Vale Ray ‘Digger’ Digby
St Mary’s Sporting Club is deeply saddened by the passing of Club great, Ray ‘Digger’ Digby.
Digger was inducted into the Club’s Hall of Fame in 2007, as recognition of his outstanding service as a player, team manager, junior co-ordinator, board member, committee member, and President.
Digger selflessly dedicated his time across many roles and is a major reason our Club is what it is today.
Digger played a pivotal role in the current success of the football program through his great dedication to the junior football section, in particular, the under-18s Colts program. Digger would be seen at training every night, greeting every player at the door by name, checking in with the boys, and serving as the spiritual leader of the group during an incredibly successful period for the Club, winning 6 Colts premierships from 2012-2017. Each week, the ‘Digger’ award was given to the player who best represented our Club values.
Thursday night dinners with Digger also became a staple for many years. He could always be found sitting on the ‘old boys’ table next to the bar with other greats of the Club, and so respected was Digger that all players coming through would shake his hand and say ‘G’day’ to him. Never shy with a microphone in hand, Digger also took the role of reading out the senior teams every week, creating nicknames for the Colts boys and cracking his own jokes along the way. His talents on the microphone extended into his legendary renditions of the traditional ‘When the Saints go marching in’ song after premiership wins and famously on stage after the 2019 senior men’s and women’s football premierships.
Thoughts are with Digger’s family, especially Joan. We can’t thank you all enough for sharing him with our great Club over all these years.
R.I.P old fellow, and the legend of Ray ‘Digger’ Digby will live on…
💙💚