Thanks very much to the North Melbourne Football Club

[AndrewD]

I thought I'd post this (mods, feel free to move it or remove it; your choice) because I think it's nice to hear good things about your footy club, especially when they come from people who might follow another team.

In a nutshell, my fiancee is a librarian here in Brisbane and was putting together an AFL themed event for the local kids (10 and under). She contacted all of the clubs to ask if they might be able to spare anything, no-matter how small (stickers, a poster, something she could photocopy and the kids could colour in), that she might be able to use on the day. Only 7 clubs bothered to reply (the two local clubs -Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast weren't among them and, sadly for my fiancee, neither was her team, Geelong) but it was the North Melbourne Football Club who made the whole day a success. Not only were they far and away the most generous club (and it wasn't even close) but they were an absolute pleasure to deal with and could not have been more helpful or supportive (which my fiancee appreciated as it is tough organising an AFL event in what is still a rugby state). End result, the kids were thrilled, the parents were happy and I have a strong feeling that those children who didn't have a team before the event probably do now.

So, I just thought we'd let you guys, the North supporters, know of something which would normally just slip well under the radar but which I really do think speaks volumes for the character of your club. You might have missed the finals this year but you've got some really good people working for you and that's going to bring you success. Thanks very much.

 

[Quivorir]

Never get tired of seeing these threads

 

[Joshen]

^ me either (neither?), fantastic work by the boys. Thanks for sharing AndrewD

 

[Liam Boy]

I've heard stories of Fremantle being active in similar ways at footy days before.

 

[Mr Reliable]

Thanks, AndrewD. Good to hear. Let's hope someone from the Club sees it.

Has anyone ever told you that you have an unfortunate name? Sort of like being called Harry Hitler or Charlie Manson. Never mind.

 

[Gameova_]

wow thats great thanks for letting us know

 

[Massive Unit]

Here's a contrast for you.

A colleague of mine has been doing the work of thre guys for a few months now. Rather than chuck a couple of extra grand in his pay-packet, I thought I'd organise something more personal that I know he'd love.

He's an idiot and is a Perth-based member of Carlton (there's just no helping some people), so I thought I'd organise a signed and framed jumper for him with a personal message.

Rang the club and was promptly told that you cannot purchase signed jumpers. I told them I was willing to pay $1000 for it and they advised me to buy a jumper from the Carlton shop and go to training.

We bought the jumper and my wife and I have both attended Carlton training twice now in an effort to get this done.

End result is that I am now the proud owner of an unsigned, unframed Carlton jumper. Even during the bye week recently, the players barely bothered to come to the fence to speak with their supporters and sign autographs.

North Melbourne should be commended for the way in which their players and administration interact with their supporters. Poles apart from these other knobs!!

 

[blackshadow]

Thanks for sharing AndrewD

 

[ArchKing Carey]

Thanks Andrew.
It's things like this that will always make the North Melbourne football remain a supporters club and not a corporation.

Blue and white through and through

 

[Event Horizon]

Here's a contrast for you.

A colleague of mine has been doing the work of thre guys for a few months now. Rather than chuck a couple of extra grand in his pay-packet, I thought I'd organise something more personal that I know he'd love.

He's an idiot and is a Perth-based member of Carlton (there's just no helping some people), so I thought I'd organise a signed and framed jumper for him with a personal message.

Rang the club and was promptly told that you cannot purchase signed jumpers. I told them I was willing to pay $1000 for it and they advised me to buy a jumper from the Carlton shop and go to training.

We bought the jumper and my wife and I have both attended Carlton training twice now in an effort to get this done.

End result is that I am now the proud owner of an unsigned, unframed Carlton jumper. Even during the bye week recently, the players barely bothered to come to the fence to speak with their supporters and sign autographs.

North Melbourne should be commended for the way in which their players and administration interact with their supporters. Poles apart from these other knobs!!

Great dedication there mate! I don't know if I could handle a Carlton training session for any reason, unless it was for a sick child or something major like this.

 

[Massive Unit]

Great dedication there mate! I don't know if I could handle a Carlton training session for any reason, unless it was for a sick child or something major like this.

If it's any consolation, their skills were complete shite! Hope they get rolled, although I don't want to see Essendon win either.....hmmmm

 

[Bigeasy]

Awesome work by the club. Cheers AD

 

[Daz]

Love it. Hopefullt Massive Unit's story reaches the Carlton board as well.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

And this is why im so glad that I follow the NMFC. Such a great club.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Thanks for filling us in AD. No need for the thread's deletion, nor for it to be moved. As said above, we love hearing positive feedback on our club's endeavours off field. Hats off to the folk at the club responsible for arranging this. It's a great club and, as Massive Unit's contrasting experience would attest, it's got to be the most welcoming professional football club in the land, of any code. Good on your future missus too for doing her bit to promote our great game to the next generation of potential supporters and members.

 

[Dan]

Thanks for sharing AD and big kudos to the club

 

[fusion]

Great story - I have friends who support another club, but it's almost impossible for their kids to get autographs/mingle with players after training. So they go to North Melbourne training and tell me that Boomer and the other players always have time to speak to the kids and sign stuff.

I hope whoever the OP contacted at the club is congratulated.

 

[Bigeasy]

I will never forget the time I brought lileasy as a youngun to training and I asked one of the trainers if Lileasy could get his jumper signed by a couple of players. He told us to wait outside the old change rooms and he came back 1 minute later with a procession of players who were coming out and not only signing his jumper but took the time to pose for a photo with the little fella, all 25 players in fact.

