For some reason I always spare a thought for Horrie Clover on New Years Day - and today it's 24 years since one of our greatest players passed away just short of his 90th birthday.

Horrie Clover fought in WW1...surviving the trench warfare and a gangrenous appendix to go on to serve the Carlton Football Club as no other man has ever done.

Clover played football and cricket for Carlton, won the 'Champion of the Colony' (the forerunner of the 'Brownlow'), the League Goalkicking, Captained Carlton, Captained Victoria, Coached Carlton...was Secretary of Carlton, Vice-President and President of Carlton in a service to the Blues that spanned 37 years.

If ever someone was to be honored at Carlton it's Horrie Clover.

Great post Sherrin. I always enjoy talking about the old timers, and to hear of his war service on top of his service to Carlton makes your heart melt.

There were so many players who served our country and our club with distinction - as there were with other clubs.

I read his biog on Blueseum on your mention, and what a player. Unlucky not to be a premiership player during those times but a successive administrator nonetheless on top of his stellar career.

If I may be so bold and indulgent as to say that my signature is reflective of my love of those old days and that team of '45 reminds me of the what we are a little today - On the bottom but fighting hard to get back on top. If you ever get a chance to read Bloodbath about the '45 GF, I recommend it. It was terriffic.

_________________
1945 - End of round 3 Carlton was last.

Last round Carlton made the final four for the first time.

Eventual premiers.

That's what I'm talking about!

Dr.S......I hope you don't mind.....I had this on file and thought it may add to your thread.

Lest we forget.

_________________
There's so much I could say...

Brilliant Warby!

Not sure how everyone else fared with footy presents for Christmas - but my reading thus far has included 'Fallen - Footballers who never returned from war' by Jim Main and David Allen and 'George - by George' the amazing life of George Harris which is a brilliant read and spends a lot of time talking about George's time at Changi as guest of the Japanese...to understand what the likes of Clover and Harris witnessed is really beyond our comprehension - but their life stories make for great reading and I for one would prefer to see a mini-series of these men's lives than any underworld glorification Channel 9 throw up this summer.

RIP Horrie

Great post Doc

Great pic Warbs

Great man, Horrie

Makes your heart ache, reading about the heroes of that era .. they certainly don't make them like that any more

_________________
[Sam Jacobs] looks like a 7' Lance Whitnall, and [Mitch Robinson] looks like a 4' Lance Whitnall
(The SEN team during the Carlton v Cats 2009 pre-season match)

A legend of the game on and off field.