Shepparton United set to celebrate historic 1980 GVL treble

As a figure of around 10,000 people piled into Deakin Reserve, Shepparton United won not one, not two, but three football premierships — making it the first club in GVL history to complete the historic treble.

Arguably the most revered day in the history of the GVL, three of the competition’s biggest rivals in United, Shepparton and Lemnos (now Shepparton Swans) would be represented, with the Demons and Maroons (now Bears) battling it out in the seniors and reserves, while the Swans battled United in the thirds clash.

Tensions were high both on and off the field, and the matches that came as a result were nothing short of legendary.

Now 42 years on, Shepparton United will celebrate this incredible achievement this weekend as it welcomes Mooroopna for a round 14 GVL clash, a reunion that has been postponed two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So as these Demons legends prepare to descend on Deakin Reserve, we at The News thought now would be as good a time as any to go back and relive that incredible day in September 1980.

Trawling back through the archives to the edition of The News from Monday September 29, 1980, renowned sports reporter Tom Carey described the seniors clash, which Shepparton United won 17.18 (120) to 12.15 (87), as the following.

“Aerial superiority, team balance and sheer brilliance enabled United to ravage Shepparton for the Demons’ seventh Goulburn Valley League premiership at Deakin Reserve.”

With legendary coach Des Campbell at the helm and a host of prominent players such as Chris Connolly (who went on to play for Melbourne and coach Fremantle), Des Hicks, John Di Stefano, Richard Warburton and Craig Blizzard in the side, the Demons produced a stunning six-goal opening term to secure the victory.

Serving as a playing assistant coach on that day, Blizzard recounted what led to the Demons’ success in 1980.

“It was a combination of the juniors that had built over the years prior and then a favourite son in Des Campbell coming back to coach that had us primed for that 1980 season,” Blizzard said.

“Des had been to Melbourne and then Tongala before coming back home, and him coming to the club meant people followed because he was a big man.

“He was certainly a bit of an idol and he really inspired us that year.”

Tasked with explaining the atmosphere of that seniors match, Blizzard said it was near impossible to describe, with the record crowd, special appearances from VFL cheer squads and cheerleaders making it one of the most memorable days in the history of country football.

With so much pressure on the team to deliver that final premiership, the Demons knew they could not lose.

“It was just a big build-up, when the thirds got home in a tough one and the reserves got their win, we had to win, there was no way known we were going out there to lose,” he said.

“With 10,000 people, the Demonettes, Melbourne cheer squad, streamers like you couldn’t believe — the atmosphere was incredible and reminds me of when country football was great.”

As the game eventually got under way, both teams played an attacking style of football, making for a fantastic spectacle for the massive crowd of supporters.

Blizzard highlighted some of the moments that stood out to him and what he believed lifted the Demons to victory.

“Being so long ago I do struggle to remember the game in its entirety,” he said.

“You had Mick Mulligan, who used to coach the club for years, come in and go bang-bang and kick five goals, there was also plenty of punches thrown around the place and neither team backed down,” he said.

“It wasn’t individuals for us though, it was a real solid team effort, we had no passenger and neither did Shepp who played a great game.

“But in the end the right team won.”

Facing its fiercest rival Shepparton, Blizzard also recalled the tension that was in the air that day, with the push and shove even extending beyond the 44 players on the ground.

“During the game it got tough, there were some blues and even some supporters jumping the fence to get involved in the fights on the ground,” he said.

“Shepp was the enemy, that was always the big game of the year for all United players, and that made the grand final victory all the more sweet.”

And while the game itself and atmosphere will go down in history, perhaps more historic were the celebrations that followed.

Blizzard described what was a magical night engineered by iconic club president Barry Connolly.

“Barry certainly left no stone unturned in celebrating that night,” he said.

“To have a civic reception afterwards and a presentation night that I have never seen anything like — way bigger than any AFL club.

“It was just a buzz and a special time for the club.”

Following this premiership win, a dominant decade of Goulburn Valley League football ensued for the Demons, which included seven grand final appearances and four premierships.

Blizzard said it was that day which served as the catalyst for its dominance.

“After the 1980 win, we played in seven grand finals, so that day set it up and then off it went,” he said.

“It was just a powerful decade of club football, 1980 started it and it went on and on.”

Forty-two years on, the players that featured in not just the seniors’ game, but all three games, still share a close bond that has never been broken.

This makes days such as Saturday’s reunion all the more special, as that group of Shepparton United footballers come together to share stories and reminisce on that history-making time.

Peter Lawer, who played in the reserves for Shepparton United in its 1980 premiership, said it would be incredibly exciting to finally celebrate the 40-year anniversary of the treble.

“It is awesome to finally get this off the ground after COVID-19,” Lawer said.

“There has always been a group of us who have stuck together and played golf and bowls, and we always hang out for these reunions because you don’t see a lot of people that moved out of town.

“They come back, the lies get bigger, the stories get better and we just enjoy reminiscing what was a great time in our lives.”