At the end, his favourite player Byron Pickett hadn't come out so I asked the trainer if there was any chance of Choppy coming out and he said that he was getting treatment. Anyway about 10 minutes later this trainer comes out and calls us into the rooms. He proceeded to take Lileasy to a spot where Choppy was sitting on the floor, doing some stretches. He Lileasy and puts him on his lap and talks to him for about a couple of minutes and signed his jumper and took photos etc. Absolute awesome night at training. I love this club.

 

[LB2Snake]

I will never forget the time I brought lileasy as a youngun to training and I asked one of the trainers if Lileasy could get his jumper signed by a couple of players. He told us to wait outside the old change rooms and he came back 1 minute later with a procession of players who were coming out and not only signing his jumper but took the time to pose for a photo with the little fella, all 25 players in fact.

At the end, his favourite player Byron Pickett hadn't come out so I asked the trainer if there was any chance of Choppy coming out and he said that he was getting treatment. Anyway about 10 minutes later this trainer comes out and calls us into the rooms. He proceeded to take Lileasy to a spot where Choppy was sitting on the floor, doing some stretches. He Lileasy and puts him on his lap and talks to him for about a couple of minutes and signed his jumper and took photos etc. Absolute awesome night at training. I love this club.

just a great story Biggy....

 

[Gabbie]

Good story and you'd think the local Qld clubs would have made more of an effort. Their loss of future members.

I have a couple of similar stories

Reminds me of a friend who took his son to training and into the rooms in the '90's. The boy approached Denis Pagan for his autograph and the response was, "Why me, I'm just the coach but glad to" then Pagan called out to ALL the players and told them they weren't going home til they all signed the young fellas book. Made his day.

Used to sit in front of a primary school teacher who organised her grade 2's a letter writing exercise by asking the kids to write to their favourite team's skipper. All bar one responded, some even came out to the school with goodies and a bit of kick to kick with the kids. Kudos to Kouta by the way who was king of the kids. And the one who didn't respond, well, the club received a letter of complaint as she thought it wasn't fair on the kids who barracked for that particular club. Next thing, said skipper rings her up, was not pleasant though an interesting comment came out of his mouth "I'm not backed by my team".

No wonder this club hasn't won a GF in a long time or made the 8 in a long time for that matter.

 

[Ted38]

Be interested to know AD who the other 6 clubs were that did respond.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

Thanks for the lovely story - it's espcially great that it was for someone in Queensland who supports another club, so North had nothing to gain.

On this train of thought, I've got a fully-signed North jumper my partner got in a work auction to raise flood relief money at the start of the year - it was the only footy jumper made available and apparently the club was fantastic organising it quickly, no questions asked. Both my sons have had no problems getting player signatures on their North jumpers at family days, training and Auskick visits.

In return for my gift, I made sure I was the highest bidder for a signed Colllingwood jumper at our Auskick, organised through a major sponsor. Turned out not all the players were on it, despite the COA, so I asked for that to be sorted before I paid the money. With North in mind, I assumed that as it was to raise money for a local Auskick, and a sponsor was asking, it would take no time. Weeks later and it's still not happening. I know they are busy, but it's really surprised me. Can't tear my partner off Collingwood after three generations and a lifetime's support, but for the first time I'm sensing a little bity of envy.

Sometimes supporters of big clubs scoff at our autographs and say you'd only get all that attention at a less supported club like North. If that's the case, then I'll stick with the club that actually acts like it gives a **** about its supporters, thanks.

 

[R00StaR]

Thanks for sharing that AndrewD, i think Norths always been a club for the people. Or at least a little more open and grounded.

I remember years ago at a North gambling night with a few mates who supported various teams, 89 i think it was. All the players there, spent most of the night chatting to a very young Horse Longmire who was about my age, but not drinking the poor bugger. No idea how he understood me without a few ales . It was really just a bunch of blokes standing around drinking, relaxing and having a bet, easy to talk to ect. The Krakouer boys to busy to chat working over the 2up, but they'd give a nod and a wink. Then in walks Peter Daicos with 2 (what looked like) body guards, the Collingwood mate used to the easy going nature of VFL footballers by now gets all excited, walks up to rub shoulders with and gets brushed aside by the guards and told 'piss off mate' from Daicos, lol it was funny to watch how quickly and easily he was shattered.

 

[AndrewD]

Be interested to know AD who the other 6 clubs were that did respond.

The other clubs were West Coast (which my fiancee found quite amazing, given we're in Brisbane), Adelaide, Collingwood (sent some stick-on tattoos which we thought was pretty funny), Richmond, Melbourne and the Bulldogs. Without going into what those clubs were generous enough to spare I can say that everything they gave would fit comfortably into one of the plastic bags you'd get if you bought some merchandise at your club. North, on the other hand, filled three bags. As I said, they made the event and never once asked if there would be any North supporters at the event (there were two on the day and they thought it was Christmas) or if there was anything they could get out of. Just a completely generous act from several different people (the girls on the front desk and in the shop were fantastic).

I hope whoever the OP contacted at the club is congratulated.

My fiancee emailed the club the day after the event, passed along her thanks (including those of the parents and children who attended) and sent the club a few pictures. She hasn't heard back from the club but we do hope that everyone involved got their due recognition.

Another reason for me posting this thread is that I know one of the North staff (can't remember his user name) have been on every now and again and I was hoping they might get a chance read this so they can let the club know of the good work that is being done.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Another reason for me posting this thread is that I know one of the North staff (can't remember his user name) have been on every now and again and I was hoping they might get a chance read this so they can let the club know of the good work that is being done.

Several of the club's staff peruse and post on here AD, so your comments above are bound to be noticed.