Memorable Moments in Local Sport: North-Central Football

(By Frank O’Shea, Donald)
Having read through Kevin Darcy’s moments in sport, I am sure it was another memorable moment that escaped his mind, so my little reminder will help. Please read on.

During the 1960s, I offered to manage the North-Central Schoolboys’ team in the annual Schoolboys’ championship carnival, held in Melbourne, during the mid-year school holidays.

It would appear that a school teacher could not be found to do the job.

North-Central jumpers were allowed to be used, and I was able to collect them from Allan Hillier, who ran a dry cleaning business in Charlton, and was also the president of the Charlton Football Club.

I was told that the jumpers had been cleaned and were ready to go.

Information given to me was that our players and officials had to make their own accommodation and travel arrangements.

My only assistants were time keeper, David Doueal, and Lindsay Broughton, from Donald, who became my medico, goal umpire and selector.

I was fortunately able to include four players from the Mallee league.

Lindsay and I were able to find accommodation at the Carlton Hotel, in Bourke Street, in the heart of the city.

Surprises
Our first task was to allocate the jumpers, for size and so on. That was the first of several surprises.

On opening the jumper case, the smell was enough to make you ill. The jumpers had not been cleaned since last used, and it was clear it had been raining.

It was fortunate that my last police station in Melbourne was at 43 Little Bourke Street, and I knew the operator of Spotless Dry Cleaners, in Bourke Street.

We needed a rush job and were told, “no problem”, but  would need to come back in an hour.

Lindsay and I made sure we were back within the hour. I knew as soon as the manager came out that he had bad news.

“Sorry, mate, I can’t help you. As soon as I opened the case I could see the numbers were made of plastic and not cloth, and the solvent used in dry cleaning would destroy them.”

Again, time spent at 43 Little Bourke Street came in handy. Right opposite was Gordon House, a boarding home for men, and luckily I knew one of the men in charge. I also knew that the inhabitants had a large washing machine.

Some of the occupants were only too happy to help, and a few biscuits and a pot of coffee helped our cause.

Drying jumpers was the easiest of jobs, although it took a fair amount of the evening.

I kept saying to “Brought”: “What do you think the boys back home would be saying if they could see us now, with a room full of footy jumpers covering every stick of furniture?”

He replied: “We can’t send them out tomorrow feeling uncomfortable.”

There were teams from the Hampden, Western Border and Wimmera leagues, and North-Central played Western Border at North Melbourne Oval.

Too Small
Overall, we were far too small, but our biggest problem was our full-back, Kevin Sleep. What a great help he was.

Lindsay, apart from being goal umpire, was called upon as medico. He knew there was something amiss with our full-back, but he still kept on defending. When the opportunity came, he walked over to Lindsay and asked: “What will I do with this,” as he held out his arm.

“Brought’s” immediate reaction was, “You can’t play with your hand like that (the webbing was split between the first and second fingers, right to the bone, and he had lost a lot of blood.

Thank goodness for Lindsay Broughton. And thankfully everything turned out OK.

Whilst in Melbourne, we were the guests of the Richmond Football Club, North-Central being in the Tigers’ country zone.

We attended training, where we were introduced to many of the players and officials. One of the stars was Billy Barrot, and as he walked past, he was introduced to our boys.

Ignored
Barrot walked straight past and made no indication that we were present.

This rude attitude did not go unnoticed. 

We then watched training from the grandstand. Tom Hafey started training, called Hafey’s Mad Ball. As soon as a player touched the ball and before he got rid of it, he was cleaned up by the closest player. I’m sure every time Barrot got the ball, he was crunched, much to the enjoyment of our boys.

On Saturday morning, we returned to Punt Road to play the Hampden League, which consisted of 12 six footers, and we had none.
At three-quarter time, we were down 12 goals to none, and as I walked to the team huddle, I recognised the umpire, John Hayes, who had officiated at Donald the previous Saturday.

We recognised each other and John asked how I was going.

I said, “Considering the state of the game, I could be better. We don’t look like scoring.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” was John’s reply.

From the centre bounce, we were paid a free kick, then another, and finally another, right in the goal square.

I thought surely we will get a goal out of this. Unfortunately only a point resulted — and the culprit was Kevin Darcy.

And unfortunately, no second prize from John Hayes.

Another "moment" from Frank O'Shea: Blasts from Football's Past

Submit Your “Memorable Moment”

If you have a memorable moment in local sport, please share it with our readers. 
Contributions can be emailed to buloket@iinet.net.au
If attaching a photograph, please provide identification details.