Horrible horrible news

[benny_w]

Russell was and always will be a true blue swans supporter. In my time of being in the Cheer Squad, he has always been there, doing things and just loving football.

Rest In Peace Russ

We will all miss you

[Jeffers1984]

Very sad news to hear indeed. Always remembered seeing the man with the swan on the stick during games.

RIP Russell

[Gregb]

Russell was delighted at being the subject of a chant during the Geelong game... at the aftermatch he asked me if I'd heard the Russell clap clap clap chant... of course Russell we all joined in. We Knew you for a day and will love you forever Russell. God Bless You. Greg and Daniel

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Gregb
Russell was delighted at being the subject of a chant during the Geelong game... at the aftermatch he asked me if I'd heard the Russell clap clap clap chant... of course Russell we all joined in. We Knew you for a day and will love you forever Russell. God Bless You. Greg and Daniel

You couldn't have put it better Greg!

Am in tears at the emotions this thread is stirring up. Like how close are us RWOers these days!

As I said before, the Sydney Swans Football Club is pretty much my family these days. We have lost a family member. And several of us are very sad about it.

JF

[benny_w]

Even though I'm a new member to the Sydney Swans family, I felt like @@@@ when i found out what happened.

Russell will be sorely missed

RIP Russ

We will all miss you

BEN

aka: benny_w & the_manager

[Rod_]

Russell please know that we that are left will carry on the cheering for the Swans.

Another part of the Swans history in some way. When the flag comes to Sydney he will have made a contribution!

I will miss looking over the oval and seeing him and the Swan.

Died doing what he enjoyed. Following the Swans from pillar to post.

Go the SWANS! (Even if they are on a stick!)

RIP

Rod_

[Damien]

Has anyone e-mailed or telephoned the club, and was a response received?

(Sorry if I have missed this in thread - am a lazy reader at 9pm at night.)

[The Boot]

I have to relate a story regarding Russell and the Swan. It was a match .. ooh .. probably 3 to 4 years ago now that illustrates quite how passionate he was.

I used to sit on the top of the Messenger Stand, and after a particularly woeful performance - or one we SHOULD have won (shades of last weekend!!!) I had just made my way down to ground level.

Well, there was our dear mate, in an absolute rage .. whacking the be-sticked swan on a seat like he was an axeman at the Easter Show. It fell off and rolled away, and he simply walked off - fuming (as I guess we all might have been).

To add a comic moment to the scene some smart*rse picked the thing up and started punting it around like it was a sherrin . . to much hilarity. Weeks later, I saw him with a new Swan resplendent at the end of a red and white stick. I often wondered where they came from .. and thought .. whimsically that Centennial Park "was" in the nearby proximity ...

[anniswan]

Originally posted by The Boot
I often wondered where they came from .. and thought .. whimsically that Centennial Park "was" in the nearby proximity ...

Someone asked him the other day where the swan came from and I think he said that he made it out of fibreglass

[Destructive]

Russell was indeed quite a character, he could always be spotted carrying his Swan around.


Bye to one of the unique Swans supporters.

[Benevolent Ert]

My heart sank when I got Julian's SMS this morning
I still can't help but smile as I remember him storming onto the ground to rescue his beloved Swan from the clutches of "Half Cat" - The Cat even gave him a pat on the back for being a sport.

One thing to be thankful for - I'm sure he had a blast in his last couple of days - from getting lost on the way to Cher's place (he ended up at the pub, and when I picked him up he was kicking back with a beer), then reliving the Port final on the DVD player at the party, a hearty bacon and eggs breakfast before the game, getting his own chant from the cheer squad during the game, and dinner at the pub with his red and white friends afterwards.
Not such a bad way to go out.

Cheers Russ - I'll have a beer for you!

[Glenn]

Things like this really put everything into perspective, personally I only had the chance to talk to him a few times over the years, but always had a smile on his face and more than willing to talk about his beloved Swans

R.I.P Russell

[Destructive]

Originally posted by Norris Lurker
That's very sad news. Russell, with his famous Swan on a stick, was a well-known character around the club - he was always there, even back during the days of the great losing streak, and his Swan went everywhere.
I remember the Melbourne game last year. On the morning of the game I was at Spencer St to meet the _babes who had come down overnight on the train, and Russell was in the same carriage, his Swan on a stick was there of course. He would have then carried it on the tram to the MCG.

RIP Russell.

Hey Norris,

Remember the time he chained himself to the front of the O'Reilly stand in 1995 as part of his " Why can't Sydney kids have a kick after the game" campain?

For those of you who don't know he did this at 3 Quarter time in a game( Can't remember who it was against) when 3 security guards came and tried to take his sign and him away. He did'nt end up getting carted. He started up an "Arsehole!" clap clap clap chant, which by the end had spread to all of the stand plus the concourse. Norris Lurker and I were virtually right underneath.

Best 3 quarter time entertainment I've ever seen.

[Charlie]

Was Russell the 'give the kids a kick' activist who came on here?

Ert - your post made me smile... cheers.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Charlie
Was Russell the 'give the kids a kick' activist who came on here?

Ert - your post made me smile... cheers.

No, that is Ian Frazer, a militant and crazy political activist, even crazed and political at the football. He used to have a guernsey with "Give the kids a kick" on it and even chained himself to an SCG seat in protest at the kids not being allowed on after the game.

Man, we have have some colourful people following our club over the years.
-the Swantits (gay guys in drag taking the piss out of the Swannettes)
-Russell with his Swan
-the guy in his priest uniform with the "Hail Kelly" banner
- Ian Frazer chaining himself to his seat in protest at the SCG Trust's refusal of kick to kick.
-Mongrel (aka Mad Mick) in Melbourne, the king of all footy ferals (Got on an Optus Vision ad once. Then again, so did I, LOL )
-some loonie who dressed up as Santa Claus and a clown at finals matches.
-Air Hatley, travelling to every match in Australia in his car. And superstitious like nobody I have met.
-Destructive with his demonic powers of putting off opposition goalkickers (and freak out Michael O'Laughlin at a practise match).
_Kenny Williams leading the song after game. And engaging in banter with opposition supporters ever since we came up here.
-Phil the former Cheer Squad pres in Melbourne. He ran off with the footy when Kelly kicked a goal on full time against Melbourne. His "Don't funk with the Dunk" banner was legendary.
-the goal umpires at the NSW-Victoria State of Origin
-the people who do the "ugh" after boundary throw-ins at the SCG. (We were great on Sunday doing that!)

Can anyone think of any other characters who have supported the Swans? I'd say we have the most characters in our crowd than any other side.

Following Sydney certainly is different isn't it? I guess you just have to be when you follow this club, hey.

JF (starting to smile at last )