A Warriors superfan has returned to Mt Smart Stadium and raised a hefty sum to donate to a mental health charity, after he believed he’d been banned for life for drinking out of his shoe.
Calley Gibbons has become a highlight of the Warriors' return home, caught on camera at performing a ‘shoey’ right in front of the Warriors coaching box.
He’s become such a fixture, the 31-year-old Auckland bricklayer has been given the nickname of ‘Roger Shoey Vasa-Sheck’.
He vowed to drink out of a red band gumboot before last night’s game against Gold Coast Titans and for every time he was featured on the big screen, he would donate $100 to mental health charity I Am Hope.
Gibbons told Newshub he was on screen four times, raising a total of $400.
His first shoey was caught on screen, after the Warriors scored a try, taking the score to 20-6. He caught the attention of the coaches box, particularly Shaun Johnson, who saw Gibbons raise his gumboot before getting out of his seat to witness the act, later nodding his head and laughing.
It also caused a mass uproar in the stadium, with the commentators stating, "Shoey Vasa-Sheck was in front of the camera again, wasn’t he, and Shaun Johnson was enjoying it".
"That's what it's about when you’re playing rugby league. It’s the mateship, it's the enjoyment, and it's playing with your mates every time and just enjoying what you do, and that’s what it showed just then."
He has also auctioned off some Warriors memorabilia for an additional $185, while his Give a Little page so far has raised $815, making a combined total of $1400 to donate.
Gibbons said: "I’m really happy with that effort and that the money is going to a vital cause."
His donation effort was sparked, when a security guard escorted him out of the stadium last month, when the Warriors faced Canterbury Bulldogs, after performing a shoey.
"The security guard came up to me and said, 'If you drink out of that shoe, you're gone' and about 15 minutes in, the opportunity came up," Gibbons told Newshub.
"I looked at the guard, I looked at the big screen, I looked back at the guard and I said, 'It's going to happen'. It was almost like a Spartacus moment, everyone sort of sitting in front of me.
"They were all standing up in front of me, shouting, 'shoey, shoey, shoey'."
The Warriors confirmed on social media that he wasn’t served with a lifetime ban after the incident.
Mike King thanked Gibbons and Mt Smart Stadium for their support in raising $1400 for his charity Gumboot Friday.
"The fundraising effort was undertaken with the full support of us and the stadium, and the shoey beverage of choice was lemonade," King said.
"As an ex drug addict and alcoholic, I'd like to personally thank this super fan for his passionate enthusiasm for raising funds for kids in need and for using a soft drink, rather than alcohol.
"We love to see creative and healthier alternatives of entrenched cultural practices for a good cause."
Gibbons raised the stakes for the next game for a cause that hits close to home.
"Mental health has been something that's been quite important to me.
"I had some troubles when I was a bit younger. I had a really good support team.
"I have great family and friends. They helped me through it and I'm one of the lucky ones.
"Some of the kids don't have that support system. It's important you have the counsellors, and just get a group behind them and realise that you can get through it.
"Life is very important. It's something that will bring positivity to a great foundation - I'm happy to be a part of it."
He may have become a Warriors cult hero, but he's a warrior in his own right.
Join us on October 2 for live updates of the NRL Grand Final
