Hampton Park’s return of the ’59 Redbacks

By Brad Kingsbury
HAMPTON Park Football Club celebrated its 50-year reunion of the 1959 premiership side on Saturday.
Ten of the surviving 15 players from the side that defeated Tooradin by 20 points at Cranbourne attended the get-together and reminisced about the club’s first-ever flag triumph over a few beers and lunch.
It was the first of five premierships in a 10-year period for the powerful Lyndhurst Hampton Park Football Club – as it was known as in those days.
South West Gippsland Football League best-and-fairest winner Merv Brown made the trip down from Queensland for the event and former club president Jim Flynn said it was a wonderful recognition for the club and his old team-mates who played in a much different era.
“We had grounds of mud and cowsheds as changerooms and cold showers after the game, but we just accepted all that. It was really just part of it,” he said.
“I’m proud to have been part of that time and part of this day. It’s great for the club to be able to put it on.”
Sadie Kirkham, widow of the president of the day, Mac Kirkham, presented the players with certificates commemorating the premiership and then the players settled back to watch the Redbacks upset third-placed Cranbourne after an inspirational address from 1959 premiership hero Brian Hammond.
There were many stories about the premiership and the aftermath passed around and 1959 full-back Frank Austin, who still lives in Hampton Park, enjoyed the catch-up. “I don’t remember much of the game, but I can remember the party after it,” he laughed. After the game we all went out and drank together. They were good days. A few of us have seen each other a bit, but there’s one or two who I haven’t seen in almost 50 years, so it’s great to be able to do this.”
Club president Charlie Daly and organiser David Talbot were thrilled with the event and said it was just acknowledgment of a great side in a great era for the club.