Over the Christmas period, the Gazette’s sports team will be re-sharing some of the most popular stories from over the course of 2024.
Thank you for supporting our newspapers over the course of the year. We hope you enjoy the selection and have a wonderful holiday period, however you choose to celebrate.
Some wise-old heads described it as the greatest gathering of footballers in its 134-year history when the Beaconsfield Football Club hosted a reunion of its 1974, 2004 and 2014 premiership teams on Friday night.
And it’s hard to argue the point; with champions filling the horizon at Holm Park Reserve for as far as the eye could see; coming together as one for a very special moment in the club’s history.
Champions from all three premiership years were interviewed on the night, with Warren Ellam (1974), Haydn Robins (2004) and Scott Meyer (2014) recounting how they arrived at Beaconsfield; how their premierships were won, and what makes the club so special.
Club Historian Lawrie Canning and 1974 premiership player Wayne Goodes then reflected on the impact of their premiership coach, the late, great Jim Read.
The night finished with 2004 premiership coach Leigh Clifford and 2014 mentor Clint Evans reflecting on their respective premiership years.
Past-Players organiser and 2004 premiership player Michael Fisher did a magnificent job of producing a 44-page premiership booklet for the occasion, which was handed out to all in attendance.
Anne Read, wife of Jim Read, and Kerrie Graham, wife of 1974 premiership player Peter ‘Bonga’ Graham, were also on hand to represent their families on the night.
Many then regathered on Saturday as an injury-depleted Beaconsfield put up a brave fight against second-placed South Belgrave.
Bless em all.
