Border Mail |
FOOTBALL has changed a lot since the 1950s, but it seems some habits die hard. Boys will be boys, especially when it comes to footy trips.
As Saturday’s clash between the Ovens and Murray and Hampden leagues fast approaches, a handful of stars from Wangaratta’s era of dominance were on deck to help reminisce the Pies’ glory years when they won four premierships in a row from 1949 to 1952.
Kevin Allan, Ray Warford, Col Sturgern and Jack McCormick were part of a group that took up a challenge from Wimmera league heavyweight Ararat in 1951 to represent the Ovens and Murray as the premier team that year.
But that wasn’t the only challenge issued in one of the league’s first recorded representative games.
“We ended up having about 500 pounds on the game,” Allan said.
“It was a lot of money.
“There were about 600 people from Wangaratta made the journey and once we’d settled into town and had a look around, we went to dinner.
“As it turns out, the Ararat Football Club’s headquarters was across the road and a message came across asking if we were game enough to back ourselves.
“We had a few rather big punters on our team and they were all trying to do out-do each other.”
Thankfully, the Pies won.
But things weren’t always looking so good.
Wangaratta trailed badly at half-time and it took a miraculous second half comeback to get Mac Holten’s men over the line.
“We ended up winning by four or five goals,” Allan said.
“I’m not sure how much we ended up winning from the game but I do know it was the only trip I ever went on where I came back with more money than I went with.
“It was quite a big night after the game.
“There was so much shouting done that you didn’t need any money for the beer, just a thirst.”
Wangaratta, meanwhile, is inviting all past Ovens and Murray representatives to join the club at Norm Minns Oval on Saturday.
The Pies are holding a casual function from just after midday on Saturday in the lead-up to the representative clash.
It’s free and anybody involved at representative level over the years is invited to attend.
