£100,000 and only one game missed in 13 years ...
... take a bow Tommy McKee!
It's the first face to greet you on a Saturday after the turnstile man and programme sellers, big Tucker's hut seems to have been there forever, so long in fact I sometimes wonder do most of us just take him for granted! I caught up with Tommy at the weekend and asked him how the "Halfers" draw idea came about and how he felt it was going ...
"Jim, when I started the Draw I never imagined it would still be going some 13 seasons later, but Glenmen recognised that it was another way of helping the club and giving themselves a chance of winning a nice wee sum at the same time." "At the start for the first few seasons I was helped immensely by Jim Hanna from the Hillfoot GSC, but unfortunately Jimmy's wife Laura has a long term illness and he understandably now devotes most of his time to her."
"Arvon Biggerstaff helped me for a season, but since getting my wee hut, I have managed myself, and two of my wee daughters are taking a great interest so they help me out."
"The reason I think that the draw has went from strength to strength is that it is transparent. Having the draw made on the pitch by a player at halftime in front of the crowd is one of the main reasons for it's success, I think it gives punters more confididence than if it was being made behind closed doors by whoever."
"Also we have our hardcore buyers at every game, in fact sometimes during a cold miserable midweek match when the sales are more than I expected, I look up at a sometimes poor crowd and wonder if everyone has bought 2 Tickets!!"
"The Cameradrie of Glenmen is great as well and I think that no matter who wins the Draw a lot of people will know him, I think this helps the Draw sell as well." "Of course we also get some winners who for whatever reason do not want to give their real names, and I'm convinced that some actually do give alias's - such as Hugh Jarce last season! Also a guy who won it a while ago seemed to forget his own name when I asked him, but he gave me a name which did not correspond with the one I heard his mate call him when he enquired how much the prize was!" "Some people leave it until after the game to claim, as they don't want their name over the tannoy, and of course people are entitled to that right, but for the sake of the draw's integrity, I ask winners to go public."
"Some people are born lucky though. One guy has won it 5 times, 1 has won it 4 times, a few have won it 3 times and quite a few people have won it twice. Then there are some people have been buying it from the start and have not even came close!"
"I'm proud of the fact that since it started there has only been 1 game the draw was not being sold and that was a midweek match when I was particularly ill and could not make it, but even then I had hoped for someone else to do it, but they did not get my message."
"Also I am aware that some people can't hear the announcement of the winning number over the tannoy, if there is anyone out there who would be willing to sponsor an electronic sign that could also be used for other club messages to the crowd, I would be delighted to hear from them!"
"I am hoping very strongly that the total money raised for the club by the draw and it's supporters will top £100.000 at a game this season, which just sums up Glentoran Supporters for me. A few seasons ago I was going to stand down but I stayed on because of the encouragement of our great fans who are just brilliant at keeping the draw the great success it has been."
"I would like to thank them all, and sometime in the future when I do stand down - I would be delighted if the Draw grew even better!"
All the best - Tommy Mckee
Rachel and Sara McKee with their cousin Danielle Waring helping Rio Ferdinand do the "Halfers" Draw at the recent Man Utd friendly.
Big Tommy in his "Halfers" Hut!
