Orange army: GV Suns fans celebrate in the stands.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
It was jazz forefather Louis Armstrong who first recorded the iconic hymn When the Saints go Marching In in 1938, but 85 years later, the tune may have had its most epic rendition.
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Albeit a slightly altered version, sung on a chilly, but ever so special Tuesday night in Shepparton.
Frenzied fans filed into McEwen Reserve’s changing room following Goulburn Valley Suns’ magical Australia Cup upset over Hume City, blankets of orange swarming the inner catacombs of the football precinct.
The crowd surrounded the huddle of players like Saturn’s seven rings, with Sun Zac Balaburov swaying in the middle ready to deliver a supernova-esque boom of vocals as the famous song began to pick up pace.
‘‘Oh when the Suns, go marching in.’’
Balaburov hollered with microphone in hand, a conductor, a metronome for the tune which grew in tempo and decibel range with each repetition of the verse.
Brick wall: Suns players defend the free kick.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
Then came the song’s remontada – the comeback – where Suns players and fans alike kicked the volume up to 11 and let rip with a roar so loud Armstrong might have heard it from high above, given just how forcefully it was vocalised.
Because it was a win like no other.
The Suns’ song was first uttered on May 4, 2014 when the club earned its first senior win in the National Premier League over Werribee City.
It has been belted out with a regular vim and vigour hundreds of times by Suns young and old over the past nine years.
But perhaps never as loud, or as passionate as Tuesday night.
Gaffer: GV Suns coach Craig Carley.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
“We can see that every single player went out there and gave their absolute everything – not one thing was left on the pitch,” Suns president Rob Stojanovski said.
“Playing for the badge has never meant more than it does right now is probably the best way to put it.
“Just to have that crowd, to see that number of people turn out and can see what’s going on at this club ... it is a real family and the boys are there for each other.”
A metaphorical melting pot swirled within the changing room that night, with Japanese, English, Scottish, New Zealand, Australian and accents of various other creeds and cultures unified in song.
The Suns’ war cry was powerful. It was earth-shaking. And there was more to it than first glance.
It seemed as if hints of relinquishing last year’s relegation, as well as honouring the rolling momentum of this season, were woven into the words.
“To see the turnaround from the position they were in last year, to be one of five teams out of Victoria to go into this round of 32, to potentially play an A-League club at Sports City, who would’ve thought,” Stojanovski said.
“They don’t want to let anyone down, whether it’s Craig, Shaban, us who are doing all the operational side of things, it’s for the love of the badge.
“We, the operating committee, the board, the club, could not be prouder of all of them.”
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