Excellent read CJohns. I think you can be very proud at the efforts you’ve made to keep that community spirit alive and thriving on Blitz through the tough times. Much respect.
Thank you CJ, that was an absolutely beautiful In Memoriam to your Dad. Bought tears to my eyes and lump to my throat.
Your memories of the Windy Hill days with your dad are spot on, those certainly were the days, or perhaps like all young people everything just seemed good/better
Fairly sure we probably came across/saw each other at some stage during those years as I used stand in the Kevin Walsh Stand too along with my father and brother. Oh the raffle and tossing money into the blanket as the kids walked by, lol,
@Two With Sauce, same here always all Essendon family, except for my son who did not like footy til he turned 16. Found himself a girlfriend, a footy chick, I’m surprised I said to him, anyway she followed Geelong (could of been worse) was terrified he was going to start barracking for Geelong, but he joined his mother in barracking. My heart was very happy, the family circle joined and I thought we/I really have raised a sensible boy, lol.
Thanks again CJ.
Thanks for sharing CJ
As your storey describes, the fabric of our club resolute and is only going to be reinforced after we get over this political pr campaign that our great club has been engulfed by.
Great post, there is much to be proud of
Apologies CJohns, I only got as far through your post as sugar jam donuts at Windy Hill and then my mind went off on this wonderful nostalgic trip. As a kid I loved those things on a cold winters day more than the games I was meant to be watching.
*Actually, I went back and read through to the end. Great piece.
Lovely to hear about some memories with your father that you’ll always cherish CJ. As a relative youngster around these parts, I regret that I never got to experience Windy Hill footy. Sounds like it was a true cultural experience that probably used to gridlock the whole of Essendon and Moonee Ponds.
We must keep barracking, purely to show we “don’t stand” for corruption.
Wow! Go bombers!
We must keep barracking, purely to show we "don't stand" for corruption.
Well said!
sigh I miss the 80s…
CJ, great post- I can understand the reflection the events of the last 12 months would provoke. I hope that your memories of your youthful experiences with you dad at Windy Hill are a great source of joy and comfort- I know mine were/are
It also reinforces the love/passion/dedication/obsession for OUR club supporters have, ( and my wonderful Canadian wife will never quite understand).
A bit of deja vu for me, as I put this, (rather similar) post up in the “how did you come to the club” thread last year:
Mum and Dad were die hard Essendon supporters- dad has been a member for over 60 years- and they would go to the Footy on most Saturdays at Windy Hill. They’d always stand in front of the stairs at the Showers Stand on their homemade wooden trestle steps, and I would be “encouraged” to go down to the fence and watch the games from just behind the goals. Babysitting 1971 style.
That was the way it was from when I would have been 6 or so. Used to love getting the footy’s as they were kicked over the fence and handing them back to the players. And of course, a pie from outer. And chatting to the regulars who always sat behind the goals as well.
But the best thing was getting to go into the rooms before or after the games. Vivid memories of Graham Moss doing backfoot dropkicks against a wall and then marking the return during his warmup…
Always loved the club, always will…and my 3 girls haven’t got much of a choice either!!
Just a quick follow up, my Dad passed away Sept 30th this year, Essendon man to the last. And as per his wishes, we had the wake at Windy Hill in the Legends room-just like Mum 4 year’s earlier. Couldn’t think of a better place to say “Bye”. See ya Jim.