Graham Croker
The Grandstand at No.1 Oval was packed to the rafters on Friday evening for the annual Blue & Gold Club dinner in aid of Sydney University Soccer Football Club.
Past and present players and supporters were entertained by Adam Spencer, of ABC breakfast radio fame and resident B&G Club panel moderator, who interviewed Sydney FC’s Alex Brosque, Matilda Kylie Ledbrook, Socceroo goalkeeper Zelko Kalac and football tragic George Negus on their careers and their World Cup predictions.
The dinner was conveniently scheduled by Blue & Gold Club trump and Sydney University Sport Corporate and Alumni Relations manager Rodney Tubbs to coincide with the opening of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
During the course of the evening funds were raised from a live auction, conducted by Mr Tubbs, and a silent auction that included World Cup winners’ shirts signed by Geoff Hurst (1966), Pele (1970) and Maradona (1986), along with shirts signed by Brosque, the 2010 A-League Player of the Year, and Kalac, who attended the 2006 World Cup.
Although Blue & Gold sporting functions date back to 1997, the concept of a Blue & Gold Club was launched three months prior to the Sydney 2000 Olympics at a function attended by 750 “good sports” and Lord Sebastian Coe as the guest speaker. The Blue & Gold Club celebrated its 10th birthday in May of this year.
The Club holds fund-raising dinners and golf days throughout the year, providing sporting enthusiasts the opportunity to maintain or create links with Australia’s premier university and its rich sporting traditions. All monies raised go towards the promotion of sport at Sydney University and financing two sporting scholarships each year.
