Universal Love Down Memory Lane

[Robbo's my hero]

My brother and I used to love standing behind the goals at the Heatley Stand End.
It was there that it really hit home the diverse ethnic backgrounds of Carlton supporters. Really made us feel at home. We used to call it 'The Multicultural Section'.
The Lebos idolized 'The Cranium', the Italians had SOS as their hero, and us Greeks, well Kouta and Ang were it and a bit as far as we were concerned. The only time my father, who didn't give a stuff about footy, would enquire about our games back then was to ask how Kouta and Ang played. And he'd refer to them in their surnames pronounced the Greek way lol.

Can't let you claim Kouta totally. 50% Italian.

 

[Blues177]

Gags used to own the Royston, just over the river, back in the day.

Perhaps the worst memorabilia pub in the universe.

Sometimes Gags used to wear his white singlet, which I recall was Dress Up day.

Brilliant pub but......

Gags also owned, with Percy Jones the Dover hotel on the corner of Lygon & Victoria Sts in the 1970's.

One day a non Carlton final was played at Waverley. Both Gags and Percy wanted to go to the game. Not telling each other their intentions because one of them had to look after the pub they both sneaked out of the pub via separate doorways to go to the footy. During the game a call came over the PA system asking for Percy or Gags to report to the secretary's office. Both were sitting in separate parts of the stadium and neither responded to the call. The call to Waverley staff was from the police who arrived at the pub that was left open and unattended the whole afternoon!

 

[Robbo's my hero]

It was a sad day when the Robert Heatley Stand was reduced to dust. It was a dumb decision. The Elliott/Heroes Stand should have gone to make way for the new facility. We all know what it looked like from the outside. Underneath it was a fascinating place, filled with history and constantly changing. In 1965, it was cavernous. Two spaces dominated. The change room at the City end of the stand and a function room at the opposite end. The function room had the honour boards, the photos of the Premiership teams and the roof just climbed. Carlton at that time had junior teams referred to as 4ths and 5ths. My brother played with the under 15s and in 1966 would play with under 17s. A special meeting was called and Ron Barassi attended to make an announcement. One of his early decisions was announced that night. The 4ths and the 5ths were being scrapped. In future Carlton would be casting a wider net in terms of recruitment and spreading the money towards developing more players. The boys were naturally disappointed. Luckily the parents refused to let the team fade into oblivion and decided to take responsibility for running the teams. As they were young guys, not yet adults, it was decided to change the name to Carlton Colts. An under 13 team was added quickly followed by an under 11 team. I love this tradition of parents volunteering their time so kids can experience the benefits of footy. It's still alive today. For well over a decade the Colts proudly wearing the Carlton jumper played in the Northern Districts Football League. A lot of kids from all over we're given a chance to play footy. I still have positive memories of what it meant to a lot of underprivileged boys from the Carlton area. The great George Stone is an ex Carlton Colt along with Arnie Briedis. My brother played as a dour defender. He still hangs his hat on the day he held Geoff Blethyn goalless. Modesty prevents me from mentioning my playing career with the Carlton Colts.

 

[Tony Lynn 15]

It was a sad day when the Robert Heatley Stand was reduced to dust. It was a dumb decision. The Elliott/Heroes Stand should have gone to make way for the new facility. We all know what it looked like from the outside. Underneath it was a fascinating place, filled with history and constantly changing. In 1965, it was cavernous. Two spaces dominated. The change room at the City end of the stand and a function room at the opposite end. The function room had the honour boards, the photos of the Premiership teams and the roof just climbed. Carlton at that time had junior teams referred to as 4ths and 5ths. My brother played with the under 15s and in 1966 would play with under 17s. A special meeting was called and Ron Barassi attended to make an announcement. One of his early decisions was announced that night. The 4ths and the 5ths were being scrapped. In future Carlton would be casting a wider net in terms of recruitment and spreading the money towards developing more players. The boys were naturally disappointed. Luckily the parents refused to let the team fade into oblivion and decided to take responsibility for running the teams. As they were young guys, not yet adults, it was decided to change the name to Carlton Colts. An under 13 team was added quickly followed by an under 11 team. I love this tradition of parents volunteering their time so kids can experience the benefits of footy. It's still alive today. For well over a decade the Colts proudly wearing the Carlton jumper played in the Northern Districts Football League. A lot of kids from all over we're given a chance to play footy. I still have positive memories of what it meant to a lot of underprivileged boys from the Carlton area. The great George Stone is an ex Carlton Colt along with Arnie Briedis. My brother played as a dour defender. He still hangs his hat on the day he held Geoff Blethyn goalless. Modesty prevents me from mentioning my playing career with the Carlton Colts.

