‘Chambo Choir’ sings up a storm for SANFL grand finalist Sturt
They are Sturt’s boisterous 23rd man and they are ready to sing up a storm during Sunday’s SANFL grand final. Meet the ‘Chambo Choir’.
Consisting of more than 50 members aged from their mid-20s to 70s, they are dyed-in-the-wool Double Blues fans who have produced a 30-song playbook dedicated to their Sturt heroes and light up home games with their singing.
Meet the ‘Chambo Choir’ - the SANFL’s loudest supporter group, which adds glitz and glamour to the state league competition.
Passionately led by lifelong Sturt fan John MacKenzie, 64, the ‘Chambo Choir’ - named after the Blues’ all-time leading goalkicker and former star full forward Brant Chambers - was established 18 years ago and has grown in numbers every year.
The group, which gathers in front of Unley Oval’s McKay Stand at home games, sings a song in honour of a Sturt goalkicker after every goal and even has its own ‘Chambo Choir’ merchandise, which includes polo shirts and hoodies.
“We have a song ready to go for all 22 players who represent our great club each week,’’ MacKenzie said.
“Sometimes when a young player comes into the team they’ll get the same song, with a few words changed, as another player but generally we have a different song for all of them.
“It’s all designed to show our support for the team, while having a bit of fun at the same time.’’
The group combines its finances to sponsor five Sturt players, including 2024 joint Magarey Medallist Will Snelling.
MacKenzie said the ‘choir’ was named after cult hero Chambers in the late 2000s because “me and a couple of other supporters used to sing a little ditty every time he kicked a goal’’.
“That’s led to the starting of the group,’’ he said.
Chambers - a 193cm powerhouse forward - kicked 672 goals in 204 games for Sturt from 2001-10 after joining the club from WAFL side Subiaco.
He was a member of the Double Blues’ 2002 premiership team and won three Ken Farmer Medals as SANFL leading goalkicker - in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
MacKenzie’s favourite Sturt tunes are for small forward Josh Hone, Snelling and classy left-footer Sam Conforti.
Hone’s tune is based on the Burke’s Backyard theme, starting with ‘Give us a Hone amongst the forwards’, while Snelling and Conforti share the same chorus from The Village People’s ‘Can’t Stop The Music’, but instead using the words, ‘You can’t stop Will Snelling/Sam Conforti’’.
The Double Blues players have embraced the passionate supporter group’s vocal and unique support, saying it inspired them to greater heights.
“They are massive for us and we love having them at our games,’’ Conforti said.
“We’ve kicked a lot of goals this year, so we’ve heard them a lot, which is perfect. They have some ripping chants and it’s great to listen to the ‘Chambo Choir’ during the 30-second period when the ball’s going back to the middle after a goal and they are going off.’’
MacKenzie said the ‘Chambo Choir’ was expecting to gather on the western side of Adelaide Oval for Sunday’s grand final against Glenelg.
While a lifelong fan after being born at Lower Mitcham and going to Sturt games as a kid with his great uncle, he said he had never enjoyed a season as much as this year’s history-making campaign.
“I’ve followed Sturt for as long as I can remember but this is the most enjoyable year of football I’ve had,’’ MacKenzie said.
“I’ve seen some good players and brilliant sides over the years but this year, with the way the team has played, has been pretty special. It’s been a great ride and hopefully it will have a happy ending.’’
Sturt has lost only one game all season - in the final home-and-away round against the Adelaide Crows by just two points - nearly becoming the first team since Port Adelaide’s famous ‘Invincibles’ side in 1914 to complete a flawless minor round.
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