Former cats president Frank Costa dies, aged 83

HE will be remembered as a legend of the Geelong Cats having taken the presidency in 1998 until he retired from the board in 2010.

His time in charge coincided with one of the most successful eras in club history with Costa playing a pivotal role in both the 2007 and 2009 premierships.

Current Geelong CEO Brian Cook paid his respects to the influential figure in an official club statement.

“Frank was a legend as a person, and a legend of the club. He forged so many strong and lasting relationships through his warmth and authenticity. He will be missed by all that have been fortunate enough to know and love him,” Cook said.

“Our thoughts are with Shirley, and the entire Costa family.

“Frank took on one of the toughest roles in football as our president at a time when the very future of the Geelong Football Club was in the balance. The club was on a financial precipice, playing in a crumbling venue and had not tasted premiership success in 36 years.

“When Frank departed as president at the end of 2010 he left the club with state-of-the-art facilities, a record breaking team that had broken a premiership drought in 2007 and added another flag in 2009, and on a financial footing that set the club up for long term stability.

“Without Frank, there must be a genuine question as to whether or not the Geelong Football Club would exist today. It is highly doubtful it would exist in its current form without having had Frank at the helm.

“When the history of the club is written, it will be impossible to do so without having Frank at the forefront of the past 20-25 years. He took a divided club and willed it into the club we know today.”

Costa was officially named as the club’s 26th legend last week, becoming the first non-player to receive the title.

– BY SEN