The Collingwood Football Club is blessed - its barrackers are a chosen people. The Club is one of the most famous sporting team in Australia, & the world. - wherever you go, you will find someone in the crowd yelling "GO PIES!"
The people that make up this group are a passionate lot – we are THE MAGPIE ARMY; we are wild, one-eyed, & unrelenting in our support for everything black ‘n’ white; & it is highly likely you didn't have a choice, nor do you remember when you first fell in love with the Club & its story.
The people that make up this group are a passionate lot – we are THE MAGPIE ARMY; we are wild, one-eyed, & unrelenting in our support for everything black ‘n’ white; & it is highly likely you didn't have a choice, nor do you remember when you first fell in love with the Club & its story.
Flying the flag high for the Magpies at the MCG.
In its 130 year existence, the Collingwood Football Club have won 15 AFL/VFL premierships, & 1 VFA flag. If you grew up in a Magpie family, you would have portrayed many winning Grand Final moments in your backyard with you playing along side many of the usual characters… “the little Captain Tony Shaw scoops up the Sherrin in the defensive 50 & handballs it to Choco, on to Ricky Barham – he dodges… weaves… boots it sharply to Pants Millane, handballs to Micky McGuane. He runs on the wing… 1… 2… 7 (!) bounces through traffic, centres it to Bucks, who immediately plays on, long punt to Peter McKenna at centre-half forward, runs on - handball to Rocca, shepherded by his brother Rocca & boots it high to the goal square - punched by the defense to the ground, Lou Richards gets under the pack, fists it out. Leigh Matthews on the sideline yelling, Jock McHale, Bobby Rose, Tom Hafey, Mick Malthouse too. Tuddy steadies the footy [RENE KINK SHEPHERD!], snap to Weidemann, Fabulous Phil Carmen on the lead, Collier Brothers, Pendlebury, Swanny handball to Didak, who chips it to Daicos on the boundary, he spins… Ray Gabelich points to goal, Daics has got no room, people are screaming over the fence… the Coventry brothers, Syd & Gordon can’t find space - Daics loads up, TORP… … it bends, round round round, the Vic Park faithful are standing on their feet, willing the ball to keep curving, & …. GOAL - - - SIREN!
Carlton & Essendon tribes fear us & ridicule us, but secretly they admire us. We are loyal – we stick through thick & thin – sidebyside.
It is a privilege to barrack for Collingwood – a club with a deep & special history.
If you have supported the Woods for a while, you realise life is not fair. Many times the Maggies have come to the final hurdle of many Grand Finals yet to be thwarted by the infamous Colliwobbles.
It is a privilege to barrack for Collingwood – a club with a deep & special history.
If you have supported the Woods for a while, you realise life is not fair. Many times the Maggies have come to the final hurdle of many Grand Finals yet to be thwarted by the infamous Colliwobbles.
Vic Park - now & then. (2010 & 1910).
The story of the Club is also the story of Abbotsford & Collingwood. Victoria Park attracted all sorts – the loners who marked their Footy Record balancing a trannie, pie, & pen whilst resisting the tidal movement of the crowd during a match; the fathers who would buy their sons a hotdog from outside the ground from the man with the kero heater; & the families who would shiver through the cold & wet winter every Saturday with a thermos & their warmest rug.
Above all, ‘Vic Park’ was where the sounds of thuds & grunts of striped warriors would do battle every Saturday afternoon for 107 years.
Victoria Park was a place where you could feel safe amongst your own while you take a swipe at the “oppo”, & boo the umpires for their lack of understanding the rule book - where you would lean over the fence & bang on the metal signage, & burst onto the field for a game of kick-to-kick once the final siren had sounded. When the Magpies played at Vic Park – they were 10 foot tall… & so were you, as you stood on old beer cans to gain a better view of your favourite players; watching the desperation on the other team’s faces, & hearing the thud of boot to ball.
Many tears have fallen at Victoria Park. The late 1990s were days that the clouds hung low like an endless grey tarp. Many winters were spent at the ground being rained upon, & the footy acting like a cake of soap.
We never desert our club.
Collingwood people & Victoria Park have made the Club what it is to this day.
Above all, ‘Vic Park’ was where the sounds of thuds & grunts of striped warriors would do battle every Saturday afternoon for 107 years.
Victoria Park was a place where you could feel safe amongst your own while you take a swipe at the “oppo”, & boo the umpires for their lack of understanding the rule book - where you would lean over the fence & bang on the metal signage, & burst onto the field for a game of kick-to-kick once the final siren had sounded. When the Magpies played at Vic Park – they were 10 foot tall… & so were you, as you stood on old beer cans to gain a better view of your favourite players; watching the desperation on the other team’s faces, & hearing the thud of boot to ball.
Many tears have fallen at Victoria Park. The late 1990s were days that the clouds hung low like an endless grey tarp. Many winters were spent at the ground being rained upon, & the footy acting like a cake of soap.
We never desert our club.
Collingwood people & Victoria Park have made the Club what it is to this day.
Coach & Captain, victorious in 1990.
