barrie robran MBE legend....the book out soon

[curlyhead]

Wrote an article on Barrie Robran for the Crows many years ago when admitted as a Legend of the Game. About 1998 from memory when he was admitted as a legend of the game. Went to the NAFC to meet him and was the most humble, unassuming man that anyone could wish to meet. Called him Mr Robran and he just said "my name is Barrie" There was a Port supporter doing a story on a great footballer, arguably the greatest ever in SANFL History and was standing with greatness.

A true gentleman who two days later drove a fair distance to my office and dropped in two pictures. Once the story was written I dropped into see him again at the NAFC, where it included a piece about his career being cut short by Leigh Matthews at the SCG. He requested that it be removed please as Leigh Matthews was such a great player and he would not like to tarnish his name, which I found remarkable.

Once released he rang me twice to thank me very much and to say thank you and both he and his family were delighted with the article. A true gentleman and a great champion.

The next year I did a story on a former Port Adelaide person (me being a die hard Port supporter) when he was admitted into the AFL Hall of Fame. This person did nothing to assist and just let the PAFC send a picture through and any information. Was not interested in a proof or a copy or anything.

Remarkable how you expect the second person to also be as humble and a living great of the game and then let down when you grew up with him as an idol. Shows that no matter who you support there are great people in all Clubs and then those who you hope are exactly the same let you down, you tend to feel deflated and never have the same opinion again.

Barrie Robran is and was a Legend of the game and a magnificent man in my 4 or 5 dealings with him.

[Magpiespower]

Well he is not chuffed, secretly or otherwise.

Only surprise is that it's taken this long for the book to be written...

[on the rails]

This is an amazing book to be written on one person.
You would have to be secretly chuffed to have something like this published about you even if you are super humble

Well he is not chuffed, secretly or otherwise.

So you are Barrie Robran, Margarey Legend

ML may not be Barrie but he would absolutely know and hence his comment which I can verify is 100 percent correct.

[Leaping Lindner]

Wrote an article on Barrie Robran for the Crows many years ago when admitted as a Legend of the Game. About 1998 from memory when he was admitted as a legend of the game. Went to the NAFC to meet him and was the most humble, unassuming man that anyone could wish to meet. Called him Mr Robran and he just said "my name is Barrie" There was a Port supporter doing a story on a great footballer, arguably the greatest ever in SANFL History and was standing with greatness.

A true gentleman who two days later drove a fair distance to my office and dropped in two pictures. Once the story was written I dropped into see him again at the NAFC, where it included a piece about his career being cut short by Leigh Matthews at the SCG. He requested that it be removed please as Leigh Matthews was such a great player and he would not like to tarnish his name, which I found remarkable.

Once released he rang me twice to thank me very much and to say thank you and both he and his family were delighted with the article. A true gentleman and a great champion.

The next year I did a story on a former Port Adelaide person (me being a die hard Port supporter) when he was admitted into the AFL Hall of Fame. This person did nothing to assist and just let the PAFC send a picture through and any information. Was not interested in a proof or a copy or anything.

Remarkable how you expect the second person to also be as humble and a living great of the game and then let down when you grew up with him as an idol. Shows that no matter who you support there are great people in all Clubs and then those who you hope are exactly the same let you down, you tend to feel deflated and never have the same opinion again.

Barrie Robran is and was a Legend of the game and a magnificent man in my 4 or 5 dealings with him.

I'm sorry to hear of your dealings with PAFC regarding the Hall of Fame inductee. That's really sad to hear. Mind you that could be down to that individual. Russell Ebert for example wouldn't behave like that.
Case in point Barrie and Russell Ebert remain firm freinds. Barrie mentioned to Russell once that a co worker's father was sick (in hospital) and a mad Port fan and asked Russell would he mind signing a card for him. Not only did he sign it he went into hospital to drop it in personally. He then found that the gentlemen had been sent home so Russell found out his home address and went to visit him there.

[robranisgod]

Wrote an article on Barrie Robran for the Crows many years ago when admitted as a Legend of the Game. About 1998 from memory when he was admitted as a legend of the game. Went to the NAFC to meet him and was the most humble, unassuming man that anyone could wish to meet. Called him Mr Robran and he just said "my name is Barrie" There was a Port supporter doing a story on a great footballer, arguably the greatest ever in SANFL History and was standing with greatness.

