Collie Eagles president Ash Stewart is calling for all former Collie footballers and volunteers to come ‘back to the footy’ this season.
Stewart said the club was planning to hold a function on Saturday, August 4 during the round 15 clash with Carey Park, for all former players, staff and volunteers who have played a part in Collie football.
“We’re going to have what we’re calling our Back to Footy day, which is effectively like a premiership reunion but for anyone who has been involved in football in Collie over the last 100 years,” he said.
“It’s probably our biggest function on a game day this year.”
Stewart said it was important to recognise the contributions of everyone involved in getting the Collie Eagles where they are today.
“Over the years premiership teams have reunions and everyone can catch up with people they played with in those premierships,” he said.
“But for people who didn’t play in a premiership, we don’t organise things for them because it’s not a milestone to celebrate.
“But just because people didn’t win a flag doesn’t mean that they didn’t put just as much in to footy as the people who did win one.
“So we’d like to get people back who were involved in footy and catch up, especially with those who aren’t in town anymore and just celebrate Collie football.”
Stewart said he hopes to see many familiar faces make it to the game, considering the long history of football in Collie.
“We want to get everyone back to the footy if they’ve been part of our history,” he said.
“Back in the past, it was the Collie Saints and Mines Rovers and they became the Collie Eagles.
“Anyone who has been involved in footy under those three clubs and even prior to that, back in the 50s and 60s with Railways and Centrals (who merged to become the Collie Saints), we’d like to see them get down on that day.”
