IN the latest episode of MG Moments, legendary Port Adelaide volunteer Alfie Trebilcock describes the moment he realised he’d packed two left boots for former skipper Mark Clayton.
Trebilcock, who has been the boot-studder at Alberton for more than 50 years, remembers a funny exchange with Clayton’s mother, June after fixing her son’s boot situation.
“There is one occasion with messing up boots, it was Mark Clayton,” Trebilcock recalled.
“When I got to Woodville Oval and started to put the boots out I went ‘Ohhh, I’ve got two left boots for Mark Clayton.’”
Trebilcock quickly drove back to Alberton Oval and gathered Clayton’s other boots, bringing him both right-footed versions of his screw ins to choose from.
However, by the time he returned to Woodville, the story of the mix up had made the rounds.
“The story got out that I mucked up the boots and June Clayton, that’s his mother, she got onto the story,” he said.
“So I’m standing out on the mound having a pie after I finished cleaning the boots just before the game and she came up and said, ‘What did you do to Mark’s boots?’
“I said, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ve fixed it up.’”
Knowing the situation was resolved, the cheeky boot-studder decided to have a bit of fun spinning another yarn.
“I said, ‘I’ll tell you what I’ve done. I took the inner sole out of the right one and put it in the left boot and I’ve put the right inner sole in the left boot,’ he remembered with a chuckle.
“She said, ‘That was a good idea’ and I left it at that.”
However, after the game, Trebilock’s cheek caught up to him.
“After the game we were back here having a drink – and June’s a bit fiery – she came up to me and said, ‘What bloody b******t story have you told me!’ he remembered with a laugh.
“I said, “Well you believed it!’”
Watch the latest episode of MG Moments below and stay tuned to portadelaidefc.com.au for more vignettes every Tuesday and Thursday as Port Adelaide celebrates its 150th year.
