Page 399 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

At the same time players will less ability than Shepperbottom were playing with the Bulldog senior
team.

“I fronted O’Sullivan and had words”, Shepperbottom told the Western Times last week.

“I didn’t like what was happening. But he couldn’t give me a decent answer.”

So Shepperbottom went to VFA club Sunshine, where he was an instant success. After 2 ½ seasons
with Crows, Shepperbottom return to the Footscray District League this year with Parkers. Two
weeks ago he kicked five goals to a draw against FDL ladder leaders Deer Park.

“I would really like to have another go at league”, Shepperbottom said. “North Melbourne called me
up in November-December last year so I could be a chance there.

I am dying to get back into it. Maybe I need a push.”

Shepperbottom started young, with the Kensington under-nines. As a 10- year old he won the
competition best-and-fairest award while still at Kensington. Next he joined Braybrook and was
playing with Brookers’ side when he was 16.

Mid-way through the 1983 season Footscray football manager Stephen Nash asked him to join
Bulldogs.

He played with the reserves against Richmond at MCG that next Saturday. He booted five goals and
was named among the best players.

Shepperbottom is a talented, creative footballer, who despite rumors to the contrary, works hard at
his game. “Since going from Footscray to Sunshine I think I have hardly missed a training season,” he
said. “I reckon the way you train is the way you play.”

“I’ve lost a lot of weight this year. I want to be the best and I’ll do it. If I’m going to do it (play VFL)
I’ve got to do it now,” and “I’m going to bite the bullet.”

After playing the opening two games of the season with Parkside, Shepperbottom joined Southern
Mallee League side Brim where he played five matches. Former Sunshine team-mate Glenn Scanlan
is the coach of Brim. But the travelling got a bit much for Shepperbottom hence his return to the
Parkers.

“Parkside is a really good team” he said. “If we can combine together we’ll be hard to beat. There is
a good bunch of blokes at the club and we are pretty close together.”

He’s enjoying playing with Parkside although he has been taking some heavy knocks.”

The Western Times, July 19, 1989

Coincidentally, after Parkside draw with Deer Park in round 13, they draw again with Albion in round
14. Parkside 11.5-71 draw with Albion 10.11-71

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider