Email from Ken Sims - First Game player 1959By Ken Sims
Hi there Paddy,
I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to you personally and the 50th year committee for the warmth shown to me upon my return to the club for last Saturdays reunion.
It is so difficult for me to single out officials of the Club but I must make special mention of one bloke and that is Russell Walsh who looked after me, as I was some sort of a Jesus Christ Super Star.
I reckon that I shook so many hands that I ended up with blisters.
Yes, and I was proud to be able to respond to people that I played in the Clubs first game in 1959.
And what about our score line on Saturday 8.11.59 8+11=19 total points 59 = 1959 incredible to say the least.
How good it was to meet up with Ritchie Mickelburough who also played in the first game. He still reckons he can kick 60 metres (he did you know, no trouble at all)
When we were asked to address the players before the game I said to myself, how in the hell are you going to get through this, but I did, and then to get that big hug from Adam Quinn, phey blimey.
Then to be asked by Adam into the inner sanctum and be part of the huddle just prior to the game was just something else and then the photo with the team on the ground.
Then as half time was approaching we were told that the TV announcers (Daryl Pitman) would like to interview us and that was an experience in its self.
The beers were coming along at fairly regular intervals to put us in the right frame of mind and all is well.
Then we were introduced to the Southern Football League man and sports announcer at radio 88.3 (Steve Barnes) where he suggested that we should tune in on the Sunday at 11am.
I was on my way to the airport when the announcers started to talk about Dingley, firstly on how the Club has the ability to draw large crowds and then Ritchies and my name came up, all about 1959 and First game players etc etc etc. and it was even suggested that we had our old jockstraps with us and ready to run out on the ground with the boys, what a buzz this was, all a bit too much for one weekend (not really, loved every minute of it)
There was one little matter in the rooms after the game that I will remember forever, a player came up to me (I don’t know who it was) who’s eyes were filled up and said “we are ever so sorry, we really wanted to win that one for you blokes.” That took a lot of guts in my mind.
Again many thanks for the professional way that the Committee and members of the Dingley football Club go about their business.
I will look forward to meeting with you all when the date is known later in the year.
Ken Sims
(Click on a photo to enlarge and scroll.)
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