The Port Macquarie Magpies Aussie Rules football club members pay tribute to their mate and dedicated club president Paul “Sheldo” Sheldon who died on Saturday. The much-loved father of three suffered a suspected heart attack after seeing his team to victory on the weekend…
Port Magpies General Manager Craig Carroll reflected most accurately as tears welled up in his eyes on Sunday addressing a gathering of players, family and friends at Settlers Inn: “He died with his footy boots on doing what he loved most, I guess if he had to pick a way to go …”
Paul Sheldon, or “Sheldo” as we all knew him, was and still is, the Port Magpies Australian Football Club, but he never would have agreed with you on that fact, let alone direct any of the spotlight his way.
He was the one always busying away behind the scenes, picking up marquees, ringing coaches and committee with ideas, standing up against any system that dared to wrong his beloved club, and keeping a watchful eye on all at all hours of the day and night.
Last Saturday at Stuarts Park contained so much of Sheldo who was visibly excited about being back at his footy ground with the Magpie faithful, despite admitting to feeling a little bit off.
As he paraded around the ground during the 18s, he welcomed back regular faces in the crowd, sat and swapped stories with returning players — and, as he always did — helped players get kitted out in new uniforms that he’d ordered and organised as he has done forever and a day.
In the dressing room prior to the game, Sheldo joked that the reserves were set to throw all the game plans out on their ear, that have worked well enough to win eight premierships in succession.
Moments prior, during a rare quiet moment in the dressing room, Sheldo quipped with genuine excitement in his voice: “well here we go again boys”.
It was usually the playing group getting overexcited and the professional coach urging us players to relax and stick to the game plan — not this day. Sheldo had his footy back and he was loving it.
Right up until his tragic passing, Paul remained “Sheldo” and in his last address to his players he urged everyone to keep turning up to training as competition for spots would be intense this year and that, despite the Easter break, training was still on and players still needed to get there.
Only minutes after coaching his reserve grade side to a comfortable victory at Stuarts Park, he collapsed and never regained consciousness. He would have turned 45 years old on Monday.
His legacy will be long felt by the club and this current playing group, who got together on Saturday night and Sunday, (just like Paul would have wanted) and shared some of the good memories.
His half- and full-time addresses in the huddle always contained a few stings, a sprinkling of praise, a wealth of commonsense, but most importantly, a liberal dose of humour, not always intended.
There was the day at Grafton when, prior to a game, he nominated one player go over and see the umpires “to be the toin cosser” when he meant “coin tosser”.
Inevitably the group lost the plot and the giggles started and Paul muttered: “Dam, I thought I got away with that”.
Another time he assessed an emerging talented Under 18 player with other coaching staff and mused about the size of the player: “He doesn’t have to eat too many more potatoes. Maybe a loaf of bread and a bag of potatoes.
But his brother needs about eight bags of potatoes.”
When Wayne Richards Park is opened later this year for AFL action, it will largely be because of the drive and lobbying Paul carried out and it would be fitting if he were to be honoured in some way at the new facility and you won’t find anyone to begrudge that.
Sheldo had his enemies as is the way with someone who was so passionate about his sport and his family.
But the recurring habit with Sheldo was that not long after he’d fallen out, you’d spot him sharing a beer with his adversary who inevitably became a life-long mate or colleague.
Every year, he looked forward to the Interleague representative carnival and, last year, he was named as assistant coach in the North Coast AFL Team Of The Decade.
But it was his beloved Magpies where he worked passionately alongside the likes of his partner Shirlene and good friend Julie Long after he was appointed as President in 2004, having linked with the club the year prior.
He was the “father figure” to the players and committee and often took players under his wing, which was the ultimate tribute to a rising youngster and generally meant they would be afforded the luxury of having Sheldo as a football and life mentor.
After the tragic event last weekend, players and committee gathered to show support to each other and work out ways to try and regroup to move forward.
Ironically, the room full of tears and shocked faces could have done with some of his guidance — he would have known exactly what to say and do.
But for now, the club’s thoughts and prayers remain with his partner Shirlene, son Dirk, and daughters Courtney and Brooke.
As for Sheldo, there’s no doubt he’d be adding two behind posts to the pearly gates and giving our Heavenly Father an update on how he’s going to guide the AFL All Time Legends XVIII to their next premiership dynasty.
Paul’s funeral service has been arranged for noon today, Thursday, April 21 at the Uniting Church in Sherwood.
Following the church service, the family will ask friends to gather for a circuit of Stuarts Park.
Shirlene and the family would like to invite Paul’s friends to the oval to witness Paul’s last lap and also back to the Settlers Inn function room afterwards for a drink.
The Magpies’ committee has asked players and supporters to wear their black polo top and black pants as a mark of respect for Paul and the family on behalf of the club.
