By DAVID NAGEL
FOOTBALL clubs and families have a unique connection in that they can make each other stronger… and that’s certainly the case at Beaconsfield where the Airdrie name is synonymous.
Speaking with Ben Airdrie as he watches his two boys, Noah, 6, and Will, 4, run around at Beaconsfield’s spiritual home at Perc Allison Oval on Saturday, it becomes apparent quite quickly that this is a connection that won’t be ending in a hurry.
There’s a history here that dates a long way back, way beyond 1953, when Beaconsfield won the flag… success it will celebrate this Saturday with a reunion of its ’53 and 2003 premiership winning teams when it takes on Pakenham at Holm Park Road.
Airdrie, 37, now back-line coach for the seniors, tasted the ultimate success three times at Beacy, in 1999, 2001 and 2003.
His grandfather Don was full-forward and vice-captain of the ’53 winning side and his great grandfather, Tom Excell, was trainer.
It goes on… his father, John, was club president for that 2003 victory and brothers Heath and Kane both played that season.
Kane, who still plays today, shared in the glory while Heath was unlucky to miss out.
“We were huge underdogs in 2003 against Pakenham,” the knock-about Airdrie recalls.
“They flogged us by 10 goals in the semi-final and we just knew we had to do everything right. “We had blokes getting jabbed before the game but we all went out knowing we had to have an impact.
“There was a huge crowd at the game, the 1953 team was there and it was just great to create that piece of history for the club.”
Ben remembers his father John’s reaction to the win.
“I just remember him being so proud of us all, being part of that great era at the club was a really big thing back then.
“We celebrated hard too, if those walls could talk they could tell a story or two I can tell you,” Airdrie said, looking at the Perc Allison change rooms.
Things have changed at Beacy these days; the flash new facility at Holm Park Road will begin to build its own history and, eventually, become a spiritual home of its own.
John, among many others, was a driving force behind the move.
“We’re all pretty proud of him as well,” Ben said.
“He put in a lot of time behind the scenes, pushing councils and dealing with a lot of issues along the way.
“He’s proud of the place but if he had have stayed on the committee this year, I think mum would have divorced him.”
Ben has a lot to live up to on Saturday.
Two years ago, at the 2001 reunion, he hired an 18-seat Hummer and booked out part of the Eve Nightclub for the boys.
So what does he have in store this time around?
“Nothing yet but a few of the boys have been asking so I might have to come up with something.”
