THE dearly departed will soar for Cobden one more time when the Bombers run on to the Reid Oval in search of premiership glory today.
In a novel tribute to those close to the club’s heart but who are no longer with us, red and black balloons will be released as the players get ready for action in the grand final against Warrnambool.
Names of the deceased will be written on the balloons.
Cobden Football Club committee members Jan Foster and Cathy Uwland said the idea was a way of paying tribute to people important to the club.
“We were sitting around at a meeting thinking about what we could do if we got into the grand final (and after discussing this idea) we all had tears in our eyes,” Foster said.
She said many players nominated grandparents and relatives they wished could be there on the day. There are also some important club people’s names to be featured among the three dozen balloons.
They include avid Cobden supporter Colleen Sullivan, whose rousing battle cries were sadly silenced in 2009. Tribute will also be paid to Bobby Andrews, a member of the Bombers’ victorious 1948 team who passed away this year, and Barry English, who Ms Uwland described as “a huge supporter of the club”.