Most clubs take time to build up a reputation, but Lavington's papers were stamped when its application was rejected by the league up to six times.

"Most of the other clubs in the Ovens and Murray said no, no, no, we don't want them, they've got a lot of money and they'll come in and buy premierships," its first O and M president Brian Chalmers said yesterday.

"That was pretty hard to take."

The fear was built on Lavington's thriving sports club which, like a number along the Border, enticed Victorians to travel across in their busloads to play the poker machines.

The O and M feared it would create a monster.

Lavington was first rejected by the O and M in August, 1972.

The club appealed to the Victorian Country Football League six months later, which upheld the appeal, admitting Lavington into the O and M.

The O and M took out a Supreme Court writ against Lavington's admission in September, 1973, and then five months later the VCFL disqualified the O and M.

But, finally, after more than six years, Lavington was admitted into the O and M in late October, 1978.

The Blues played their first game in 1979 and the club will celebrate 40 years in the league at its annual ball tonight.

"We'd worked to be a part of a senior competition, we'd done a huge apprenticeship for years and years in the Tallangatta, Hume and Farrer (which it joined in 1977-78) leagues and it was time for us to take the next big step," Chalmers said.

"It remains the proudest moment of the many people involved at the time, there was a lot of frustration and disappointment, but when we were told we were being accepted into the O and M, it made our day, it was like Christmas."

The club had a five-year plan to win a flag and it made its first grand final after four, with Albury proving too strong.

Albury's banner read "We don't need pokies for today's jackpot", but a year later the Blues gained their revenge with fourth year coach and former VFL (Richmond-Melbourne) player Ken Roberts.

"When I first went up there, the facilities, the lighting, the complex was far more impressive than what we had at Essendon and Melbourne," Roberts said yesterday.

"At Melbourne, we trained at the MCG, but we didn't even have our own gym."

Roberts loved his five years with the club.

"I had a great relationship with BC (Chalmers)," he said.

"As I've always said they were the best club I'd ever coached in terms of admininstration, I received the greatest support from them."

The Blues would grab another flag in 1986, before Tim Sanson snared two against Myrtleford in 2001 and 2005.

Now named the Panthers, after NRL club Penrith Panthers purchased the club (it's since been closed and sold), the club is currently leading the competition, heading into Saturday's game against Wodonga at Lavington Sportsground.

Naturally, the club's had many star players and personalities over its 40 years in the O and M, but Chalmers has been the one constant.

His late wife Barbara, who only passed away recently, was the first life member of the Lavington Little League.

"So many people knew her and she put a fantastic amount of work into the club," Chalmers said extremely proudly.

"And Barbara was a fantastic support, whatever I did, whether it was football, the Lions Club, she was 100 per cent behind me.

"The Lavington Football Club is my life really.

"My son Steve played Little League and then moved on to reserves there, while my granddaughters have been involved playing netball, it's been a real family situation."

Chalmers turns 84 on July 7, but he has no intention of slowing down and is still the ground announcer for Lavington's home games.

"I remember I was called the livewire official in the Farrer League, I just didn't stop," Chalmers laughed.

"I love it, I enjoy being around around the players, I enjoy being in a younger environment.

"Lavington stands for loyalty, courage, teamwork and passion. If you can't do it properly, don't do it at all."