Name: Geoff Lipton
Carlton member years: more than 65 years
Favourite player: Levi Casboult
Memorable match: 1970 grand final victory against Collingwood
Dating back to the 1920s, the love of the Old Dark Navy Blues has seeped through four generations of Geoff Lipton’s family.
“It’s gone from my parent’s generation, to me, to my three sons, and now they have children – so that’s four generations,” he said.
Although Geoff was born in Melbourne and grew up watching football, his family tree stems back to Europe.
Geoff’s mother was born in Glasgow in 1912 to Russian parents, with the family immigrating to Australia when she was only nine-months old.
It was here in Melbourne, many years later that she met her husband, Geoff’s father, who emigrated from Russia in 1919 – fleeing after the war.
“I’m Jewish and a lot of Jewish people barrack for the Blues because when they came out from Europe, after the war, they settled in Carlton,” he said.
Geoff’s family moved to Elwood when he was a young boy, but he says the Carlton seed had “already been planted”, so there was no way he could change teams.
Geoff Lipton (second from left) with with his three sons Darren, Shane & Russell and three of his grandchildren Jordan, Zoe & Dakota.
When he was 12-years-old, Geoff attended a match at Princes Park and thanks to a close connection it was an experience he’ll never forget.
“My father was friends with Bert Deacon, who was Carlton champion back in the ‘40s. He arranged for me to go into the Carlton dressing rooms one Saturday afternoon before a match.
“I brought my Footy Record and I had lots of the players sign it for me…I’ve still got it and that was probably 65 years ago,” he said.
Since then Geoff has collected a number of Carlton treasures from Weg grand final posters to 40-year-old Football Records, but there’s one that stands out from the rest.
“I have the last headband Bruce Doull wore in his last match. He gave it to me in the Carlton dressing rooms after his final game,” he said.
Geoff Lipton is the proud owner of this last headband worn by Carlton legend Bruce Doull.
Through thick and thin, Geoff has been a devoted member and supporter just like his mum, who sadly passed away this April just before her 103rd birthday.
“Even at that age she always kept track of the scores of when we lost and when we won,” he said.
Geoff goes to the footy with his sons and grandchildren and sits in the same reserved seats each week.
He enjoys this time with his family and says he “rarely misses a game”.
“I still find it exciting getting ready to go and the anticipation has never worn off after all these decades.”
Geoff’s youngest son Russell has sponsored Carlton’s Tom Bell since he was a rookie and says as a player “he’s developing very nicely”.
Carlton’s 2015 NAB Rising Star nominee, Patrick Cripps, has become a fan favourite around Ikon Park, capturing the eye of many members, including Geoff.
“Our next star will be Patrick Cripps – the number 9.
“He’s got a big future for sure…he’s got a good 10 or 12 years ahead of him at the top level,” he said.
