By David Nagel
For Wendy Errington and local football…it was love at first sight!
New to the town of Garfield in 1990, Errington trudged along to her first grand final in 1993 to watch her home-town team demolish ROC in a one-sided contest at Cora Lynn.
She was captivated, instantly smitten…but not so much by what was taking place on the ground.
“I went with a few friends who were into their football and discovered this mad phenomenon that I never knew existed,” Errington said, still with amazing passion.
“I didn’t know anything about local footy at all, but I went to the 1993 grand final and it was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen…it was absolute madness.
“Women were turning up all dressed up in limousines, having champagne breakfasts, everyone was so passionate about their clubs and I’d never seen anything like it in my life.
“Even on the Sunday the town was full of intoxicated footballers roaming the streets with a white goat or white Shetland pony, I can’t remember exactly, but it was just incredible.”
For Errington it was a case of ‘Where do I sign up.’
“We lived across the road from the Garfield footy club and I first got involved doing some little things, but then quickly became secretary because I’m a bit of a bossy boots and like to organise things,” she said honestly with a laugh.
“Then I got involved with office admin, league data, that sort of stuff.
“But then I realised there is so much more to running a football club…it’s incredible really.
“One day I counted and it took 63 people to put four teams onto the ground, and that’s not including the players.
“The timekeepers, the goal umpires, the water boys, the canteen, there’s an incredible machine that works behind the scenes at all clubs.”
Like all volunteers…Errington’s portfolio has continued to transform and grow.
“I’ve tried to write a job description for when I pass this on to someone else, but it’s impossible to describe,” she said.
“There’s everything from washing the umpires’ bathmats, providing them with soap, washing white shirts, pink shirts, red shirts, red jackets, blue t-shirts, pink t-shirts…it never ends.
“And on game days I like to call myself the Office Manager.
“I stay in the office and fix problems as they come in.
“No umpires, no flags, lost boots, shorts are falling down, footballs need pumping up, there’s a bit of everything that goes on really.”
One thing that did catch Errington’s eye – on grand final day, 29 years ago – was the colourful entrance of the players.
“The banners, I love making the banners, that’s been a highlight for me,” she said.
“We used a huge amount of silver-foil to make premiership cups for the banners and we had woven banners which would take 10 or 15 people to put together.
“They were massive, really heavy, and really labour intensive to make.
“Peter Bogart and I were the two main banner makers and I even had a banner book so I didn’t repeat the same words over and over again,” she says with a laugh.
“And I also love our trophy cabinet…it’s like a museum of the Garfield Football Club.
“That’s my little baby…I’ll always do that even when I hand over the other stuff.”
Errington has a soft spot for players like Gary Vitiritti and Murray Payne, from the ‘93/’94 premiership teams, but rates Lincoln Withers and Andy Soumilas as the silkiest players she has seen.
“Lincoln Withers would crash into a pack and come out the other side with the ball…he had some real magic,” she said, before explaining why she continues to volunteer for the 28th year running.
“If it’s Saturday in winter, it’s footy, I love it and missed it so much through Covid.
“I love the stories, the history of it all, the family connections that have been around for so long and made this club so great.
“I love the friendships, like those I have with Judy Bishop and Melva Bonham and so many others throughout the journey…. this is my extended family.
“And being at the footy club keeps me young, keeps me involved with younger people and I love that aspect as well.
“Little kids, enthusiastic teenagers, young men and women, I love the social contact that I otherwise wouldn’t have now that I’m retired.
“For me it’s all about the people, and I think a lot of volunteers would say that.”
