As an 11 or 12 yr old my lovely grandmother use to take me to the football. She wasn't really a fan at all but she loved her grandkids and use to take me everywhere I wanted to go. Okay I was spoilt.
She once took me to Vic Park in the early 70’s when there was about 50,000 packed in. There wasn't a seat anywhere. She sweet-talked a middle aged man to lift me up on a high brick wall to see the game whilst she sat on a seat at the back of the stand reading her book. Amazing lady.
I remember the first time she took me to PP way back around 69-70. We got on the train from my country town and traveled the 2 hours into Flinders Street station. My grandmother loved a chat and she got talking to a lovely 40yr old lady and her 16 yr old daughter who had boarded the train 30 minutes into our trip.
Both ladies where very quite and shy people but my grandmother mentioned she was taking me to PP for the first time and the shyness disappeared from them.
Turned out they were both Carlton supporters who were also on their way to PP. Not having been to the ground before my grandmother befriended these charming people and they were happy to let us tag along with them.
We all got to PP before the gates opened and were virtually first in line. When the gates opened our new guides bolted like racehorses to the free seats right on the fence, on the wing near the opposition interchange box (19th and 20th man in those days)
My Grandma was very appreciative of the help afford us by our new friends. Grandma was always good for a 'Life Lesson' and she whispered in my ear several times that 'If you are nice and friendly to people, they will be nice and friendly in return." She thought it was simply wonderful to be amongst such well mannered, delightful people...................that is .............Until the Umpires and Opposition team ran onto the ground
TALK ABOUT WHITE LINE FEVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our lovely new friends.....BECAME INSTANTLY FERAL. It was like giving a 4 year old a couple of litres of high octane, RED cordial. Many aspects of Sybil were alive and well in both bodies, pushing hard to be heard by everyone and anyone.
The mother, who a moment earlier wouldn't let butter melt in her mouth, proceeded to call every man in white and every opposition player every name under the sun plus a few more I hadn’t even heard back then!!!!!!!!!
Grown men were blushing, some of whom I'm sure worked down at the docks. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse the daughter chimed in with some stuff that made my grandma put her hands over her ears.
These two lovely ladies went on in this same vain for the next 2 hours. Every time an opposition play came anywhere near OUR boundary line both ladies were up out of their seats, cursing and waving fists like maniacs. Maaaaannnnnnn it was entertaining for a young lad from the country.
My grandma was mortified but as PP was packed she daren't move me away from the 'side show'.
For me it was my first real taste of PP and the loyalty of CFC's supporters. At the end of the game the two ladies quickly wiped the remaining frothy spittle from the corner of their mouths and reverted to their previous meek and mild-mannered selves. Both acted as if everything was completely normal with life again. That part was scary!!!!!!
I remember Grandma taking me by the hand and dragging me in the opposition direction immediately the chance to escape arose. My Grandma took weeks to get over the whole experience.
About 6 weeks late I talked Grandma into taking me to PP again. She agreed. Imagine the look of horror on her face when our female friends again boarded the train and instantly recognised us. Needless to say my Grandma told the one and only lie of her life........"No we weren't going to PP we were going to the Zoo".
She was a great lady.
Thanks Grandma.
Regards Cazzesman
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