Port Macquarie to honour Paul Sheldon

By Sam Canavan

Beginning on April 12 against Sawtell Saints, the Magpies will make their first home game of every season the ‘Paul Sheldon Game,’ recognising the immense contribution Sheldon made to football on the North Coast, and country NSW and Victoria.

Sheldon tragically died in 2011 on the football field at Stuart Park after turning out for his beloved Port Macquarie Magpies.

The life member of the club suffered a heart attack and could not be revived.

In the words of current President Craig Carroll, Sheldon was ‘the heart and soul’ of the Magpies  during his eight year rein as President, with this weekend’s activities set to be a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much of his life to the game he loved.

“Paul was a terrific guy, who played more than 100 gamed for the Magpies, and started his football on the Mornington Peninsula with Red Hill, where he was named in the club’s ‘Team of the Century,'” Carroll said.

“It speaks volumes of the type of person he was that he was made a life member of three different football clubs during his time, which is pretty much unheard of.

“Our home ground we’re playing on this weekend is a brilliant facility, and we may never have been able to secure it if it weren’t for Paul and his vision, and with the support of AFL NSW/ACT the proposal to have the ground named after Paul is progressing steadily.”

Hundreds of supporters, players, officials, and members of the public are expected to attend, with an unlikely draw card.

Former NSW Waratah, now Port Macquarie Hastings Council Mayor, Mr Peter Besseling will take to an AFL field for the first time, turning out for the Magpies reserves.

A hugely popular figure within the community, there will no doubt be plenty of interest in how Besseling performs, with the 44-year-old taking the game very seriously.

“He’s been down training with the side for the last month, and has been really eager to polish up his skills; he’s intent on playing a decent game of football,” Carroll said.

“I’ve been helping him with his kicking for a half hour after every training session, and he’s taken to the game with aplomb; he’s obviously a former elite athlete and a towering figure, who can kick the football 60 metres, so I expect him to acquit himself well.”

After his first foray onto an AFL football field, the mayor will unveil the council’s gift of a commemorative Paul Sheldon plaque, which will be presented to the club and mounted inside the home team’s dressing rooms, before the unfurling of the premiership flags of the victorious 2013 Magpies Senior and U18 sides.

The Seniors flag will be presented by former President Tony Reid (LIfe Member) and former Vice President (Life Member) Michael Tritton, while inaugural Club President (and Life Member) Paul Wilson will do the honours for the U18s.

The Magpies’ day of tribute to Sheldon gets underway at 11am with the U18s match, followed by Mayor Besseling’s debut for the reserves side, and presentations.

More information can be found on the Magpies’ website.

Image: Paul Sheldon with former U18 captain Liam Carroll and Senior captain Shannon Skrega.