A true gentleman who two days later drove a fair distance to my office and dropped in two pictures. Once the story was written I dropped into see him again at the NAFC, where it included a piece about his career being cut short by Leigh Matthews at the SCG. He requested that it be removed please as Leigh Matthews was such a great player and he would not like to tarnish his name, which I found remarkable.

Once released he rang me twice to thank me very much and to say thank you and both he and his family were delighted with the article. A true gentleman and a great champion.

The next year I did a story on a former Port Adelaide person (me being a die hard Port supporter) when he was admitted into the AFL Hall of Fame. This person did nothing to assist and just let the PAFC send a picture through and any information. Was not interested in a proof or a copy or anything.

Remarkable how you expect the second person to also be as humble and a living great of the game and then let down when you grew up with him as an idol. Shows that no matter who you support there are great people in all Clubs and then those who you hope are exactly the same let you down, you tend to feel deflated and never have the same opinion again.

Barrie Robran is and was a Legend of the game and a magnificent man in my 4 or 5 dealings with him.

I'm sorry to hear of your dealings with PAFC regarding the Hall of Fame inductee. That's really sad to hear. Mind you that could be down to that individual. Russell Ebert for example wouldn't behave like that.
Case in point Barrie and Russell Ebert remain firm freinds. Barrie mentioned to Russell once that a co worker's father was sick (in hospital) and a mad Port fan and asked Russell would he mind signing a card for him. Not only did he sign it he went into hospital to drop it in personally. He then found that the gentlemen had been sent home so Russell found out his home address and went to visit him there.

And Barrie placed that story on the NAFC website and headed it "Not just a champion on the field".

The respect between the two champs is deep.

[Reddeer]

This is an amazing book to be written on one person.
You would have to be secretly chuffed to have something like this published about you even if you are super humble

Well he is not chuffed, secretly or otherwise.

So you are Barrie Robran, Margarey Legend

Sorry, I was confused, Magarey Legend you are Matthew Robran

[Mr66]

One of my first SANFL matches that I attended was a North/W-T
game at Prospect (in 2002 Round 1 IIRC).
Although I am a Sturt fan, I wanted as much SANFL paraphernalia as
I could get my hands on. So at half time,I ventured over to the North merchandise
stand with the intention of getting a cap, scarf and a pair of socks that
North wore at the time (Red with the two white rings at the top).
I got to the stand and perused what was available and came up with
a cap and scarf which I gave to the man who served me.
It was Barrie Robran.
After an awkward moments silence I asked him if they had any socks on sale but
was told they weren't available at the time.
I wasn't disappointed because I was in shock seeing the legend...and behind a counter as well. Initially I thought, 'what on earth would he be doing this for?'
But having read extensively about him I came to the conclusion that this would have
been typical Barrie Robran MO.
I then gathered my goodies and was about to resume my postion for the second half
when one of the ladies, who was also helping out at the stand, grabbed me and said
"Barrie just found these"
She just handed me a pair of North Adelaide socks.

[curlyhead]

Wrote an article on Barrie Robran for the Crows many years ago when admitted as a Legend of the Game. About 1998 from memory when he was admitted as a legend of the game. Went to the NAFC to meet him and was the most humble, unassuming man that anyone could wish to meet. Called him Mr Robran and he just said "my name is Barrie" There was a Port supporter doing a story on a great footballer, arguably the greatest ever in SANFL History and was standing with greatness.

A true gentleman who two days later drove a fair distance to my office and dropped in two pictures. Once the story was written I dropped into see him again at the NAFC, where it included a piece about his career being cut short by Leigh Matthews at the SCG. He requested that it be removed please as Leigh Matthews was such a great player and he would not like to tarnish his name, which I found remarkable.

Once released he rang me twice to thank me very much and to say thank you and both he and his family were delighted with the article. A true gentleman and a great champion.

The next year I did a story on a former Port Adelaide person (me being a die hard Port supporter) when he was admitted into the AFL Hall of Fame. This person did nothing to assist and just let the PAFC send a picture through and any information. Was not interested in a proof or a copy or anything.

Remarkable how you expect the second person to also be as humble and a living great of the game and then let down when you grew up with him as an idol. Shows that no matter who you support there are great people in all Clubs and then those who you hope are exactly the same let you down, you tend to feel deflated and never have the same opinion again.

Barrie Robran is and was a Legend of the game and a magnificent man in my 4 or 5 dealings with him.

