This is a letter I received from Ian Bennett (of The Local Footy Show on Channel 31), who has unearthed remarkable film of the 1948 Brighton semi-final, preliminary final, and grand final. If you have any stories about this team or it’s players we would love to hear them. To find out more about the reunion on Saturday (March 26) you can ring Ian Bennett on 0411 513071 or go to The Local Footy Show’s article at http://www.localfootyshow.com.au/pageitem.aspx?id=34484&id2=1&eID=30812&entityID=
G’day John,
Wondering if you were still in Canberra or back in Melbourne town.
If you are in Melbourne we would like to invite you along to a reunion that we have organized to celebrate Brighton Football Club’s only premiership in the VFA.
We received some very good video footage “in colour” of the 1948 VFA finals series which we have shown on The Local Footy Show and will give a good airing at the reunion.
Brighton committeeman Wally Bail (great uncle to Melbourne player Rohan Bail) took the footage of the first Semi Vs Northcote, the Prelim Vs Brunswick and the Grand Final Vs Williamstown.
In that Grand Final side playing in the ruck is Alan Stretton (The Major General that had control of Darwin after cyclone Tracy) who lives in Canberra and Batemans Bay and a really nice man.
We have tracked down six of the players from all around Australia (all in their 80s) for a reunion next Saturday and it should be a terrific get together for these old guys. On the phone they are all with it, and have story after story to tell. Hope they can rekindle old times next Saturday.
Mr Bob McAsey
Yandina Creek
Qld 4561
Mr Tom New
Rye
VIC 3941
Mr W Pinder
Wodonga
VIC 3690
Mr Geoff Turner
Colac
VIC 3250
Mr Keith Warburton
Tatura
VIC 3616
Alan Stretton
Canberra ACT
I know that you are interested in older players (VFL) that played league footy so thought you might be interested in this reunion.
Cheer
Benny
About John Harms
JTH is a writer, publisher, speaker, historian. He is publisher and contributing editor of The Footy Almanac and footyalmanac.com.au. He has written columns and features for numerous publications. His books include Confessions of a Thirteenth Man, Memoirs of a Mug Punter, Loose Men Everywhere, Play On, The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story and Life As I Know It (with Michelle Payne). He appears (appeared?) on ABCTV's Offsiders. He can be contacted [email protected] He is married to The Handicapper and has three school-age kids - Theo, Anna, Evie. He might not be the worst putter in the world but he's in the worst four. His ambition was to lunch for Australia but it clashed with his other ambition - to shoot his age.
One of the more interesting team nicknames. Go the Penguins!
does any one know the clubs theme song back in 1948
Hello John, I have a number of photos/articles on the Brighton F.C. and others around the same time(1948 and earlier if you would like copies. Regards Ross McCulloch
Just listened to the interview of Alan Stretton on the Coodabeens. Terrific. Any chance of posting the 1948 video to Youtube?
As a supporter of the Penguins I remember they used to play Tiger Rag on the public address system at Elsternwick Park when Brighton hit the front in a game.
Great memories.