But no job was too big or too small for Col Black when it came to his beloved Brookers.

Holbrook games record holder Robbie Mackinlay fondly recalls Black selling raffle tickets at home matches until well into his mid 80s.

"The service Col gave the club both on and off the field is unrivalled," Mackinlay said.

"I'm not just talking at Holbrook but at any club in the district for that matter.

"Col was awarded a life membership in 1963 and it was only the past couple of years when his health deteriorated that he wasn't involved in the club in some capacity.

"It's remarkable really - that's the year I was born and I'm 58.

"Col was still active and selling raffle tickets well into his mid 80s.

"He used to sell raffle tickets with my old man (Leo Mackinlay), they would just grab the wheelbarrow and away they would go.

"Col used to be the raffle king.

"He was just a loyal clubman and would do anything he could to help the club."

Sadly Black passed away last week.

He was set to celebrate his 90th birthday next month.

Black was the first player in the club's history to play 300 matches after making his debut in 1948 before retiring in 1965.

He was a dual premiership player with the Brookers in 1951 and 1956.

After retiring from playing, Black gave tremendous service to the Brookers in numerous roles.

He was club trainer for a staggering 45-years and secretary for 42-years and on the committee for almost seven decades.

Black also served as a league delegate for three decades.

His honour list is long and distinguished.

Black was awarded life membership of the Brookers in 1963 and inducted into the Hume league Hall of Fame in 2016.

He also received numerous volunteer awards including the prestigious AFL volunteer award in 2003.

But perhaps his crowning glory was having the Holbrook clubrooms named in his honour in 1979.

"I think to have the clubrooms named after you at that point of time just summed up the high esteem Col was held in," Mackinlay said.

"And then he gave another 30 plus years service after that."

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Mackinlay recalled a funny incident involving Black which caught one of the Brookers' recruits off-guard.

"In 1982 a recruit in Mick Dempsey came out to play for us," Mackinlay said.

"We were at a function at the clubrooms early in the season.

"In the clubrooms there is a big photo of Col below the sign of the Col Black Clubrooms

"Anyhow Col was selling raffle tickets and Mick bought some tickets but sort of froze and looked like he had just seen a ghost.

"When Col left, Mick said to me 'So Col's still alive, I thought to have the clubrooms named in his honour that he must have been dead.'

"I had a bit of a chuckle but Mick was right, it's not often you receive such a huge honour and have clubrooms named after you while you are still alive.

"But that's just testament to the high regard Col was held in and the magnitude of his service."

There will be a Graveside Service for Black at 2.30pm on Friday at the Holbrook Cemetery.

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