Roger O’Brien of Croydon Football Club gets Service To Sport award
Croydon Footy Club legend Roger O’Brien, 84, has been crowned the national winner of the Service To Sport category in the Local Sport Star awards.
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He is already a local footy legend — and now Roger O’Brien’s incredible involvement with his beloved Croydon Blues has been recognised on a national level.
Mr O’Brien, 84, of Croydon, has been crowned the national winner of the Service To Sport category in the Local Sport Star awards.
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He’s the only Victorian winner this year and his honour comes after he won the category at September’s Leader Local Sport Star Awards at the MCG.
Awards host and 10 News First sports presenter Stephen Quartermain was on hand to present Mr O’Brien with his award last week.
“It’s unbelievable, absolutely fantastic. Even the last one at the MCG, just to get that I was stoked, and to now get this I’m really, really pleased,” Mr O’Brien said.
Affectionately known as ‘Rooster’ at the club, Mr O’Brien has been involved with Croydon for 70 years and joined when he was 14 years old in 1948.
His grandsons Luke and Josh currently play in the club’s junior sides.
His career highlight was playing in Croydon’s maiden Division 1 premiership in 1960. Over the years he’s also been a junior and reserves coach, founded the past players committee in the 1970s, and today plays a major role in the club’s legends and welfare group.
“I love football and I love the Croydon Football Club,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Your family always keep you alive, but outside of the family, the football club definitely helps me along.
“It boosts my morale up and helps me look forward to something each week, I just love the place.”
Mr Quartermain, who grew up in Ringwood North and started his media career as a reporter for the Maroondah Leader in 1980, said he was stoked to see a sports star from his old stomping ground win a major award.
“Just spending time with him today and listing to all the old stories, his memory is as sharp as a razor,” Mr Quartermain said.
“His longevity is extraordinary and I’m rapt he’s been acknowledged in this way.”
Wife Dot said she was incredibly proud of her husband and they would keep attending games for as long as possible.
“As long as I keep driving we’ll be going to the football, otherwise we’ll be going in our scooters,” she said.
Nominations for the 2019 Leader Local Sport Star Awards will open in March.
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