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![:Digital Image by Grant Trouvile © NRLphotos : 2015 NRL Round 2 - Manly Sea Eagles v Bulldogs at Brookvale, Friday 20th 2015.](/siteassets/2016/02/arthursonk-15032012.jpg?center=0.28%2C0.52&preset=hero-article-fill)
Caption: Grant Goldman (with trophy) enjoyed a fabulous time as the Sea Eagles ground announcer for 35 years.
Grant Goldman is happy to just çheer from his Brookvale Oval seat in 2016 after deciding to step down as the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles ground announcer.
“I’m 66 years of age and I’ve been thinking for a while there must be some younger person who can take over the position,’’ Goldman said.
“I hope they can find someone who was just as passionate as I was over the last 35 years at Brookie.”
The man whose deep voice would echo around the ground, especially through his famous ‘Beaver’ line in reference to Sea Eagles legend Steve Menzies, says he has had an incredible ride.
“I first came along at the end of 1978 and then again in 1979. I was just helping out with little compere things and making the odd announcement at ground level. The following year, I was moved into the ground announcer’s box,’’ Goldman said.
“I’ve been there ever since, other than for a couple of years three years ago.
“Our fans would often applaud me for what I did as the ground announcer and that just made me want to keep going with it.
“Not all of the ground announcers are all that passionate about it, but for me, the Sea Eagles are my team. That’s the most important thing for people to know. You do get passionate about them on the microphone. You can’t help it.
“If you offended the opposition players and their fans, then you knew you had done your job.”
It was his parochialism that saw the NRL take their own ground announcer to Brookvale Oval for the 2008 finals series when the Sea Eagles hosted St George-Illawarra Dragons.
“They (the NRL) said I couldn’t support my own team. It seemed ridiculous. Where was the reward for getting the home game? By the way, we haven’t had a home semi-final since,’’ Goldman said.
“At the time, I was providing my own equipment too, so if they wanted to change announcers during the game, I would have taken it home. That would have stuffed them up. I managed to get through the game okay.”
As for his favourite players, Goldman quickly named Max Krilich, Paul Vautin, Cliff Lyons, Geoff Toovey, to Max Brown. And of course, ‘Beaver’.
“I have so much respect for Steve Menzies as a footballer and as a person,’’ Goldman said.
“He always took the ‘Beaver’ voice in good humour. He deserved all the accolades that came his way and if I added to that by saying ‘Beaver’ every time he did something, well then I am happy for him.
“I remember when I first did it. It just came naturally. I just used the deep voice over the microphone and everyone applauded, so I thought I was on to a good thing here.
“I’ve made many great friends at Manly, from players to fans. I once got a big cuddle from Paul Vautin after our 1987 grand final win over Canberra at the SCG because I was out on the ground.
“He just said to me, ‘thanks for your support’. He knew how parochial I was, and so have the players since then.
“I have many great memories of Brookie. The amount of times when Manly were down and out with injuries and all sorts of problems, but they would always find a way to win, was incredible.
“I always believed the ground announcer’s job was to get the crowd up, especially if the game is tight and close. The players loved it and that motivates them further and more often than not, it would help them to a win.”
Although he will no longer be heard over the public address system at Brookvale, Goldman will continue to preach his beloved Sea Eagles through his breakfast show on 2SM.
“I’ve just had my 50th year on radio. I really feel like I am coming into my own now on talkback radio,’’ he laughed.
“The 2SM Super Network suits me. I will probably die in the job there. They will have to cart me out in a box wearing my maroon and white.”