Thereโs a strong nostalgic pull to seeing your former favourite footy players run out again years after theyโve retired.
Itโs like seeing the Rolling Stones on tour in 2018; sure theyโre past their heyday, but when youโre there you see what made them superstars.
So, when a group of former Raiders pull the boots on again for The Pie in the Sky charity rugby league match later this month, theyโre sure to be met by a crowd of Raiders tragics hoping to wind back the clock.
An All-stars side featuring Alan Tongue will take on the Queanbeyan Blues, led by Terry Campese, all raising money for charities Treehouse and Respite Care for Queanbeyan.
Tongue was initially nervous when he took the phone call, but said that quickly fell to the wayside.
โThis is another way for us, even though our best years are behind us, of being able to contribute back to the Raiders and the community who looked out for us.
โTo play against the Queanbeyan Blues and Campoโs side is going to be really special; that club is a valuable part of the local community.โ
The All-stars side will see Tongue play alongside fellow former Raiders Joel Monaghan, Mark Herbet, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and plenty more, and be coached by NRL โimmortalโ Mal Meninga.
โTheyโre some guys Iโve got some really special memories with and theyโre entertainers, so Iโm sure youโll get to see some of those skills, even if theyโre not as sharp as they were back in the day.
โAt the end of the day footballers are competitors, and I think youโll see that when we get out there.โ
Tongue is optimistic this can become a fixture in the local sporting calendar.
โIf we can keep that momentum going that would be great; it might take us 12 months to get over it so it couldnโt be any more often than that,โ he smiled.
The Pie in the Sky charity match between the David Reid Homes All-stars and the Queanbeyan Blues will take place at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan on Friday 28 September 6.30pm. Tickets $10, children 12 and under free.
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