By Greg Martin

Glen Baigent took time out from doing that voodoo, that cobblers and locksmiths do so well, to proudly hold aloft the Best Forward trophy he earned during that auspicious season he had with the Badgery’s Creek A Grade league team back in 1982.

This is the group of cobbers who did battle in that lone season in the Penrith District Junior Rugby League in 1982. That’s Glen Baigent standing middle-row on the extreme left.

After interviewing Glen Baigent for this article, I was completely perplexed about what to nominate as his favourite place.

Lucky Starr may well have been “everywhere”, and so too has 63-year-old Glen.

He’s been there, done that — working across a remarkable range of places and occupations — which made it no easy task to narrow down a single favourite location.

In the end, I settled on a place he is yet to truly visit, although he has been in its vicinity for many years.

I’ll keep you in suspense just a little longer.

Throughout his life, Glen has been an “everywhere man”, earning a quid on thoroughbred training tracks and stud farms, at rodeos, and even on the bandstand.

While Hans Christian Andersen put aside his shoemaking tools to write fairy tales, Glen did the reverse — giving up the hard yakka of riding neddies to become a highly respected cobbler.

For the past 20 years, as proprietor of the popular Windsor Cobbler ‘n’ Key, he has worked his magic repairing and rejuvenating shoes while cutting keys for locals.

Alright — waited long enough?

I reckon Glen’s favourite place will soon be the entrance to the new Western Sydney International Airport terminal at Badgerys Creek, scheduled to open later this year.

“What are you going on about?” I hear you ask.

Well, one of the features greeting arrivals will be a giant screen continuously displaying images of the history of Badgerys Creek. Two of those photos are especially dear to Glen’s heart — historic Eaton House, and the one-and-only 1982 Badgerys Creek A Grade rugby league team.

Eaton House still stands within the airport precinct, thankfully well away from jets racing up and down the runways.

“My great-great-grandparents lived in the house, and the last of our family to do so was my grandmother, Anna Eaton,” Glen said. “I was thrilled to learn it was still standing in good condition and even more thrilled to be invited to visit.”

Here’s where the story gets even better.

For more than a decade, the local Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, has been a regular visitor to Glen’s shop — not to talk footy, but to have shoes repaired.

“She noticed my 1982 team photo on display,” Glen explained. “We got talking and I told her it was the only time Badgerys Creek fielded a side in the Penrith competition.”

Long story short, early last year Susan invited Glen and former teammate Ken McClelland — now owner of King’s Transport — to visit the airport site.

“She told us she intended to raise in Parliament the idea of including photos of Eaton House and our old footy team in the airport’s historical montage.”

When the airport opens, you can bet Glen will be leading family and friends on tours — just to catch that photographic reel.

As for that one-and-only 1982 A Grade side?

“Our home ground is now part of the airport site,” Glen said. “We weren’t a powerhouse, but we loved every minute. We were mates from around the area who kept turning up, giving it our best each week, then enjoying each other’s company afterwards — usually at Kemps Creek Bowling Club.”

As mentioned earlier, Glen has lived a rich and varied life.

Educated at Riverstone High and James Ruse Agricultural High, wanderlust took him far and wide, pulling on jerseys for clubs including Denistone, Granville Diggers, Badgerys Creek, Riverstone, Blacktown Leagues, Dora Creek and Morisset.

A natural in the saddle, he rode bucking broncs at rodeos and later worked as a studmaster and trackwork rider at Kingsfield Stud in Kemps Creek, where he formed a close friendship with former champion jockey Des Lake.

And if that wasn’t enough, Glen’s smooth vocals have made him a long-time member of popular local band Rough Stock, whose modern country and rock classics keep dance floors full wherever they play.

For a man who’s been almost everywhere, it seems fitting that his favourite place may soon be somewhere brand new — yet deeply connected to his past.