Legendary coach, Tom Hafey, was well and truly remembered by Shepparton faithful last Saturday at the F.J.Edwards Social Rooms.
More than 100 former players, committee members, ladies committee and present day officials attended the Tom Hafey appreciation luncheon which also honoured Jack Edwards and the ladies committee.
Tommy passed away last month after a short illness at the age of 82 following a life devoted to family, fitness and football, not necessarily in that order.
The tribute was put together by none other than Mr Shepparton Football Club himself, Colin “Scraggs” Scripps, from his home in Adelaide. No disrespect to Jack Edwards who was known as Mr Football in his days at the helm.
Scraggs, who played in Hafey’s 1964 premiership side, has been one of the greatest servants the club has had over the past 50 years and he and wife, Rhonda, were there on Saturday to see the show went off like clockwork.
Former premiership coach and one of the best players to come to the club, Bill Sykes, compared theshow with the assistance of Rod Kilgour who kept the show rolling and several speakers coming. Among the many speakers was Francis Bourke, formerly of Nathalia, who was a member of Tommy’s 1967,’69, ’73,’74 and ‘80 Tigers premiership sides and one of the greatest Tigers ever.
Tom’s wife, Maureen, and nine members of the Hafey family were present, while former ladies committee president, Julie Shiels, who was president from 1977-84, told of the thousands of dollars the ladies raised for the club over the years.
Julie actually stood for president in 1981 and was beaten by one vote for the position “mainly because Jack Edwards didn’t want a woman running his club.”
It was a day to remember for Shepparton past and present supporters, while the players played Rochester for the Terry Keenan Memorial Shield which went back to Rochester.
Scraggs put together a history of the club with a picture of Jack Edwards welcoming Tommy to Shepparton at Waterwheel Press in High St, the printing arm of the Shepparton News, in 1960.
Publicity Officer, Noel Hussey
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 18:36
