Brian Cunningham (footballer)


Brian 'Bucky' Cunningham is a former Australian Rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League, playing for Port Adelaide. Cunningham was later CEO of Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL.
Making his league debut in 1971, Cunningham played as a rover and small forward throughout his career. In 1979 Cunningham was appointed captain of the Magpies, and captained the club until 1982. Port won 3 premierships in Cunningham's four years as captain. Cunningham retired at the end of the 1983 season, having played 256 games for Port and 6 games representing South Australia.
Cunningham was appointed CEO of the Port Adelaide Football Club in 1992 and was part of the club's successful bid to join the AFL. The Magpies maintained a team in the SANFL. Port Adelaide's first AFL season was 1997. Cunningham remained the Port Adelaide Football Club's CEO in the AFL until his retirement following The Power's first AFL premiership in 2004.
In 2005, Cunningham was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Between his playing and CEO days, Cunningham worked as a high-school teacher. He was appointed Chief Executive of the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology in South Australia in 2005.