The family of local football identity Geoff McLure says it has been comforted by widespread messages of condolence following his death.
The 83-year-old, who had battled Parkinson’s disease for 20 years, died on Sunday.
McLure is a Legend in East Geelong’s Hall of Fame and a life member of the Eagles, playing 211 games.
He is also a revered figure at Bell Post Hill, where he was honoured with life membership.
After a year at Corio in the mid-1970s, McLure was the first reserves coach of the fledgling Panthers, captained the seconds for five years, and served as president, vice-president, and club director.
However, it was as the under-18s coach for a club in a growing suburb that McLure had the most significant impact, guiding the club’s next generation of talented youngsters from 1983 to 1987.
“He touched so many kids,” son Nathan McLure said.
“The messages that we’re getting through are from, you know, people older than me now.
“They’re saying, ‘your Dad made a massive impact on my life. I was either going through a rough stage, or I was doing things that I shouldn’t have been doing, and your Dad got me on the straight and narrow again’.
“We’re getting some great messages from people at Bell Post Hill; we just love it.”
Nathan McLure also recalled his Dad claiming a puddle might have cost Bell Post Hill a spot in the GFL in the late 1980s.
Chasing their first senior premiership, the Brian Schultz-coached Panthers lost the 1988 GDFL Division decider to Lara by 12 points at West Oval, with the Cats moving into the region’s top-flight the following year, replacing Geelong Amateur.
“It was just a really wet, miserable day, and we’re going pretty well,” Nathan McLure said.
“We’re almost there to win it… one kick away.
“They were running down the wing, had a shot at goal, it was going through, and it just sat in a puddle, and it was three metres out from goal, and it just went down the other end.
“Lara kicked the goal, and the siren went, and they won, and they went into the GFL.”
McLure also influenced at league level with the GDFNL, serving in lengthy stints as vice-president and interleague coordinator.
As well as being a life member of the GDFNL, the medal for best-on-ground in the reserve grade grand final bears his name.
He was also part of the group that established the Geelong Combined Leagues Club in the early 1990s, which later became known as Buckleys, and served on the board for several years.
President Neville Whitley, who was a teammate of McLure’s at East Geelong before the pair were reunited at the GDFNL, also paid tribute.
“Geoff and I were mates going back when we played football back at 18, 19, 20, and continued that relationship going forward,” Whitley. And then Jeff came on board.
“It’s sad to lose one of our soldiers.”
Geoff McLure is survived by his wife of 60 years, Cynthia; his children, Mandy, Catrina, and Nathan; his sister, Wendy; his brothers, Daryl, Rod, and Steve; and seven grandchildren.
His funeral will be held at Barrabool Hills on Wednesday, July 16, at 2 pm.
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