It all started back in the summer of ’96 when two Old Mt. Lilydale Collegians were having a friendly drink at their local pub in Lilydale.

Their names were Patrick Carolan and Chris Walsh. After several beverages they came up with the idea of starting a football club that would incorporate Old Collegians from Mt. Lilydale College to play football together. They had heard about the VAFA (Victorian Amateur Football Association) and thought it was a fantastic idea. With other Old Collegians involved it slowly turned true, and before too long Mount Lilydale Old Collegians Football Club Inc was formed.

We played our first game at Morrison Reserve in Mt. Evelyn. Old Collegians involved initially were Monica Carolan, Michael Napoleone, Frazer Livingstone, Matthew Vos, Louise Carolan, Karina Dwyer, Kim Adrianse, Carissa Kelly, Cassandra Canny, the Flanagan Brothers.

Patrick Carolan has played 200+ games with the club and his No# 32 jumper that he wore continues to be handed to the captain each year. Chris Walsh played for 5 years then married and moved to Eden, NSW, but when he can he still visits the club when he returns to visit family.

Initially it was quite overwhelming to even consider starting a football club from scratch, let alone worry about where the resources were going to come from. Thankfully some of the older teachers were still at the school when initial discussions were held which made it easier with relationships.

From the start the school has always been behind us with the endeavour for the ‘Old Collegian Football Club’ to be an outlet for young adults to progress further in their sport, and to continue their friendships alongside their Old Collegians.

To this day, the school is still a helping partner in allowing the football club to prosper. Without the help of the following people from the school, the football club would never have formed.

• Sister Nancy Freddi
• Mr Michael Johnson
• Mr Gerry Donovan
• Mr Mick Hill
• Mrs Sue Martin