Root was born in Alexandria, New South Wales[3] on 26 June 1902.[1] The South Sydney Sentinel reported, contemporaneous to his playing career, that Root's age was uncertain, likely owing to his underage military enlistment during World War I.[3][b]
Root enlisted to serve with the Australian Imperial Force on 31 March 1917, then aged 14 years and nine months.[2] The South Sydney Sentinel states that Root "served at the front"[3] and the Brisbane Courier claimed he wore a returned serviceman's medal.[1] However, according to Rugby League Project, military records show that Root was discharged in April 1917 when it was discovered he was underage.[2]
It has been claimed that Root holds the distinction of being the last representative footballer to go to the Great War.[4]
Playing career
A South Sydney junior, Root started playing first grade for Souths in 1923, becoming a mainstay in the side in 1926. That year he first tasted premiership success with Souths, who also won the following two years' competitions. He was sent off in the 1926 decider against University. He made his representative debut for New South Wales in 1927 and was regularly selected for the Blues over the next six seasons.[5] He was selected to go on the 1929–30 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, playing in fifteen tour matches but no Tests.[6] When the NSWRL changed the South Sydney/Newtown boundary distinction in 1930 Root spent the following season with Newtown due to the strict residential criteria of the time. He then returned to Souths and played in the back-to-back premiership-winning Souths sides of 1931 and 1932.
In 1935 he was signed by St. George and scored two tries in the record-breaking 91–6 win over competition newcomers Canterbury-Bankstown before later becoming the club's captain-coach. He played with Saints for two seasons before retiring.[7] His son, Stan Root was also a St. George Dragons player between 1941 and 1950.
^The South Sydney Sentinel erroneously reported that Root was born on 20 June 1902.[3]
References
^ abcde"To Seek Ashes: Australia's Team". Brisbane Courier. 3 July 1929. p. 8 – via Trove. Edward Alexander Root, of South Sydney, says he is 27 years of age, and yet he wears a Returned Soldier's medal. He must have enlisted when he was very young, for the war has been over 11 years now. Root is a fine rugged forward, and does some great work where honest scrummaging is needed. He stands 5ft. 10½in., weighs 12st. 12lb., is a storeman, and was born in Sydney on June 26, 1902.