I'm sorry to hear of your dealings with PAFC regarding the Hall of Fame inductee. That's really sad to hear. Mind you that could be down to that individual. Russell Ebert for example wouldn't behave like that.
Case in point Barrie and Russell Ebert remain firm freinds. Barrie mentioned to Russell once that a co worker's father was sick (in hospital) and a mad Port fan and asked Russell would he mind signing a card for him. Not only did he sign it he went into hospital to drop it in personally. He then found that the gentlemen had been sent home so Russell found out his home address and went to visit him there.

It was not the PAFC who were to blame for this, but purely the person themselves, who did not want anything to do with assisting anyone. Maybe because it was the Crows, maybe just could not be bothered, I am not sure. The PAFC actually were very good and tried their hardest to accommodate and the person I was dealing with (I knew him anyway) was very apologetic for what had happened and wished that greater co-operation was given. What was sad, is that being a Port supporter was doing an article on a person who was an Idol of mine when very young and after the dealings with Barrie Robran the year earlier, really was excited about doing the story on an Idol and being a Port Magpies supporter, it was hopefully going to be more special. Alas no.

If all footballers of any era could be like Barrie Robran, both on and off the field, the game would be in great hands.

Wished he wore Black and White but unfortunately not.

[Punk Rooster]

This is an amazing book to be written on one person.
You would have to be secretly chuffed to have something like this published about you even if you are super humble

Well he is not chuffed, secretly or otherwise.

So you are Barrie Robran, Margarey Legend

Sorry, I was confused, Magarey Legend you are Matthew Robran

wrong again- ML is not related to the Robrans (unless there's something I don't know..)

[rd]

Am I the only person in this thread who has bought the book and read it ??

[Reddeer]

This is an amazing book to be written on one person.
You would have to be secretly chuffed to have something like this published about you even if you are super humble

Well he is not chuffed, secretly or otherwise.

So you are Barrie Robran, Margarey Legend

Sorry, I was confused, Magarey Legend you are Matthew Robran

I don't want to get into a slugfest and demean a true champion.
All I can say is that I think it is a wonderful book on a champion player and if the subject matter doesn't like it it is sad.
A lot of fans will like it

[Adelaide Hawk]

Am I the only person in this thread who has bought the book and read it ??

No, I have as well. I just want to set the record straight on Barrie's reluctance to have the book written and released. The author, Bruce, contacted Barrie who granted him an interview and after that elected not take any further involvement in the project.

Bruce was disappointed that Barrie didn't support the project and actually decided against writing it ... that is until members of the Robran Family, as well as others contacted Bruce encouraging him to write the book anyway.

As much as we all appreciate Barrie's wish for anonymity, unfortuantely Barrie himself forfeited the chance to live a "normal" lifestyle through his outstanding achievements in the sporting arena. The football public, as well as Barrie's family and friends wanted this book to be written, so it was.

[Dogwatcher]

And not before time.
Have asked for it to be on my Chrsitmas list.

One of the reasons I loved number 10 as a kid is that the great Barrie Robran wore it.
I never even saw the bloke play.

[abber]

Had the pleasure of going to author Bruce's place this morning to pick up a copy of the book.
I could have sat and talked to Bruce and his lovely wife for hours. Unfortunately I only had 10 minutes.

The book is very obviously a labour of love and financially has cost Bruce plenty.

The book is quite simply amazing and is a must get for any true SANFL supporter.

Massively underpriced at $75 for the standard issue. 542 pages and weighs 3 kilos. A fantastic coffee table book. I can't stop flicking through the pages. Lots of memories.

Never met Bruce before in my life but this book is outstanding.

Give yourself a treat, Google "Barrie Robran book" and get on board.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Massively underpriced at $75 for the standard issue. 542 pages and weighs 3 kilos. A fantastic coffee table book. I can't stop flicking through the pages. Lots of memories.

543 numbered pages, but if you included picture pages it amounts to over 600 pages.

[abber]

I stand corrected. Cheers

[Adelaide Hawk]

I stand corrected. Cheers

Two things you are 100% about though is it is a great book, and Bruce is a fine gentleman.

[Mr66]

What an fabulous book!
It couldn't have been more thorough and exhaustive.
The only thing I don't know now about Robran is whether he is circumcised.

[Adelaide Hawk]

What an fabulous book!
It couldn't have been more thorough and exhaustive.
The only thing I don't know now about Robran is whether he is circumcised.

Go back and read it again. You may have missed it

[bayman]

i heard them on the radio today when advertising bruce 'the flash' macavaney's shop 'sportswriter' that this book is one of the best sellers & would be great for a christmas present.....i don't think the girl had ever heard of barrie when she momentarily stopped reading the add after the name barrie