One of the Riddell District Football Netball League’s biggest events of the year takes place on Anzac Day when Lancefield Football Netball Club plays Kyneton in the first ‘Clash of the Tigers’.
It will be the first time the two Tigers have played each other since Kyneton joined the Riddell League this season.
However, accounts of games between Lancefield and some of Kyneton’s earlier teams date back to the 1880s.
The Lancefield FNC’s tribute will ensue a very special Anzac Day activity in Lancefield Park.
Lancefield senior players will don special Anzac jumpers and netball dresses to pay tribute to servicemen and women, both past and present, who served our nation.
They include 14 Lancefield players who went to war and never returned home, making the supreme sacrifice.
Through research from the Romsey and Lancefield Historical Society when the club’s 150th anniversary book was being compiled last year, these 14 were identified as being killed in action.
Lancefield players in the senior matches will carry the 14 players’ names on a wattle inspired one-off tribute jumper and dress.
The wattle is a significant symbol of Australia, particularly through the war years.
During World War I sprigs of wattle were sent to hospitals for the wounded soldiers in Egypt, France and England.
Meanwhile, back at home, the Red Cross sold wattle sprigs to raise money for the war effort.
LFNC vice-president, Chris Dyon, the chief organiser of the special tribute, said the symbolism and attachment in our sporting landscape was summed up in no better manner than by the famous line in the Australian cricket team’s victory song ‘Under the Southern Cross I stand, a sprig of wattle in my hand’.
MANY HIGHLIGHTS
The day will have many highlights beside the football and netball.
A special Anzac Day ceremony will take place about 2.10pm before the main game.
Historical society members will be on hand selling copies of not only the acclaimed Lancefield Football Club 150-year history book, but also the poignant book ‘Anzac Letters’.
The latter includes letters received by Lancefield families and friends from soldiers from soldiers serving in WWI.
Following the main match a silent auction in the Laurie Green Pavilion will take place with the chance to take home a timeless piece of LFNC memorabilia, with the game day jumpers and dresses offered up for sale.
There will also be a major charity fundraiser with a one-off framed copy of the official commemorative jumper, including some very special touches paying tribute to those Lancefield players who never came home.
At the same time the winners of special commemorative Anzac Day medals will be announced for each team in the seniors’ football.
At the completion of the main game, Lancefield women’s first home game will take place against Kyneton.
When Kyneton joined the league, KFNC president Hayden Evans said he hoped the annual fixtures between the ‘two Tigers’ would become very special occasions.
AT MACEDON
The very special annual Anzac Day observance, which takes place each year at Tony Clarke Oval, Macedon, is on again with Macedon again hosting Diggers Rest. The service will take place at 2.45pm.
