The Boys Were Members of the Under 14 Gordon Football Team- Read This Inspiring Story of Tragedy That Bought Respect, Unity, & Love

I want to tell the story of a very tragic and sad, but inspiring incident that happened when I was about fourteen years old in 1976 and playing football for Darley fourths. One Saturday we all gathered at Ted Stead's fruit and vege shop in the Main Street at 8.30 in the morning to be picked up by Darley volunteers, usually players parents, like Harry Sullivan, Dave Rowan, Archie Miller or Maurie Corbett.

We were heading up to Gordon to play on their quaint little ground, often occupied by Kangaroos which occasionally had to be chased off the ground. If you kicked the footy on the full on the east side of the ground and a player went to retrieve the ball he would often disappear out of sight in the thick bush. Gordon had a great club, they were good sports and they always put up an epic fight.

As we drove on our way up to Gordon in the old Holden, it was announced on the radio news that a house had burnt down in Gordon and three young boys had tragically lost their lives in the fire. We were horrified and felt a bit reserved and upset over this news.

As we pulled into Gordon to turn left to go down to the footy ground, right on the opposite diagonal corner was the burnt house, still smoking and with the fire brigade still there and mopping up.

It was an extremely daunting sight and a very sad moment for all of us. Once we rolled up to the ground and got in the dressing rooms to change and then play, the coach of the other side came into our rooms and told us that the three kids who lost their lives in the fire played in the Gordon under 14’s team and that they were three players short.

Without hesitation our coach, who was I think Laurie Wheelahan, gave them three of our players off what is now known as the interchange bench, one was Jimmy Masterton, and they put on the Gordon jumper and played for the other side to replace the three young blokes that died. We won of course but it was a very hollow victory. It was the saddest game of football I have ever played and the memory of it has never left me to this day.

It was a very noble and sympathetic gesture from our coach and the Gordon team to still go on playing with three of our players on such a solemn and tragic occasion.

I must mention that it would have been totally understandable for Gordon to cancel the game that day, but they were very brave and stoic, although totally shattered, saying that they knew that the young boys that perished would have wanted the boys to still play. RIP boys, I never forgot you to this day.