Anstey is club’s mainstay

By Chad Vanestrop
EVERY third Sunday Noel Anstey is up at 4am to set up the Pakenham Football Club’s trash and treasure market.
Toomuc Valley Reserve is covered in darkness as Noel puts out signs on the adjoining streets.
“Noel is a genuinely good person who is always willing to lend a helping hand,” Pakenham Football Club president Greg Marshall said.
Noel’s willingness to help the club was on show when he hand delivered 3000 pamphlets prior to the market opening.
“I love walking … and it was a part of extending my walking,” Noel said.
Now retired, Noel is always willing to take the weekly delivery of beer in preparation for the weekend’s football.
When day game rolls around, Noel is one of the first to put his hand up to man the gates and beer stalls.
So hard working is this committee member that he often misses the opportunity to watch home games – even when he’s at the ground.
“Sometimes it’s hard to watch all the home games because there is so much to do,” Noel said.
Away games are a blessing for Noel and his fellow committee members as it gives them the opportunity to relax and enjoy ‘their boys’ running around.
Noel is making the name Anstey, normally synonymous with basketball, popular within the ranks of the MPNFL.
And it’s all because of his generous nature.
“I just love the club … footy is like an outlet for me,” Noel said.