The Northern Football League mourns the passing of life member Alan Stickland.
A life-long member of the South Morang Football Club, Stickland was inducted as an NFL life member in 2011.
Stickland joined the football club in the late 50s and played an integral part in a generation of local kids becoming South Morang footballers.
He was not only a life member of the SMFC but was a life member of the then DVFL, and was also awarded a services to the game award by football Victoria.
A love of race horses saw Stickland move to Benalla about a decade ago but he was never far away from the club and attended most home games.
After every win Sticky could be found at the players’ gate shedding a tear and high fiving or hugging the players. This is a memory that a lot of modern day players will never forget.
Below is an extract Stickland wrote late in his life of his time with the South Morang Football Club.
“I played my first game for South Morang halfway through 1957 under the name of Frank Dyson (because I wasn’t registered). I was playing under-16 at Preston Scouts in the PJDFA in the morning and then going to South Morang later on.
"I got a transfer in 1958 playing under 19s and seniors. I didn’t really enjoy my football because of the rough stuff, so I changed my style to fit in, even my running style by keeping my elbows up high, hence the nickname ‘Elbows’.
“I played over 100 games, missing out on the seconds’ Grand Final in 1968 because I had played too many firsts games…my doing. I believe if you were good enough to play firsts that’s where you should play. The firsts just missed out on being in the top four that year.
“I missed a lot of games because I got married in 1962, plus I was working for myself as a cartage contractor.
“After retiring I kept fit by running the boundary. I became a league delegate for the club for 15 years, getting a life membership to the DVFL. I was honoured to receive a medal from the Australian Metropolitan Football League for my contribution to the sport.”
Rest in peace, Alan Stickland.
