Collingwood sent a letter to my dad last week asking him to consider leaving money to the club in his will.

Mum opened the letter. She didn’t even ask him the question.

How could she? Dad died three years ago.

Collingwood is renowned for its passionate fan base, but an ill-advised letter to members last week drew widespread criticism.Credit: Paul Rovere

I only found out about this when I visited mum on Friday afternoon. “Have a look at this,” Mum said, throwing me Dad’s copy of the letter from Collingwood’s bequest program – the same letter that had made headlines a day earlier.

My first reaction was to laugh. It was hilarious to read the heartfelt letter from Nick Maxwell, the Magpies’ 2010 premiership captain, a good bloke if ever there was one and a favourite of my old man’s, explaining in as gentle terms as possible why my dad should consider leaving some money behind in his will for Collingwood.

Within the envelope were a bunch of glossy cards, one emblazoned with the words of Lou Richards (“Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, the Colliwobbles are buried”) when he held a mock burial of the Colliwobbles at Victoria Park after the drought-breaking 1990 premiership. It also carried instructions on how to amend an existing will, and a form with a return envelope including an apology if the contact details were incorrect.

Part of the marketing material Collingwood sent to members seeking they leave money to the club in their wills.

The contact details are, let’s say, lapsed, but updating them to ensure dad receives the letter in person is a little tricky.

Mum was not upset, but she was a tad bemused.

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