foundations of that remarkable journey were laid in Boulder. In the backyard with his twin brother Jack. On the cold evening rides home from junior training. Under the guidance of Jack McNally. And in the black and gold jumper of the Boulder City Football Club.
His story reminds us that a football club's history is about much more than premiership flags and honour boards. It is about the people who wore the jumper, the values they carried and the example they left for those who followed. Ted “Punter” Robinson was a champion of his era — and a man whose legacy extends well beyond it.
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A Tiger at heart.
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A leader among men.
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And a name that will forever hold a special place in the history of Goldfields football.
