South of the Yarra
Premium Platinum
- Jul 23, 2006
- 11,035
- 18,316
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Thought I would share my favourite Collingwood story. I have been following Collingwood for 44 years and Collingwood has been in my family since 1897.
As a youngster I used to go to training every Tuesday and Thursday without fail. Never missed. In those days you could just walk up and down the race and into the rooms any time you liked. As a kid you had free access to the players and the rooms at all times.
There was one particular night in the mid 70s when I was turned back at the inner door to the rooms by a burly doorman. I left pretty upset that I was unable to go to my beloved Pies rooms on training night at Victoria Park. As I walked out of the rooms two elderly men who I had often seen at training asked me what was wrong. I told them and one of the gentlemen picked me up in his arms and carried me down the rooms with the other elderly gentleman holding my shoulder as he walked beside me. The door man for some reason had no hesitation in letting the two old frail men in and I was not even questioned as to what I was doing there. The doorman almost bowed with respect. I was carried from player to player. I couldn't understand why I was treated like a god. It was only later when I left the rooms that my Nanna told me
those two old men who carried me down the rooms were more than just elderly old men who sat in the stands and didn't say a word. One was the immortal Prince of Fullbacks Jack Regan and the other was the legendary Harry Collier. I have never forgotten. I still treasure the autographs I got off them that night.
As a youngster I used to go to training every Tuesday and Thursday without fail. Never missed. In those days you could just walk up and down the race and into the rooms any time you liked. As a kid you had free access to the players and the rooms at all times.
There was one particular night in the mid 70s when I was turned back at the inner door to the rooms by a burly doorman. I left pretty upset that I was unable to go to my beloved Pies rooms on training night at Victoria Park. As I walked out of the rooms two elderly men who I had often seen at training asked me what was wrong. I told them and one of the gentlemen picked me up in his arms and carried me down the rooms with the other elderly gentleman holding my shoulder as he walked beside me. The door man for some reason had no hesitation in letting the two old frail men in and I was not even questioned as to what I was doing there. The doorman almost bowed with respect. I was carried from player to player. I couldn't understand why I was treated like a god. It was only later when I left the rooms that my Nanna told me
those two old men who carried me down the rooms were more than just elderly old men who sat in the stands and didn't say a word. One was the immortal Prince of Fullbacks Jack Regan and the other was the legendary Harry Collier. I have never forgotten. I still treasure the autographs I got off them that night.