50-year member Barry Wilson travels by train from Ballarat twice a week to watch his beloved Bombers at training.
Waking up at 5am, Wilson walks half an hour each way to the train station and makes the hour and a half journey to the True Value Solar Centre, usually on a Wednesday and Friday and then does it all again at every game on the weekend.
Now a family affair which extends to his wife and five sons, Wilson’s love for the Bombers started over a humble Sunday roast lunch.
“When I was about seven or eight, I had an older cousin and it was her husband that converted me. Whenever we had our Sunday lunches together with our family, that was all he ever used to talk about, so that’s what started my affiliation with the club,” Wilson said.
“Before I was married, I had Essendon memorabilia everywhere in my bedroom, but if I was going to get married I had to quickly remove it. My wife made sure of that (laughs).
“I had a huge poster of the 1965 premiership team above my bed and my mother-in-law once said to me ‘that’ll fall on your head and kill you one night.’ And I replied, ‘well, that would be a good way to go, under an Essendon premiership team.’
“But I might add, my wife was a Collingwood supporter and she’s now an Essendon member and just as passionate as I am.”
The Essendon fanatic also has an impressive personal hall-of-fame collection that completely fills three rooms in his house in Ballarat.
“I started to save things out of the newspaper and now I have things that are quite valuable. From the mid-50s onwards, I’ve started the collection,” Wilson said.
“A piece of memorabilia that stands out as a favourite is a personally signed jumper from James Hird and on my 70th birthday a couple of years ago, I got a personally signed jumper from Jobe. Because they’re personal, they stand out.
The 50-year member speaks fondly of his love for the red and black and urged all other supporters to get on board and sign up as a member in 2015.
“I’m so proud to be a member of such a great club. It makes me proud to be a part of it,” Wilson said.
“Not matter what happens at the club, I’ll stick with them till the day I die. If you’re happy to enjoy the good times, you have to be dedicated in the hard times and that makes the good times even better.”
But, like all supporters, there is one thing that Wilson still longs for.
“I’ve seen the Bombers in six grand finals and not many people can say that. But let’s just hope I can fit another one in before my time is up.”
Wilson was presented with a 50-year membership lapel pin on Wednesday during his most recent visit to the club.
Essendon Football Club recognises the unwavering support of their loyal members who are automatically enrolled free of charge in a recognition program and acknowledged based on consecutive years of membership.
