Earlier this month, an email found its way to Carlton from the Plymouth-based BBC sports journalist and former professional rugby player Andy Birkett.
Birkett was seeking information on an item of memorabilia he held particularly close – a bookmark bearing the signatures of 16 Carlton footballers who featured in either or all of the Jesaulenko and Parkin-coached Premiership teams of 1979, ’81 and ’82 - which had come into his possession in rather unique circumstances in ’83.
In wanting to learn more of the provenance of the bookmark, Birkett graciously agreed to share his story, of how Carlton came into his life and why the club “will always hold a special place in my heart”.
Hi, my name’s Andy Birkett - a BBC sports Journalist living in Plymouth and a lifelong Carlton fan.
My Dad, Peter, who passed away earlier this year with Alzheimer’s, was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, having also earned his Green Beret by doing what was known as the Royal Marines “all arms” course (a shortened version of the full Royal Marines training course). His job role was that of an instructor (aka a “schoolie”) and somehow it meant he avoided ever going on a ship in 16 years’ service!
I’m not entirely sure how or why it happened, but Dad had a two-year exchange with someone from the Australian Navy and we moved as a family to Mt Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula in September 1981. I was six years old then - and once there it didn’t take me long to fall in love with the Blues. Dad was sporty and that obsession was passed on to me. I suspect he latched on to Carlton because of the ‘Navy Blue’ link and it went from there.
It’s fair to say that in the two years we spent in Australia, I became obsessed. Mike Fitzpatrick, Alex Marcou and particularly Wayne Johnston and Ken Hunter were my heroes at that time and I ended up wearing my own No.9 guernsey (and hat for cricket!). Then there was the sticker book, VFL cards, t-shirts, hats, scarves and of course a dislike of Collingwood!
We definitely went to games as I vividly remember loving the players tearing through the banner at the start and, of course, the Four n’ Twenty pies. I also remember seeing ‘The Flying Doormat’ [Bruce Doull] and hearing the noise the crowd made when Val Perovic was about to launch the ball up field. It was obviously a great time to be a Blues fan.
When the team was holding its pre-season training camp at HMAS Cerberus (where my Dad was based) in February 1983, I was able to sneak in and see the players up close. I left with a load of autographs, including some of the all-times greats of the club, and I’ve treasured them ever since.
Having got some stick for being a Pom when we arrived, I soon developed an Australian accent which led to me getting stick for being an Aussie when we moved back to England at the end of 1983. But I never lost my love for the Navy Blues, those two years left a huge mark on me (no pun intended) and our family felt a real sense of connection with the country - so much so that my mother requested that half her ashes be scattered in Australia.
Once I got back to England, with no knowledge of “English” football, I immediately looked for the best blue team to continue on from Carlton, and at the time it was Everton. I’ve followed them ever since, although I was a rugby player rather than a footballer myself. Whenever anyone asks we why I support Everton, Carlton always gets a shout out!
As for the autographs, I have an image in my mind of seeing the guys there at HMAS Cerberus but I cannot recall if I spoke with them myself and got the autographs or whether my Dad got them. Either way, I remember the excitement of seeing my heroes being where my Dad worked and being blown away by it.
I know it sounds weird writing this as a 50 year-old bloke, but getting the Carlton “showbag” at the Melbourne Show was one of my happiest memories. I guess I was very lucky to have been there at that time when Carlton were flying as high as they were. The club will always hold a special place in my heart.
Sport has a strange way of getting into your blood and I shall be ever thankful for those two years we spent in Mt Eliza supporting the greatest team in the world.
