NOTABLE FOOTSCRAY FANS

These people are Footscray fans or believed to be. Should one of these be an impostor or you believe someone who warrants inclusion in this list has been left out, please let FNWB know.

IAN BAKER	ROSS BRUNDRETT
Politics State ALP MP	Media Herald Sun journalist
JOHN CALDOW	NOEL CALLOW
Harness Racing Driver	Jockey
PENNY CRISP	LISA CRITTENDEN
Media	Actor Maxine Daniels from Prisoner
ALISON DURBAN	ROBERT FORDHAM
Singer	Politics State ALP MP and former Deputy Premier
RUSSELL GILBERT	JASON GILLESPIE
Entertainment Industry	Cricket Fast Bowler
DES GLEESON	BOB HALVERSON
Racing Chief Steward of Racing Victoria	Politics Federal Liberal MP Speaker of the House of Reps
MERV HUGHES	JOHN KERIN
Cricket Fast Bowler	Politics NSW Federal ALP and former Deputy Prime Minister
LYNN KOSKY	TONY LEONARD
Politics tate ALP MP	Media Radio 3AW
DAN LONERGAN	WILLIAM MC INNES
Media Radio 3LO	Actor Blue Heelers Sgt Nicholas Schultz
GERARD MAGUIRE	IAN MAJOR
Actor Prisoner Jim Fletcher	Media Caller with Jack Dyer on 3KZ
COLLETTE MANN	BRIAN MIER
Actor Prisoner Doreen Burns	Politics State ALP MP
BRUCE MILDENHALL	MUTIAH MURALITHARAN
Politics State ALP MP	Cricket Spin Bowler
SIR GUSTAV NOSSAL	CRAIG PARRY
Medicine	Golfer
JILL PAGNOCCOLO	ERNIE SIGLEY
Media Radio DJ	Media Radio 3AW
JESSE SPENCER	MARK STEVENS
Actor Neighbours Billy Kennedy	Media Print Herald Sun
MICHAEL STEVENS	GARY TIPPETT
Media Herald Sun	Media The Age

Special Mention - Bullet Bill: Sale of the Century

This chap was a contestant on Sale of the Century back in the early 1980’s. His name was Bill and Tony Barber the host at that time nicknamed him Bullet Bill. A very intelligent man was Bill and super quick thus the nickname Tony Barber gave him.

He was progressing along to the Mercedes but one step before, was the prize of $10,000. At this point Tony Barber gave him the option of taking the $10,000 or continuing on. His comment stunned everyone- it was something like

“I’ll take the $10,000 .I need that money desperately”

This stunned Tony Barber and probably everyone else. He would surely have won the car and then the showcase if he had of kept going. These people are identified as being or having been Footscray fans. Obviously some are keener than others it would be reasonable to suggest that John Kerin, Jason Gillespie and Muralitharan would not be as devoted as say Tony Leonard or Ross Brundrett. John Kerin was basically presented with a Guernsey some years ago at a photo call and can Muralitharan be seriously considered as one of the flock?

Famous fans are only a small component of a supporter base. Footscray supporters are all important whether they are well known or not. Possibly my favourite fan was a chap named Ray who was an inhabitant of the John Gent Stand back in the 1970’s. I know his name was Ray because my father’s mate Noel went to the same primary school as he did- Yarraville East State School. Ray would sit in the JG Stand with what I assume were his children. They were all like Christmas trees decorated to the max with beanies, scarves, badges etc all covering their clothing and these young children would be in their 30’s now.

What fascinated me about Ray was his booming voice that people could hear for miles. Those standing in front of the John Gent Stand to the right of the opposition players race before the 1980 season were always turning around to look for this bloke who’s voice they could all hear so well. From the 1980 season onwards reserved seating replaced the standing area to the right of the away team race (sadly in my opinion as it impacted on the atmosphere) so those now sitting in front of that section of the JG Stand would stand up to search for Ray, the bloke they could hear but possibly not see

Ray was a bearded gentleman always yelling ‘Come on Scray’ which he would say slowly yet extremely loudly with the emphasis on the scray part. Some of his other statements “You’ve got em shell shocked” or “It’s right through the high diddle diddle” and as a seven and eight year old this bearded bloke with the booming voice left a huge impression on me.

At the home game against Essendon of 1977, Ian ‘Mocca’ Dunstan cleaned up Paul Van Der Haar of Essendon and Ray was right into congratulating Dunstan.

“Well done Mocca he needs to be taught a lesson” Everyone who ever sat in the John Gent Stand in the late 1970’s would know of this very great man indeed. You could not have missed him. You definitely heard him.

I remember another bloke who would sit in the JG Stand and although in a different section to the great man Ray. I don’t know this chap’s name but like Ray he was bearded. He would sit in front of the old media area where as Ray’s usual abode was closer to the front of the social club. This was prior to 1984 when the John Gent Stand changed markedly to make way for the new press area. Anyway this fella would show his disapproval flamboyantly and often stood up to turn around and angrily remonstrate with Royce Hart who was sitting in the coaches box behind him. Others would do this too but not as frequently as this bearded gentleman. His greatest moment occurred in the 1982 clash with North Melbourne. This game was to be Royce Hart’s last match in charge as he was sacked next week, following Tommy Hafey who had also been dismissed a few days earlier by his then club Collingwood.

We are receiving a hiding and making some ludicrous mistakes. The same day at the then named Princes Park is the game of the day between the two unbeaten sides Carlton and Richmond. These two clubs will later on play off in the 1982 Grand Final. There was one clanger too many for our bearded friend so he stood up turned around aimed his finger at our coach behind him and with everyone around watching he delivered this insult to Royce Hart.

‘YOUR UP THERE LISTENING TO RICHMOND!’

Just thinking about all this now makes me realise how much I miss playing at home. The Docklands is a fine stadium you don’t get wet and there is the train station nearby (unlike Optus Oval) and I can begrudgingly accept that we need to play there now and not at the Whitten Oval. All others save Geelong have left their suburban ground and this is the final season for Optus Oval. Leaving home is now an accepted part of AFL football these days. However I am still waiting for all these other clubs to change their name?

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