Nova radio host Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald urges fans to stick by their local sporting clubs during COVID-19 hardship
Former Adelaide Crow and Nova radio host Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald knows better than most how important sports clubs are to the fabric of a community. And he’s urging South Aussies to get behind theirs.
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Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald knows better than most how important sports clubs are to the fabric of a community.
The Sydney-based Nova breakfast radio presenter grew up in Adelaide’s south and spent most of his childhood at the local Port Noarlunga footy club where his dad Mick played and coached, while mum Claire was the secretary.
“I grew up down at the club and then I started playing in under 13s. We were down there training twice a week, we were there all weekend. It was a huge part of our lives,” said Fitzgerald, who won an under 17s premiership at the club in 1993 and played in an A grade flag in 1997.
“Out of my whole career, to win a flag with your best mates that you grew up, for a club that you love so much, without a doubt it’s still the highlight of my career.”
With sporting clubs shut down during the coronavirus pandemic, the former Crow and Sydney Swans star admitted it’s been a difficult time for the community and especially his dad.
“He’s in his 70s but he still waddles there when he can. The hardest thing he’s found about this isolation is he hasn’t been able to yell at the umpires in the Southern Footy League,” Fitzgerald joked.
“So, he’s just been yelling at mum to play the ticky touch free kicks and she doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
He added: “I think for any young kid in the community, footy clubs and sporting clubs are vital, just having that team environment and learning good morals and values”.
That’s why the popular radio host is getting behindThe Advertiser ’s Support Our Clubs campaign, which aims to support SA’s sporting codes and clubs as they emerge from lockdown and to show how much they mean to the state’s cities, towns, regions and communities.
“For people down south especially, for their mental health, getting out and socialising and playing sport helps them no end, so we need to get it up and going as soon as we can,” he said.
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Fitzgerald, who also played footy in the SANFL for South Adelaide before being drafted to the AFL, also implored fans to stick with their state league clubs.
“I know it’s hard, there are a lot of people out there who have lost jobs and they’re doing it really, really tough, but in regards to memberships … just stick with your club if you can,” he said.
“You’ll get your opportunity to see your club play again.
“They’ve never needed those membership dollars more than ever to survive, so if you can show a bit of patience, stick with them.”
