CK GROUP - PRESIDENT'S LUNCHEON - TRIBUTE TO JEFF LANGDON
Andrew Thomson
Sherwood/Western Magpies President Kevin Kluver will host a President's Luncheon at 12 noon on Saturday when the Western Magpies host Palm Beach-Currumbin at Chelmer in Round 5 of QAFL football.
The Magpies will also celebrate the life of 1977-78 premiership player Jeff Langdon who passed away recently at 72 years of age after a short illness.
Langdon was a larger than life character who Kevin says was a cross between Phil Carman and Warwick Capper which made him a flamboyant but classy player in anyone's books.
He was best on ground in Sherwood's 1977 premiership win over Mt Gravatt but was so exhausted after the game he was taken to hospital and put on a drip. He was also best and fairest winner in 1977. He played 88 matches for the Pies. He started at Wests Juniors then came across to Sherwood as a 14 year old.
Jeff was a burst player who would turn it on for 10 minutes then would have a spell and turn it on again and again. It later transpired he had a heart valve problem and had a valve transplant 10 years ago.
After football he was a well renowned horseman with harness racing and went to New Zealand to train horses then returned to Brisbane and trained numerous winners on the Gold Coast and at Albion Park. He became the head farrier at Albion Park, a position he held for many years.
Kevin Kluver relates a story that Jeff said he couldn't keep playing because it was too hard on his body and when Kevin asked him what he was going to do he said do some buck jumping at rodeos!!
He was also the lead singer with a well known rock band in Brisbane and did covers of the Rolling Stones. Kevin said he was an entertainer both on and off the field-- a singer and a cross between Carmen and Capper, he must have been an entertainer!!
Kevin expects 10-15 players from the 1977-78 era to be at the tribute.
The club also offers a welcome and extends its sympathies to Jeff's two daughters Lisa and Tammy, his son Stephen, his brother Kenny and their families.