The following is an email I sent the club yesterday. As yet I have not received a reply.

Hi …,

To say I was hurt and disappointed after your phone call on Wednesday, terminating my services to the club, is an understatement.

Firstly to put this in context, a week before that phone call my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. The day you contacted me we had just been through a day of final tests and scans, and had just got home from a visit with the surgeon to discuss my wife’s surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

I started working voluntarily for the club in 1991 and was made a voluntary official at the beginning of 1995. At that time we, that is voluntary officials, used to receive respect and thanks. Doing things like (noted several instances of things I did for individuals within the club outside of what would normally be deemed voluntary services). I did these things because of my love of the club, because my assistance was appreciated.

I actually expected the news you gave me. It realised after last season that there was not a lot for me to do. It wasn’t so much the news, it was the way it was delivered. After over twenty year’s voluntary involvement with the club, seventeen years as an official, I suppose I expected to at least receive some thanks. Most organisations would at least acknowledge that amount of service.

I’d like to wish you and the stats team good luck for this season. It’s been a pleasure working with you all.

I still love the club, it’s just that I’ve lost respect.

Regards,

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With 12 seconds to go in the 1947 Grand Final Fred Stafford snaps a left footed goal. Carlton beat Essendon* by one point..

Number 17 in Carlton's 25 Greatest Moments.

Freddy, firstly best wishes to your missus, secondly don't waste a minute more of your life letting the clubs treatment of you get to you

Thanks Rexy. Obviously my wife is my number one priority by a mile. I can't help feeling betrayed.

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With 12 seconds to go in the 1947 Grand Final Fred Stafford snaps a left footed goal. Carlton beat Essendon* by one point..

Number 17 in Carlton's 25 Greatest Moments.

Freddy - thanks for sharing.

lack of professionalism on the club's behalf.

on a personal note - and having been through my wife's breats cancer - focus your energies on her.

I would also add, as you do go through this with your wife, take care of yourself. The challenge(s) for the carers or loved ones are also demanding of comfort and suppport.

good luck

All the best to Mrs Freddy and yourself.

Sad that the club has treated you in that way after so many years of service.

Focus on your family because at the end of the day, the family you have at home is your real family. Football is just a few hours of escape each week.

That's very harsh, Freddy. On both counts.

Best of luck to you and your wife. Stay strong and beat that bastard cancer. And try not to worry about the way the club treated you... bad manners are unfortunately the norm in business today. And the CFC sees itself as a business, not as a club.

Sorry to hear that news Freddy. It's mentioned in another thread by another veteran poster that a club is only made up of people, and those peoples' collective personalities determine how the beast lives, breathes, acts etc.

To a large degree it also defines the clubs culture and personality; people having a large bearing on influencing others to join the club. Unfortunately, the club we call 'ours' is losing its sense of direction because of how it treats its people....whether they be long serving stalwarts of the club like yourself or the disenfranchised/disenchanted supporter.

I was brought up with a saying instilled in me that goes 'It costs nothing to say thank you'. Unfortunately that saying, amongst others, seems to have disappeared from the vernacular. It seems it has from 'our' club.

At Carlton, it's become common practice when new recruits come into the place to give them the Brian Hansen book 'The Blue Boys: The History of the Carlton Football Club from 1864'. I don't expect any Gen Y'ers to read it, but it's the thought and context of where they've arrived at that's what counts. The same thoughtfulness and courtesy should be shown our lengthy servants of the club, along with a letter of thanks, signed by the President. Presidents past (through superb secretaries) have done similarly.

All the best to you and your wife. Loving the club is one thing. Loving your wife is another all together.

Can only echo what others have said. Best of luck for the tough but very winnable road ahead.

Re the club - that's bloody terrible. Awful treatment.

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Congratulations CK95

John you are so right, it is a business now
This might not be a good example in light of the main topic at hand (and to that I wish Fred and his wife all the very best for the future), but a year ago we bought a CFC backpack for my daughter, which broke after just 9mths of use and I can assure you she didn't toss it around like a rag doll - just poor quality goods or a defective one
I emailed the club about this and got zero response

Shocking news on both counts Freddy. Best wishes to yourself and to Mrs Freddy for better times and many more healthy years ahead

On the club, you mentioned that they "terminated your services to the club", can I ask how exactly they put it to you? Were they abrupt or blunt? Did they even try to make it sound like they would miss your services? I guess I just need some context before forming an opinion on their treatment of you (ie. Just how pissed off I should be at them on your behalf).

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Hi Freddy.
Bugger that!
Although rexy's wise words helped me let go when I needed to.
In this case I'm moved to action.
I've called the club about you, and have been given an email to follow through with.
Please PM me with your full name if you wouldn't mind, so I can go to town with this.

Also, here is a website that you might find helpful through the coming months.
It helped my partner back then, when I went through it, and also when it came back. Lots of tips and advice.
Also PM me anytime with whatever...there are no stupid questions...happy to help in any way I can.
http://canceraustralia.nbocc.org.au/bre ... ast-cancer

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Thanks to everybody. We'll beat this thing.

As an official I have seldom posted, preferring to refute misinformation or post facts that supporters need to know without prejudicing the club. I suppose I can got to town now.

About to head off to see the surgeon and oncologist. Wife is having her operation on Friday.

Again, thanks to all. In the main people are good. The support we've received is tremendous.

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With 12 seconds to go in the 1947 Grand Final Fred Stafford snaps a left footed goal. Carlton beat Essendon* by one point..

Number 17 in Carlton's 25 Greatest Moments.

Shit news Freddy, there wouldn't be many of us who haven't been touched by that prick of a disease and I'm sure I speak for all on TC when I say we hope your wife can beat it.

Good luck.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Freddy all the best to your wife and prayers are with you and her for Friday

I think I met you in the dim dark past at training a number of years ago when I went to training a lot

thank you for a great contribution to the club getting paid is one thing volunteerism is another particularly over a number of years

Great display of true Carlton kinship here, club could learn from us.

Like everyone else, my thoughts are with you Freddy. I'm sure our President would be extremely disapointed to know this has happened. Unfortunately the powers that be would have prevented it going that far up the chain.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Good luck to you and your wife Freddy.

Not good enough on the clubs behalf.

I can only echo the thoughts of everyone else, Freddy.

All strength to you and your wife first and foremost.

On the other, unfortunately, I have come to expect little else from the Club, who don't value loyalty and respect any more in the apparently ruthless world of sports management.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Good luck Freddy, i hope that you have all the luck in the world from here on in.

I know just how tough the battle is having lost my father in November. It can't take us all though and there will always be winners so take it on head first with all your will.

And good on you for letting it out at the club, never bottle it up.

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

The Cazzes send out good mojo to you and Mrs47, Freddy. And as someone said earlier, make sure you look after yourself during this time. You'll be no good to the missus if you fall in a heap.

Take care.

Well,
I emailed the club...
credit to them..they emailed back within 2 hours.
Freddy, this is for you.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”