Max’s medal: Bannockburn/Stonehaven legend reflects on club honour

A BANNOCKBURN Football Netball Club legend has been awarded an honour of service by the club he has dedicated most of his life to.

Max Taylor, 94, has served the club in some capacity since 1948 and said the creation of the Max Taylor Medal in his honour sat very proudly with him.

At Bannockburn FNC’s annual Past Players Day, the best player on the day will now be awarded the Max Taylor Medal, with the inaugural medal awarded last month to Tigers player Connor Jervies.

A Richmond Football Club fan since day one, Taylor was critical in founding the modern-day Bannockburn Tigers.

Taylor pedalled his bike from his home in Fyansford as a youngster to watch the Elliot Cup Association finals matches played at Bannockburn.

“At the time, Bannockburn FNC were not named the Tigers, then donning the black and white vertical stripes more commonly associated with the Collingwood Football Club,” he said.

“I idolised the famous Jack Dyer and adored the yellow and black. I wondered why there couldn’t be a team closer to his home.

“Some other likeminded locals and I toyed with the idea of utilising some land at Stonehaven and creating a new team, rather than taking the long push bike trek to Bannockburn.”

Richmond Football Club’s administration provided critical assistance to Taylor, providing the required resources to get Stonehaven Football Club’s foundations laid in 1950.

The newly formed club adopted the Richmond colours, and the first uniform was created.

Proudly wearing the yellow and black, Taylor ran out with his new teammates in the inaugural Stonehaven Football Club team for round one against Elaine, which resulted in a win.

The club progressed through the 1950s and 1960s, growing in strength, numbers, and playing a vital role in local football.

In 1952 the Elliot Cup Association folded as Bannockburn, Lethbridge and Elaine were unable to field a team, so the remaining teams, including Stonehaven, entered the Geelong and District Football League (GDFL).

With Bannockburn in decline in 1968, Taylor and the Stonehaven FC committee approached the Shire of Bannockburn with the idea moving Stonehaven into town, to use the better playing conditions.

The Bannockburn councillors welcomed the club as new tenants and an agreement was struck for Stonehaven to take up the new home.

“The club played as Stonehaven/Bannockburn in the 1968/69 seasons, before Stonehaven was dropped and the Bannockburn Football Club as we know them today commenced in 1970, with Geelong West football legend Mel Winter as the inaugural coach,” Taylor said.

“From there on, the Bannockburn Tigers were born and the rest, they say, is history.”

Taylor is widely regarded as a founding father of the Bannockburn Tigers and was selected to toss a commemorative coin before the 2019 GDFNL Grand Final.