Club welcomes football back

By Kelly Yates
MEMBERS of the Mossgiel Park Junior Football Club are flying high over the safe return of a memorial football which was stolen two weeks ago.
The football, signed by St Kilda star Robert Harvey, was handed into Endeavour Hills police on Monday and was put back in the club room’s memorial cabinet later that afternoon.
The memorial is dedicated to 14-year-old Ryan Smith who died from a brain tumour seven years ago on 20 January 2001.
Senior Constable Peter De Sair from the Endeavour Hills Police Station said it was rare that a football of this nature would be handed back.
He said a local lady came into the police station on Monday morning with the football, saying that she found it on her front yard.
Sen Const De Sair said the resident had read last month’s News article, which detailed the theft of the football as well as the vandalism to Ryan’s memorial, and thought it may have been the stolen football.
Mossgiel Park Junior Football Club vice president Nick Constance confirmed that the football handed into police was the last football used by star Ryan Smith.
However, the football had been used by the thieves.
Club secretary Ann Constance said despite the football being damaged, it still meant the same to the club’s members.
“The club is extremely happy with the return of the football even though the signature of Ryan’s hero, St Kilda’s Robert Harvey, had faded,” she said.
“I’m not condoning what the thieves have done but the club is glad its request was carried through.”
Ms Constance said the club’s members were excited to see the football back in the memorial cabinet as they no longer had to look at the empty space in the memorial.
A security system is now in place and Ms Constance said council installed it within 24 hours of the break in.
“Our thanks go out to councillor Rob Wilson as he got the ball rolling,” she said.
“The club owes him a big thank you.”