As always Robbo, awesome!

My old man played 4th's and a couple of under 19's games. Back then it meant a lot and he was damn proud of it. You wanted to and often could play for the team you barracked for unlike now.

 

[thylacine60]

Rmh, a laydown misere for Best First Year Poster I'm tipping. Not bad in a 6 year career.

 

[mediumsizered]

Rmh, a laydown misere for Best First Year Poster I'm tipping. Not bad in a 6 year career.

Just like Michael Tuck, Rmh has taken a while to crack a senior gig on BF.

 

[thylacine60]

Can't have spent 5 years in The Blue Room, surely? And I'll call you whatever I want.

 

[Tony Lynn 15]

This thread...sad but true....

 

[HBF]

When you read stories about the good old days at Princes Park, it really does hit home how much I miss going out there to watch us play. Probably part of the reason why I like going out there in Summer to watch the boys train - still to feel part of the great old ground.

 

[AlecDuncan]

Did anyone here know The Ghosts of Princes Park tour was on tonight? I only know because people are tweeting about it.

 

[Bring on Vinnie]

Did anyone here know The Ghosts of Princes Park tour was on tonight? I only know because people are tweeting about it.

Yes, was fortunate enough to be there tonight. Something not to be missed for all lovers of the Navy Blue and posters in this thread in particular. Despite the rain you couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces. Reminiscing about the old stands, the old presidents, the 30.30, the big hits and the final farewell. I won't spoil it for you by giving away the detail but a great night to be shared with friends and family of Carlton.

Well done to Luca and Tony. It's events like these that bring supporters closer to the club and there's more to come. Do yourself a favour and get along. Good to see young Dylan Bucks in the crowd tonight as well!

 

[AlecDuncan]

It's events like these that bring supporters closer to the club and there's more to come. Do yourself a favour and get along. Good to see young Dylan Bucks in the crowd tonight as well!

I will, if I know when it is! Where are they advertising times?

 

[Bring on Vinnie]

I will, if I know when it is! Where are they advertising times?

Tonight was a launch and I believe they'll be kicking off in about two weeks. Possibly waiting for warmer evenings as most of the tour is spent on the oval.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

When was the first year Carlton wore the VFL logo as a branding???

 

[Franc de Borges]

I think it was 1976 or '77.

 

[Robbo's my hero]

I think it was 1976 or '77.

1976 is the correct answer. I had a look at North's 1975 premiership photo and no logo on jumper. No advertising at all. Just the colours of the club. I miss it

 

[Stig O'Hara]

1976 is the correct answer. I had a look at North's 1975 premiership photo and no logo on jumper. No advertising at all. Just the colours of the club. I miss it

Indeed, Colour telly in Australia was '75, Footscray & Melbourne decided to look awful that year.

When it went to colour Telly, everyone lost their minds.

Bombers used to wear red shorts, pretty sure at one stage my Royboys wore yella.

Can remember for a fortnight, Royce and the gang wore yellow shorts for away games.

 

[Franc de Borges]

Indeed, Colour telly in Australia was '75, Footscray & Melbourne decided to look awful that year.

When it went to colour Telly, everyone lost their minds.

Bombers used to wear red shorts, pretty sure at one stage my Royboys wore yella.

Can remember for a fortnight, Royce and the gang wore yellow shorts for away games.

You were a Fitzroy fan?

