A Toyota employee for the past 19-years Allan, along with 349 others, was told he’d been made redundant.
“I just picked up my friend and he knows I love North and I don’t miss a game of football and I’ve been a member for over 30 years,” he told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell.
“I said ‘mate it’s a weird feeling’, I said ‘I’m still on a high from last night’. It still hasn’t hit me that I’ve been sacked…it just doesn’t make sense at the moment.”
Word quickly spread about Allen’s plight and North CEO Eugene Arocca was quick to pick up the phone and call into the program in an attempt to ease his pain.
“Obviously you’re doing it pretty tough and in our small way we try and look after our supporters,” Arocca said in a three-way conversation with Allen and Mitchell on air.
“You’re a 30-year member which is fantastic, I heard about your misfortune about losing your job this morning, obviously the information has come back to me. It will not make up for losing your job…but we’d love to give you the opportunity for you and three other people to sit in the Mazda BT-50 recliner seats on the second level against the Western Bulldogs, Sunday May the 13th at 1.10.”
The Mazda BT-50 Ultimate Fan Zone provides four lucky people with the best seats in the house at each home-game.
“You get to come down to the rooms…you’ll get to be able to watch the Kangaroos in a way you’ve never watched them before and again, it doesn’t make up for your situation, but you sound like a tough Shinboner and the least we can do is make sure we look after you on the 13th,” Arocca explained.
“After last night we’re all pretty high but to hear your news was heartbreaking…”
While still in shock dealing with his immediate future concerns, Allan appreciated the gesture.
“Sensational…I love this club and I’d prefer to die than lose a game of football but that’s how I am.
“Eugene not everything’s about football but I love my North Melbourne.”
