Melbourne University Sport

Families rule in the Blues
5/06/2007
by James Dowling - Leader News

For the Girdwoods, Heinzes and the Westmores, footy has always been a family affair.

The three families have each had three generations play in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, with the present batch all at A Section club University Blues. Ask any of them why they play football and their answers are almost identical: the friends you make. "It was a fairly social thing footy. It was a family thing we would just mix with each other and we were mates,'' 88-year-old former Parkside footballer, in the late '30s, Alan Girdwood said. "It is the contact with the players that keeps me going,'' said life member and present president Bob Girdwood. Bob is Alan's nephew and played with the Blues from 1968-1981. "I couldn't give a hoot about the club's history. It is the friendships of the blokes that are there now that keeps me going. "It is an amazing place. People from all types of walks of life are there and that is the reason I'm there - the people you meet,'' said Bob's son, Blues player Tom Girdwood.

Melbourne University Football Club was formed in 1859 and with Geelong is the second oldest football club in the country. The club played in the Victorian Football League, the predecessor to the AFL, from 1908 until the club joined the amateur competition in 1921. In 1921, Melbourne University split into two separate clubs _ the Blues and the Blacks.
"We are almost too amateur for an A Grade side,'' Bob said. "We don't have the resources of your Xavs (Old Xavierians) or Scotch (Old Scotch). "Eighty per cent of our kids are from the country so we don't have as many parents helping out. "It is usually just one or two people helping out each year, doing a lot of hard work.''

Despite the amateur approach to elite football, the Blues are still one of the league powerhouses. The senior side has been a finals presence for the past three years and won a premiership in 2004, while the under-19s have played in five Grand Finals since 1995.

The Blues have also spent the longest time in A Section of any club, only dropping out seven times in the past 50 years. Even though the club can draw players from anywhere, most are Melbourne University undergraduates. Rod Warnecke from Melbourne University Sports said the club provides a great opportunity for new students to meet people. "Making new friends is a big part of it. "The clubs give people the opportunity to keep fit, have a kick and meet people.''


Home Membership Facilities Group Fitness Health Services Clubs Sport and Recreation Ski Lodge About Us Contact Us News Archive Merchandise	Families rule in the Blues 5/06/2007 by James Dowling - Leader News For the Girdwoods, Heinzes and the Westmores, footy has always been a family affair. The three families have each had three generations play in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, with the present batch all at A Section club University Blues. Ask any of them why they play football and their answers are almost identical: the friends you make. "It was a fairly social thing footy. It was a family thing we would just mix with each other and we were mates,'' 88-year-old former Parkside footballer, in the late '30s, Alan Girdwood said. "It is the contact with the players that keeps me going,'' said life member and present president Bob Girdwood. Bob is Alan's nephew and played with the Blues from 1968-1981. "I couldn't give a hoot about the club's history. It is the friendships of the blokes that are there now that keeps me going. "It is an amazing place. People from all types of walks of life are there and that is the reason I'm there - the people you meet,'' said Bob's son, Blues player Tom Girdwood. Melbourne University Football Club was formed in 1859 and with Geelong is the second oldest football club in the country. The club played in the Victorian Football League, the predecessor to the AFL, from 1908 until the club joined the amateur competition in 1921. In 1921, Melbourne University split into two separate clubs _ the Blues and the Blacks. "We are almost too amateur for an A Grade side,'' Bob said. "We don't have the resources of your Xavs (Old Xavierians) or Scotch (Old Scotch). "Eighty per cent of our kids are from the country so we don't have as many parents helping out. "It is usually just one or two people helping out each year, doing a lot of hard work.'' Despite the amateur approach to elite football, the Blues are still one of the league powerhouses. The senior side has been a finals presence for the past three years and won a premiership in 2004, while the under-19s have played in five Grand Finals since 1995. The Blues have also spent the longest time in A Section of any club, only dropping out seven times in the past 50 years. Even though the club can draw players from anywhere, most are Melbourne University undergraduates. Rod Warnecke from Melbourne University Sports said the club provides a great opportunity for new students to meet people. "Making new friends is a big part of it. "The clubs give people the opportunity to keep fit, have a kick and meet people.''