Everyone is welcome at Collingwood, & the Club is a family club - on the field & off; think of Lou & Ron Richards, the Pannams & Twomeys, the Clokes & Shaws. The Rose brothers, Coventrys, Colliers, Richardsons, & the second generation of Shaws.
There’s no jumping off the black ‘n’ white wagon.
We have hope – “this is our year!” Autumn gives us anticipation & September hands us gut-wrenching nerves.
We remember everything that happens – Neil Mann’s bamboozled birds before the 1956 Grand Final; Gabbo’s heroic run in ’64; Barry Breen’s wobbly behind in 1966; being up by an untouchable 44 points at halftime in the 1970 Grand Final against Carlton; Tuddy’s return to a packed Vic Park; feeling sick in the stomach after hearing about John Greening’s felling at Moorabbin in ‘72; & of course bloody Wayne Harmes (!); Kevin Sheedy’s kick to Phil Carmen on ANZAC Day in 1977; Monky & Lockett going toe-to-toe in front of the Social Club; Darren Millane throwing the ball high at the siren of the 1990 Grand Final & the death of the Colliwobbles; sitting at Vic Park in ’93 & witnessing Daicos kick 8 goals to Gary Ablett’s 7; 1999 only giving us 4 wins & the horrible last game at Victoria Park; Malthouse holding onto Paul Licuria after the 2002 Grand Final loss; Tazza’s after-the-siren winner against the Crows in 2003; Zaharakis’ ANZAC Day goal – these events have all affected us on a deep & primal level, we take them personally. It is, & always will be ‘us against them’.
Collingwood’s story is one of human drama.
There’s no jumping off the black ‘n’ white wagon.
We have hope – “this is our year!” Autumn gives us anticipation & September hands us gut-wrenching nerves.
We remember everything that happens – Neil Mann’s bamboozled birds before the 1956 Grand Final; Gabbo’s heroic run in ’64; Barry Breen’s wobbly behind in 1966; being up by an untouchable 44 points at halftime in the 1970 Grand Final against Carlton; Tuddy’s return to a packed Vic Park; feeling sick in the stomach after hearing about John Greening’s felling at Moorabbin in ‘72; & of course bloody Wayne Harmes (!); Kevin Sheedy’s kick to Phil Carmen on ANZAC Day in 1977; Monky & Lockett going toe-to-toe in front of the Social Club; Darren Millane throwing the ball high at the siren of the 1990 Grand Final & the death of the Colliwobbles; sitting at Vic Park in ’93 & witnessing Daicos kick 8 goals to Gary Ablett’s 7; 1999 only giving us 4 wins & the horrible last game at Victoria Park; Malthouse holding onto Paul Licuria after the 2002 Grand Final loss; Tazza’s after-the-siren winner against the Crows in 2003; Zaharakis’ ANZAC Day goal – these events have all affected us on a deep & primal level, we take them personally. It is, & always will be ‘us against them’.
Collingwood’s story is one of human drama.
Vic Park, 1990.
Collingwood fans are intrigued by history, tradition, mythology, & their place in the continuing story - we are romantic & loyal about the game.
There are more people who live in Melbourne who hate Collingwood than actually follow football, but this matters little to the Magpie Army because we carry a pride in wearing our black ‘n’ white guernseys every weekend as we march to the MCG & barrack for our boys; hoping by the time the seagulls start to circle overhead that the we have enough run in our legs to finish the game.
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The history of the Collingwood Football Club is a fascinating tale well worth sharing with many generations to come, & the Magpie Army still have a place in the ongoing story of the Club.
We’d love for you & yours to join us for a walk in & around the very places that our Club was built on.
Please check out this website & drop us a line.
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We look forward to meeting you & hearing your story.
There are more people who live in Melbourne who hate Collingwood than actually follow football, but this matters little to the Magpie Army because we carry a pride in wearing our black ‘n’ white guernseys every weekend as we march to the MCG & barrack for our boys; hoping by the time the seagulls start to circle overhead that the we have enough run in our legs to finish the game.
---
The history of the Collingwood Football Club is a fascinating tale well worth sharing with many generations to come, & the Magpie Army still have a place in the ongoing story of the Club.
We’d love for you & yours to join us for a walk in & around the very places that our Club was built on.
Please check out this website & drop us a line.
---
We look forward to meeting you & hearing your story.
“No sooner had the ball been bounced in the concluding quarter than the Woodsmen set to work at a pace for which their adversaries had never given them credit.”
- The Australasian Newspaper on the 1896 Grand Final victory over South Melbourne.
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Want to be in our upcoming documentary series? - CLICK HERE.
Or send us a quick email for more info.
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Want to be in our upcoming documentary series? - CLICK HERE.
The Magpie Army during the 1990's.
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HOME | ABOUT THE TOUR | TESTIMONIALS | FAQ'S | CONTACT | PLAYER SPOTLIGHT | GRAND FINALS | OUR SONS & DAUGHTERS
CAPTAINS & COACHES | BOOKS | LINKS | DOCO SERIES
The Collingwood Historical Footy Tour is not officially affiliated with the Collingwood Football Club. This website, or any associated website, has not been authorised or approved by the Collingwood Football Club or the Australian Football League; nor does it represent the views, policies, or opinions of the aforementioned organisations.