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BrekkyDJ
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PMFC congratulates Henry 'Pug' Tucker
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Media Release – Tuesday, 11th September 2012

Henry ‘Pug’ Tucker acknowledged for over 60 years of service

Port Melbourne trainer and Rawson (Gippsland) resident, Henry “Pug” Tucker has been acknowledge for his service to football and honoured with the Alec Gillon Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 AFL Victoria JJ Liston Trophy night.

The citation for Mr Tucker read:
Henry has provided 63 years of service to the Port Melbourne Football Club. He began his career in 1949, as a player in the thirds, progressing to the reserves then seniors, playing a total of 45 games over seven seasons.
In his time he played in two losing Grand Finals, 1952 and 1955, in what was an outstanding but frustrating era for the Port Melbourne Football Club, winning one premiership at eight attempts.
On retiring as a player, Henry became a trainer for the club, and he has worked on a volunteer basis in this capacity for over fifty years, driving from Rawson (near Moe) every game day, no matter where the club was playing.
Henry has committed his life to the Port Melbourne Football Club for a period of 63 years, a magnificent achievement that would be hard pressed to emulate.

Port Melbourne President, Peter Bromley, said Henry was a true blue legend at the club and laughed “he has been part of the Port Melbourne family for ten months longer than I have been alive”!

“Not only has Henry travelled all around Victoria to help our club each week for over sixty years, he even travelled with the team this year to Darwin and Perth as part of our Foxtel Cup campaign”.

Fellow born and raised Gippslander, Gary Ayres (AFL Hall of Fame member and current Port Melbourne coach), paid tribute to Henry’s long and loyal service.

“Henry is one of those unique individuals who do not come along all that often and it was great recognition for ‘Pug’ to receive the Alec Gillon Award for the work he has done for the Port Melbourne Football Club”.

Ayres added that ‘Pug’ is “much loved and respected by all at the Borough.”

A very humble Henry Tucker was modest in his response to receiving the Alec Gillon Award and said he hoped to still serve the Port Melbourne Football Club into the future.

“We’re lucky to have a great bunch of players and volunteers around the club at the moment”.

“Everybody looks out for each other and the players will happily give you the time of day no matter if you’ve been here for a minute or forever”!

Asked what was the best Port Melbourne side he’d seen, Henry had no hesitation in naming the 2011 team as the best of all time.

“Last year was extraordinary. For a bunch of semi-professional footballers, who had to balance footy with work or study, to come up against the professional AFL players and complete the season undefeated, it was an incredible effort”.

Henry will return to his role as a trainer for the Boroughs on Saturday 15th September, when Port Melbourne takes on Williamstown in the Peter Jackson VFL Preliminary Final at North Port Oval.

Edited by: BrekkyDJ on 11/09/2012 - 16:05