The Grey Cup In Hand, Thanks Dad!

 

Anyone who spent time with my dad during his younger days, knows that he was quite involved in football.  I am not sure how he was able to swing it but one afternoon, I think it was in 1975 or 76, he came home with the Grey Cup in hand.  It was at the house for the weekend and at one point he managed to gathered the five of us kids together on the back porch stairs to snap this picture of us around one of Canada's iconic trophies.

I am going to have to ask him to tell me the story behind this one.

Thanks Dad for such a cool childhood memory!

Today's Soup.

 

Well, here is the actual story behind the cup arriving at our house:

 

Hi Steve

That picture was the early fall of 1975. Ottawa Rough Riders beat Saskatchewan Roughriders 23-20 in the 1974 game. Bob Simpson who was an All Canadian end for Ottawa was a high-school classmate of mine playing on many high school teams together. AKO had dropped out of football the year before and I had been given the task of getting them back into the league. I was successful in doing so and we were having a Kick-Off party to raise funds. I called Bob in Ottawa and asked him if he could get the Cup to Windsor for the party. I met him at the airport and he gave me the Cup for the weekend. I of course brought it home and we took pictures. At the same time Don Beemers son in law was visiting from Moncton NB and I asked him if he wanted to get some pictures with his family and he did. At Dons funeral Buddy was there and I asked about the picture. He told me his dad had a copy made and it was hanging in his living room. He was an avid Football fan.

If you see a picture of the cup today ours becomes much more significant as it is the original cup before they put the new base on it. There are not many kids in Canada who have had their hands on the Cup let alone had it in their home for a weekend.

So that the story behind the picture so make sure you keep it.

Dad