Kevin Sheedy was today acknowledged as Essendon Football Club’s honorary 40,000th member during a special presentation in the Windy Hill Hall of Fame.

Managing director, Peter Jackson, welcomed Sheedy’s return and praised the football mastermind for his outstanding contribution to the club and for his assistance in helping the club to reach the record milestone.

“It is the first time in the history of the Essendon Football Club that we have passed the 40,000 member milestone,” Jackson said.

“We are very excited and delighted about that and it says a lot about the support from our fans and the future of where the club is heading.

“This is something that has taken a lot of years of hard work and the foundations of this, we believe, has been built by this man, Kevin Sheedy.
 
""We at the club have done some extra things to help add the polish and help build it up but quite frankly the initiative and the work and the things that Kevin has done over his time at the Essendon Football Club is the reason we are here.
 
""He is the person that created Essendon as a national brand by taking the club around the country.
 
“In recognition of all of Kevin’s efforts, we would like to make him the honorary member in 2008 and I am hoping that this is an annual thing in perpetuity until the day he goes to the next world because that will mean that we will always have 40,000 members.”
 
In typical Sheedy form, he joked, ""I have been living in the next world for a long time now.""
 
 
Jackson presented Sheedy with a plaque containing the 40,000th Essendon membership ticket for 2008 on behalf of the club.
 
In July, Sheedy will also be formally inducted as a Legend of the Club.
 
“Today is a recognition of Kevin’s contribution and also to say that he will always be part of the Essendon Football Club,” Jackson said.

Sheedy, wearing his trademark grin, was humble when accepting recognition for his ongoing efforts and commitment to the club.

“It is a tremendous effort by the fans to get behind the club,” Sheedy said.
 
“When you look back, it was sort of like chasing the four-minute mile – it was just a matter of getting there.
 
“Obviously the next target will be 50,000 and we would love to get there ahead of Collingwood. That is achievable but to reach 40,000 is an absolutely historical milestone.

“Essendon is a unique club and to finally break this milestone is tremendous for the mighty Bombers. It is just another step in the wonderful world of footy.”