Vale President John Hickey (1930-2018)

[joffa corfe]

With great sadness.
I sat with John at several games at the VFL during 2008. A very nice man, Another Collingwood President denied Premiership glory.
RIP mate.

[favourites 2008]

Yep read the message in yesterdays paper I think. A message from all Collingwood members written by the club.

Met him a couple of times through my girlfriends grand father. Very nice man.

RIP

[London Dave]

Heard this the other day, very sad news. He was a true gentleman. RIP.

[John Wren]

that's sad. rip john hickey. like joff i sat with him on the odd occasion at vfl games last season.

he was a staunch supporter of retaining vic park as it was and came along to one of the hv meetings to voice his objections to what the council had planned.

[jack_spain]

[die4pies]

Vale John 'Jack' Hickey.

Collingwood man to the bone.
1930 - 2009

Past away suddenly on Saturday January the 3rd 2009.
Jack's service was held yesterday.

I have spoken with Nancy and she and the family are coping well and we send our deepest simpathies and condolences to all.

Personally I am guttered. I got to know Jack very well through his love for his footy ground on Lulie Street. I promised Jack I would sit with him and watch his Magpies play at Victoria Park again some day and that day draws ever closer.

Playing career:
1951-56 - 72 games 15 goals

Collingwood President 1976-1982

Jack's playing career spanned six seasons and while he missed playing in the '53 triumph. Jack played in 17 games that year including the semi final win over Geelong, but missed the Grand Final. Jack, like '58 captain Frank Tuck, was unlucky not to be part of a premiership playing in the losing '55 and '52 grand finals. He was still a vital part of Phonse Kynes team as a fleet footed highly skilled wingman.


Playing with the likes of the Rose brothers, the Richards brothers, Mann, Weideman, the Twomey brothers and Merritt and with Syd Coventry in the big chair and names like Fothergill, Regan and Collier still close to the heart beat of the Club, it is not hard to see how Jack got such a great 'Collingwood' education.

In Collingwoods darkest hour while Ern Clarke was busy bickering with The Weed (almost exactly like Kennedy/Thompson in the movie The Club), Jack was swept to power in that dark June of '76. Like Ed, his first item in the trophy cabinet would be wooden. But Jack, with former premiership player Peter Lucas and Club administrative stalwart Gordon Carlyon by his side, embarked on an ambitious plan to modernise the Collingwood Football Club while still respecting the past. The tradition of selecting former Collingwood players as coach was dispensed with, thanks mostly to a chance meeting on a flight back from Perth between Jack and T-shirt Tommy and the tough hard working Tom Hafey was appointed the toughest job in football.

What happened next was a roller-coaster ride of great promise and ultimate gut-wrenching failure. While the Club had once again regained financial stability, nobody will remember the great work done off the field to rebiuld the Club, only how close and how far we were from winning what the game is really all about. A premiership.

1977. Tommy's men take it all the way and lead by 27 points at the last change only to see Barassi's North snatch the lead. Twiggy marks and goals to give us a replay but the Pies let it slip. 2nd, but the rise is so meteoric that we all know something big is just around the corner.

1978. Tommy gets us to a prelim and Thommo leaves the Pies exactly 14 seasons after he played his first game, which was also a prelim loss to Essendon in '65. Pies finish third. Surely it is just a matter of time.

1979. A new breed emerges. Kids with names like Shaw, Daicos, Banks and a swashbuckling mobile ruck by the name of Moore take the Club to some long awaited silverware in the Escort Cup night premiership win. September can't come soon enough. On a wet and miserable day the Filth steal a commanding lead. Tommy's kids fight back and then disaster strikes. Everyone can see it, except the one person that should have. 2nd again and a pattern is emerging. Still the team is young and there is much to look forward to.

1980. The Pies , in their fortress at Victoria Park, are unstopable. Marching towards another Grand Final. Bitter disappointment in the night cup when a goal after the siren steals the game. Deja Vu. Umpires rob us again?!!! September comes, the parade, the kids on show and looking hungry, this is the year!!! Tigers too good. Colliwobbles. 2nd again. Where was our Leeter Collier to thump that Fartlett bastard!

1981. Tommy's workman like ethic fits Victoria Park and Collingwood to a tee. Pies will play off yet again against the arch enemy for one last horah that would be more like a horror. 2nd again. Did the Pies suffer stage fright? Colliwobbles? Did they try too hard? Or was it simply that circumstances conspired against a team and a Club that deserved better. Who knows.

Jack Hickey was a wonderful president that brought democracy and stability back to Victoria Park. Under Jack and Tom Hafey the Pies would play 138 games and win 89 of them and finish runners up a staggering four times.

Rest in peace Collingwood warrior.

Shane

[stoliboy]

Comments on John Hickey from another forum: http://www.pprune.org/d-g-general-aviation-questions/356904-john-hickey-dfc.html

[stoliboy]

Jack Hickey
DOB: 13-12-1930 173 cm 69 kg
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/J/Jack_Hickey.html

[Proud Pies]

RIP John Hickey

Sincere condolences to family, friends and all who met/knew him

[Kingswood]

Nice write up Shane!

some sad news... RIP

[jack_spain]

[cobood]

My deepest condolences to his family friends, and all Collingwoodites...

Requiscat In Pace Jack!

[Mossi]

Thanks Jack. R.I.P.

[handy point]

Says he was a pilot during WWII, but going by his age listed at the CFC site he would have been between 3 and 8 years old during WWII

???

That aside, sorry to hear of the passing of another Collingwood faithful.

[stui magpie]