Alby Huts | A lifelong connection to the Sharks

For 77-year-old Alby Huts, the connection with East Fremantle Football Club has been a lifelong journey.

Around 20 years ago, Alby’s wife gifted him a navy blue jumper adorned with a shark. Since then, Alby has worn it to every East Fremantle game, and it has become a cherished family heirloom.

But Alby’s bond with the Club dates back much further. He has been an East Fremantle supporter since he first arrived in Australia at the age of seven. 

“Just before we moved to Australia, my dad played soccer for a team in Holland that wore blue and white. That’s what drew me to the Club and where my story with the Sharks began.”

Over the years, Alby developed a talent for football, deepening his connection to the Sharks when he began playing junior football for them. As an adult, he discovered that football and sport provided him immense joy - not only for the athletic challenge but for the sense of community and the strong bonds formed.

Even after his playing days ended, Alby continued his association with the Club, serving as a Board member for over six years. He and his wife became members around 1972, took a brief hiatus when they moved regionally and rejoined in the late 1990s. When the opportunity to join the Jack Sheedy Membership community arose in 2013, Alby embraced it.

“Joining was a combination of my history with the Club and a desire to support its fundraising efforts. Being a member provides a wonderful chance to connect with others who share a love for East Fremantle.”

He fondly recalls his admiration for Jack Sheedy: “Jack Sheedy was a true icon in WA football, someone I looked up to. One of my favourite memories of Jack is when he appeared at one of his many tribunals with a bible and swore his innocence. He was then affectionately known as ‘Bible Jack’.”

Alby’s favourite memory of the Sharks is the 1979 Grand Final victory against South Fremantle, which drew the largest crowd ever to Subiaco Oval.

These days, Alby cherishes wearing his special ‘Sharks’ jumper and taking his 14-year-old grandson to all of the games.

This is your chance to join a community of East Fremantle’s most passionate supporters. It’s more than a membership; it's your contribution to the enduring legacy of the Club. Become a Shark for life here: https://membership.effc.com.au/subscriptions/jack-sheedy-membership