Colin “Tiny” Nelson recognised for 72 years of service at Goodwood Saints Football Club
Volunteers are the lifeblood of local sporting clubs and few have put in more time and effort than Colin “Tiny” Nelson at the Goodwood Saints.
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A broken leg at the age of 11 which ended a promising football career proved to be one of the luckiest things to happen for Goodwood Saints legend Colin “Tiny” Nelson.
Nelson only just retired at his beloved club after a staggering 72 years as a volunteer.
At loose ends in those early days after his injury Tiny was convinced by Saints’ president at the time Peter Haynes to do some jobs around the club.
Those jobs morphed into others and the young dynamo was awarded life membership in 1959 at 24 years old.
Tiny, now 83, has done it all at the Saints from president, secretary, treasurer to helping junior coaching programs, reporting on opposing clubs for the following week’s games and driving the medical van to away games.
He also was a bar manager, goal umpire and, for many years, a timekeeper.
Goodwood Saints will host a special tribute to Tiny at The Highway hotel on Sunday, September 29, from 10.30am to 1pm.
“Sitting in the grandstand with a blanket over my legs I would constantly get asked how long to go in tight games,” Tiny says.
“I sometimes told them in no uncertain matter where they could go.”
Tiny lived in Goodwood, attended Goodwood Primary School and was nicknamed after his father Laurence.
He says the footy club is his life.
“I didn’t marry so the club is my family, along with my two sisters,” Tiny says.
“Years ago my dad said he said he was so proud of me for sticking with the club.
“I’ve loved all my time there, especially the boys that I saw coming through.
“Years later when they were much older those boys would come up and say that I was fantastic for them and that it was good to see I was still there.”
Tiny, who worked as a storeman at the old Kodak photo shop in the CBD, was heavily involved with the club’s amalgamation with St Raphaels which formed Goodwood Saints.
He also was a long-time delegate with the club.
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Tiny was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2009 for service to AFL and the development of juniors at Goodwood Saints.
His health hasn’t been great in recent times and he lives at the Westbourne Park Nursing Home.
But Goodwood Saints president Craig Scott says the club is indebted to Tiny.
“He is loved by all who meet him and the club would not be around today if not for him,” Scott says.