 

[Magruder]

I was at Stamford Bridge in 1975 watching Chelsea play Sunderland. The atmosphere was great but not the result. The lads lost. I had to wait about a month before I saw Sunderland win. At Roker Park against Plymouth Argyle. I was fascinated by the pre-match chanting and was there with my brother-in-law's brother, who in his thick Geordie accent, was explaining to me the various rituals. At one stage I noticed a bit of movement in the crowd, a bit of a fight had erupted, and was reliably informed that the Plymouth supporters had arrived

Without being a prat. If he's from Sunderland, wouldn't he be a maccam?

 

[Bluesince62]

Where was everyone when Buzz took the mark of the year in the goal square ? I was at that end of the social club stand with a close-up view. One of my all-time favourite Carlton moments along with his steal at Waverley. 1981 what a great year.

 

[Robbo's my hero]

Without being a prat. If he's from Sunderland, wouldn't he be a maccam?

I remember when I arrived in Sunderland, provided the address South Hylton, and the taxi driver said "top of the bunk or the bottom of the bunk". I'm thinking to myself, why's he talking about beds. I twigged after a second or so. Translation; he was using a topographical term. Bunk was bank and he was saying top of the hill or the bottom of the hill

 

[Stig O'Hara]

You were a Fitzroy fan?

Soap and water.

.......played a couple of years of U/19s with them.

 

[Robbo's my hero]

At the other end of the Heatley, the change rooms. When I first wandered in there it was an open space with the lockers along the wall nearest the park. Naturally, navy blue, with numbers and names. As an 11 year old I was awe struck. At 14, the u19 coach, Bill Hoogan, invited me to have a training run. I jumped at it and trained with the boys for a couple of months. I remember Curly Austin was there and making his way to the seniors. As a very skinny 16 year old, I was invited on a permanent basis. At this stage, the locker room was enclosed. Another room I was familiar with was the physio's room. I remember being in there getting treatment on an ankle. Me on one table, Mike Fitzpatrick on the other. It must have been a hammy. He was reading 'The Age', what else! I suspect it was the Finance Section. The showers and baths were huge, the hot water worked and you didn't have to fight for a shower. We trained on the ground outside, no. 2 oval but often shared the rooms with the senior boys. Pranks were common. Having a nice hot shower could be interrupted by a bucket of cold water, Jezza , a loud explosion courtesy of a penny bunger and Percy Jones was laughing his head off , you had to act cool but there was Big Nick, Doully, Wallsy etc. Change rooms for me were always a special place. Match days, training days it didn't matter. That I was lucky enough to share some time with my heroes still makes me smile. In 1975, due to problems with the coach, I left and joined North Melbourne and mixed with a few of their champs in their first premiership year. It's funny but I don't remember a great deal about that experience. I suppose, as the adage goes, you could take the Blue Boy out of Carlton but you couldn't take Carlton out of the Blue Boy

 

[mediumsizered]

Where was everyone when Buzz took the mark of the year in the goal square ? I was at that end of the social club stand with a close-up view. One of my all-time favourite Carlton moments along with his steal at Waverley. 1981 what a great year.

Standing on the wing, in front of what was then the Hawthorn Stand (where I always stood at Princes Park). It was an amazing mark & the crowd were buzzing (no pun intended) for several minutes afterwards. The only disappointment was having to wait until I got home to see it again on The Big Replay & then The Winners, whose initial commentary of the mark called it as McConville & then at the end of the program, when showing the Mark of the Day, had dubbed the commentary to pronounce Bosustow as taking the mark.

 

[Blues177]

1976 is the correct answer. I had a look at North's 1975 premiership photo and no logo on jumper. No advertising at all. Just the colours of the club. I miss it

Indeed, Colour telly in Australia was '75, Footscray & Melbourne decided to look awful that year.

When it went to colour Telly, everyone lost their minds.

Bombers used to wear red shorts, pretty sure at one stage my Royboys wore yella.

Can remember for a fortnight, Royce and the gang wore yellow shorts for away games.

1974 was the season when footy began to look different, at the game or watching it on TV. It was still black & white on TV and no logos on jumpers but that year was the first time advertising boards were placed all around the boundary line fence.
In prior years advertising was more limited to some positions , for example at Princes Park we had the Olympic tyres sign on top of the scoreboard that was located at the eastern end.