The belated but eagerly anticipated farewell of three former Tamworth City Lions, who passed away this year, has been scheduled for next month.
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Jack Woolaston Oval will be the scene of the January 16 event, in which the memories of Bob Edgecock, Jody Cooper and Ron Porter will be honoured.
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"I stress that you all make a big effort to get there as these 3 fellows deserve an Old Lions sendoff," wrote ex-Tamworth City player David Head in an email promoting the event.
Head said the farewell had been organised, separately from the now-defunct club's annual reunion, because the pandemic meant Lions Old Boys did not get the chance to get together when the men passed away.
He described them as "great Lions".
"All the funerals were held during the COVID restrictions," he said.
"And what it meant, basically, was that a lot of fellas interstate had no chance of getting back [to Tamworth] to celebrate their lives.
"So we were all very keen to have the function when it was suitable, when travel restrictions were eased."
Head said it would be "without a doubt" a special, with people "very keen to attend".
"Even the email that went out last night [Wednesday], I've had instant emails back replying, 'Yes, we'll be there,'" he said. "We should have good numbers."
Head said Jack Woolaston Oval was chosen as the venue because it had a clubhouse and an open space, which was suitable in the COVID-19 era.
"Norths have been very, very cooperative," he said. "And they're very happy for us to have our function there."
Cooper was president of Norths when he passed away.
"Having it at Norths will be a pretty good test to make sure that Edgie [Edgecock] has gone," Head said.
"Because if he hasn't gone, he's gonna come back and make a hell of a hullabaloo that he's being farewelled at North Tamworth Oval."
