ONE of Eaglehawk’s favourite sons, Andrew Reid, will today play his 250th game for the Eaglehawk Football-Netball Club.Reid, 34, will lead the Two Blues’ reserves into battle against Kangaroo Flat on Eaglehawk’s turf at Canterbury Park.A remarkable run for the popular ruckman includes 171 matches in the reserves and 79 in the seniors.Add his tally of under-18s games and more than 100 in the juniors and Reid is one of the Borough’s most loyal clubmen.It’s been a remarkable journey that began with Eaglehawk’s under-12s when he was nine.Reid has endured the highs and lows in form as well as team and club success.“To be playing my 250th game for the club means a lot to me,’’ Reid said yesterday.“The club is steeped in history and has had many great achievements over the years.’’A highlight of the club’s presentation night in 2005 was life membership being awarded to Andrew Reid.His number one fans, parents Faye and Rob, will be at Canterbury Park for today’s big clash which kicks off at noon.Reid’s first senior match was in the opening round of 1993 at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.“One of my best mates, Brent Rilen, lined up on a wing in what was his first senior game as well,’’ Reid said.“Castlemaine unfurled the premiership flag and then it was on.’’A formidable Castlemaine team included Derrick Filo, now coach at Eaglehawk, in the centre.Reid began on a half-forward flank opposed to Tom Kavanagh.“Castlemaine won easily, but I was rapt to have played in the seniors,’’ Reid recalled of the 90-point loss to the Magpies.Highlights of Reid’s career include three premiership victories in the reserves.“The first was in 1999 against Castlemaine.“They had been unbeaten until the grand final,’’ Reid recalled of the nine-point triumph by the Borough boys, who were coached by Peter Gibbs.Reid has since played in two more premiership teams and has also been runner-up twice.In 2008, Reid continues to play a key role for the Alan Findlay-coached reserves at Eaglehawk.“Injuries to the seniors always make it challenging, but we are improving each week,’’ Reid said of Eaglehawk’s play in the reserves.He is co-captain with Dwayne Smith of a line-up aiming for another finals campaign.Reid and Smith have lined up at hundreds of contests in the centre and around the ground.Other long-time teammates in the `twos’ included Sean Major and Jason O’Neill.Over the years, Reid had been approached by other clubs, but he has stayed loyal to the Borough.He said the appointment of Scott Langan as coach had a marked impact on the club.“For a couple of seasons we often just went through the motions at training or just didn’t have enough talented players,’’ Reid said.“The players became a lot more professional in training and in matches.”That followed on through Reece Langan’s time as coach, then Barry Hayes and so on to Derrick Filo being the senior coach now.’’Biggest influences on his football career include brilliant centreman Steve McDougall and Robert `Ninga’ O’Connell.Another is the Hawks’ long-time coach of the reserves, Alan Findlay.“Al has spent a fair amount of time working on my kicking the past couple of years,’’ Reid said.Away from the football field, Reid is workshop manager at H.V. Pearce Engine Reconditioning in California Gully.He has worked at the business for 17 years.In summer, Reid is involved with the speedway racing team, in which Lucas Roberts is the No.1 driver.Looking beyond the end of his playing days, Reid said coaching is a possibility.“I have coached juniors in the past, but a lot depends on work commitments.’’Eaglehawk Football-Netball Club secretary Gerard Ilsley urged all supporters to be at Canterbury Park to honour Reid’s latest achievement.“Andrew has given so much to our great club,’’ Ilsley said.The after-match function at Eaglehawk will include a presentation to Reid about 6.30pm in the Two Blues’ clubrooms.