Clarrie Steenholdt reflects upon the controversial 1939 grand final at the Bunyip Recreation Reserve yesterday. The Garfield ‘no show’ created bad blood between the neighbouring towns but Clarrie, Bunyip’s 19th man that day, says he has long moved on. 87034
By Garry Howe
ONE of local sport’s greatest rivalries will be reignited when Bunyip and Garfield meet in Saturday’s Ellinbank and District Football League grand final.
It will be the first time the neighbouring towns have squared off in the final game of the season since the infamous ‘no show’ controversy of 1939, when Garfield refused to play on a sodden Nar Nar Goon oval and the match was handed to Bunyip on forfeit after they took the field and captain Wal Toy kicked the only goal of the game.
Two Garfield players made it to the ground, Jack Smith and Jack Miller, but were told by the umpires that if they took the field they would have to play the entire game. So they just watched as the single goal decided the flag.
The controversial result is still the subject of conjecture among supporters of both clubs some 73 years later.
So deep is the feeling that Bunyip’s 19th man that day, Clarrie Steenholdt, refused a request by the Gazette yesterday to pose in front of the scoreboard set up to read Bunyip 1.0 to Garfield 0.0.
“I’d rather not do that if you don’t mind,” Clarrie replied, in a polite yet stern manner. “I know what you are thinking, but I don’t want to create any bad blood.
“I’ve got as many friends in Garfield as I have in Bunyip, perhaps more, and I don’t want to stir things up any more than they are.”
On the surface, Garfield’s issue was with the state of the ground but local legend has it that a substantial wager by some of the Stars brigade had more to do with the no show. They were a much taller team and not as suited to a muddy surface.
Clarrie wouldn’t be drawn into that, but did say that the bad blood that resulted was more between supporters from both towns and not the players.
“I know what happened but I will never say,” he said.
Clarrie moved on long ago and his only hope going into Saturday is that it’s a great contest between two great sides.
“I’d be quite happy if Garfield won, but probably a little happier if it was Bunyip,” he smiled.
For more on Clarrie and Jack Smith’s recollections of 1939, turn to page 9 and the Footy Liftout.
