Richmond Football Club mourns the loss of long-time supporter, Berril Richardson.
Berril was a loyal member of the Tiger Army, being a member of the Club for an incredible 85 years from 1939-2024.
Berril was taken to the footy for the first time as a six-year-old by her father Fred, who worked in Richmond for 40 years at the Bryant & May Factory on Church Street.
Berril's saved memorabilia
From the very first time she watched the Tigers, Berril fell into a lifelong love with the Club.
One of her favourite players in her early days of watching Richmond was Captain Blood, Jack Dyer, who Berril called ‘Jackie’ Dyer!
She loved the way he played because when his knees went, and he couldn’t baulk or change direction, he ran straight down the Punt Road Oval, charging through those who stood in his way.
Berril told many stories of Jack ‘Skinny’ Titus and Mopsy Fraser, another brutal operator from a brutal era. She swears once he took a bicycle chain on the field as a tactic.
Berril saw her heroes win the 1943 premiership, a success she celebrated and enjoyed greatly!
In the 60s and 70s, it was the famous names of Royce Hart, Francis Bourke and Kevin Bartlett who captured Richardson’s heart.
And then Michael ‘Disco’ Roach, Maurice Rioli Sr, Merv Keane, Bryan Wood…the list of Richardson’s Tiger idols goes on and on.
The Save our Skins campaign in 1990…over Berril's dead body would that not be successful! Her support helped the Tigers raise necessary funds that proved vital to the Club’s survival.
Family celebrates long drought after 2017 premiership (Berril on the right)
Berril swore black and blue that Matthew Richardson never got the credit he deserved. ‘Richo’ was her favourite player of all time.
And then in her later years, the new premiership era of Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and of course, ‘The Great One’, Dustin Martin.
Berril was too ill to attend the 2017 Grand Final, but she just screamed at the television, ‘you can’t tackle him, you can’t!’
The entire Richmond Football Club sends its condolences to the Richardson family.
