Recruit Nichols

By Peter Sweeney
AROUND the offices of the Pakenham-Berwick Gazette, Johnny Nichols used to say how he “could do it”.
On Saturday, the day after he finished as an advertising representative and two days before he walked into the Victoria Police academy, the tall, blond and likeable Nichols, DID it.
Playing his first game for Lang Lang, he kicked seven goals and was best afield as he led the Tigers to an amazing come-from-behind win over his old side Cora Lynn in the Ellinbank and District Football League. Nichols was on the beat early in the game, running riot as he kicked four first-quarter goals.
But things didn’t look good for his new home when it was nearly eight goals behind the Cobras nearing three-quarter-time.
Then the Tigers went berserk in the final term, as the normally fast-finishing Cora Lynn stopped in its tracks.
Nichols goaled in the final minute – his seventh of the game – to give the visitors an amazing win. “Cop that” is maybe what he could have said to old mates. And certainly something he would say to former workmates.
Turn to sport for the full story of the exciting game – and much more football.