A founder of the Goorambat Football Club, Irwin Down, died at his Goorambat home last Tuesday week.
Mr Down, who helped establish the Bats after World War II was aged 83.
Only days before his death, he cheered the Goorambat reserves to victory over Longwood by one goal in the first semi-final last Saturday.
He was vitally involved in the win, carrying out duties as a trainer and he was back the showgrounds on Sunday for the second semi-final.
Mr Down’s involvement with the football club stemmed from the interest in the game by his wife, Violet.
There was no football club at Goorambat after World War II, so he and the then licensee of the townships’ Railway Hotel, Jack Ramage, and a few other football fanatics established the club.
"Now if my wife goes crook at me for spending too much time at the football, I can tell her she started it," Benalla and District League Secretary Charlie Coop recalls Irwin telling him.
Mr Cooper said Mr Down had not missed a match in 25 years and a one-match absence broke his 47-year continuous involvement with game.
Mr Down’s other sporting passion was cycling, and he rode for many years as a professional.
He was transferred to Goorambat by the Victorian Railways in 1941 from his home town of Tungamah,
He had played a few matches with St James "just down the line a bit" and although he played in a practice match with his newly founded club, he found he had talent for massage and that became his niche with the Bats.
Since then he had packed his trusty old green first aid kit with bandages, liniment and all other bits and pieces to keep footballers on the field and followed the Bats through thick and thin.
Mr Down is survived by his wife, Violet and daughter Melva.
His funeral service was held at the Benalla Presbyterian Church last Thursday before the cortege left for the Devenish cemetery.
https://www.benallaensign.com.au/local-news/2019/09/19/812559/in-the-archives-goorambat-football-club-founder-dies
Irwin Down
Last Modified on 29/09/2019 19:11