Bush footy at its best
• Scottsdale Auskickers prepare to entertain as part of the heritage day. More than 60 children from the Scottsdale and St Helens Auskick centres were involved.
By Tony Scott,
MAY 05, 2021
Perfect autumn weather, a big crowd and cold refreshment added up to a great occasion for the football heritage day at Pyengana on Saturday.
Key organiser Michael LeFevre said the only complaint might have been some sunburn.
Certainly NTFA president Scott Rigby, on hand to check out the organisation, seemed to enjoy himself.
So did about a team of former players from the Pioneer-Gladstone club, who were all presented with commemorative caps to mark the special day and their part in it.
There were pictures, cups and premiership pennants on display from the once highly successful club, which folded 41 years ago.
“I think everything went very well,” Mr LeFevre said.
“It’s really just our one day of the year to make use of the ground and it was a really good country atmosphere.”
He said the idea five years ago to hold an annual match at Pyengana was just to bring some activity to the community.
“It took a fair bit of work from a group of volunteers, but I think it’s paid off.
“Even the coach of Lilydale, Colin Lockhart, said the ground is one of the best playing surfaces in the competition.”
The sport got off to an early start when Auskick participants strutted their stuff.
For those from the Scottsdale centre it was not quite Sydney to the bush, but almost.
Only a week earlier they had played at half time at the Anzac Day game between Hawthorn and Adelaide in Launceston.
A crowd of 800 to 900 were estimated on the day, mostly hugging the unfenced boundary on makeshift seating, soaking up the atmosphere of bush football at the picturesque ground framed by tall gums behind one goals and cypress pines at the other end.