Murphies to celebrate 50th anniversary of clubroom opening on July 22

The Glencoe Football Club will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the official opening of its clubrooms on Saturday, July 22.

Prior to the completion of the existing clubrooms in 1973, the changerooms doubled as the clubrooms. It was obvious that this arrangement was inadequate which then created much debate for a resolution to this situation.

After an offer from the local RSL to use their hall was rejected, it was decided at a general meeting of members in September 1972 to build new clubrooms at the oval itself. As a result, a building committee was formed with the inaugural meeting held on November 27 that same year comprising Stan Jones (President), Alf Peacock (Secretary), Doug Agnew (Assistant Secretary), Peter Mitchell Snr, Alastair Pegler, Stan Needham and Max Guerin.

The site for the new building was crucial and a most generous offer was made by Lindsay Bignell to donate the block of land he owned which was adjacent to the oval. This did not entirely resolve the site issue so the football club was able to purchase another parcel of land from Trevor Bignell and Margaret Young which gave the club all the space it required.

When the clubrooms were finally completed in July 1973, the total cost was $28,000. This was funded by a bank loan of $12,000, debentures totalling $5000, $3000 from the Rural Unemployment Relief Fund and a considerable amount of voluntary labour.

The Deputy Premier of the State, Mr Des Corcoran, officially opened the new venue on July 22, 1973.

To mark the occasion in a fitting way, the club organised a big function attended by many visitors from all the Associated League Clubs and visitors from many parts as well of course a great number of Glencoe people, who had long waited for this day.

It was a grand day for the Murphies and it marked a significant step in Glencoe’s history. It brought together East and West and gave them a mutual meeting place.

It also broke down the barriers between men and women for the clubrooms were open to all and it was, over the years, to become a great place for community and family gatherings.

Des Corcoran put it well, when he said in his speech ‘that the same tradition that had assured success for the teams on the field over the years they had played in the league had been responsible for the wonderful rooms’.

He also praised the fact that such a short time had elapsed since the committee first went into action and went on to pay great tribute to club president, Alastair Pegler and Stan Jones the president of the building committee and, of course, all those who had worked so hard to make a dream a reality.

It is interesting to note some bar prices at the time of opening – schooner of beer 23 cents, butcher of beer 17 cents, a small bottle of coke 10 cents and an 18 gallon keg of beer cost $45.

The Glencoe Football Club is extremely proud of not only its clubrooms, but all of its facilities which have been made possible by many hardworking volunteers since its establishment in 1910.

The club will celebrate the milestone with the cutting of a special cake to mark this major milestone, in the clubrooms after the home game on July 22.

1973 CLUBROOM OPENING: Lin Wright (League president), Des Corcoran (Deputy Premier), Stan Jones (Building Committee president), Alastair Pegler (Glencoe Football Club president)

BUILDING COMMITTEE: The Inaugural Building Committee – Back Row: S.G. Needham, P.R. Mitchell, M.J. Guerin & Front Row: A.M. Pegler, S. Jones (Pres.), A.J. Peacock (Sec.), D.R. Agnew