Collingwoodfc.com.au is giving supporters from around the world the chance to share their experiences following the mighty Pies. John Munn has been following Collingwood since the likes of Thorold Merrett were winning premierships and has spent much of his life following the Magpies from overseas.

To share your story with us, email digitalmedia@collingwoodfc.com.au and tell your tale of following Collingwood from abroad. If you wish to have your story published on collingwoodfc.com.au, please attach a photo to accompany the story.

Hi to everyone at the Collingwood Football Club and supporters.

I am a Magpie Abroad and this is my story.

I am in Volvic, France, visiting my daughter Jacqueline (a Pies supporter) and her husband Benjamin (a Swans supporter). She is an engineer with Michelin in Clermont Ferrand, designing the tread on truck tyres in an attempt to reduce noise.

I think you could call me a lifelong supporter. My memories date back to the 1956 Grand Final that I attended as a 10 year old, sitting on the boundary line because the ground was packed.

I left the ground with Thorold Merrett's stop marks on my legs. That could not happen today! How many of the Pies supporters who were there are still around?

The Pies lost that one and the ones in 1964, 1966, 1970 and 2011, all of which I attended. I was at the 2010 draw but not the replay.

I watched the 1990 and 2010 wins on TV in Darwin, so perhaps I should head to Darwin rather than the ‘G should the Pies make the Grand Final this year!

I was in Volvic for a number of months in 2010 and the Pies lost only one match, and have not lost a match this visit, so perhaps I should spend the home and away rounds in France!

Four of my six daughters follow the Pies (the other two cannot spell Aussie rules) and each of my twelve grandchildren has a Collingwood scarf and plenty of encouragement to follow the Pies.

I have taken my grandsons, Oliver 6 (six-years-old) and Harry (two-years-old) to two winning matches, so perhaps I should only go to the footy with them!

What I do with four-year-old grandson Louis, who I took to a losing match, is still to be determined!

Whilst walking in Paris in 2010, wearing my members’ cap, I was approached by Marcus Whelan's nephew and had a chat (Marcus Whelan played 173 games for Collingwood and won the 1939 Brownlow Medal).

When I am not overseas, I live in Adelaide and get across to see the Pies as often as I can.  In the meantime, I enjoy the good-natured banter with my Crows and Port supporter friends, who are annoyed that there is a Pies supporter on their midst.

Go Pies!

John Munn

Past Magpies Abroad