Faces in the crowd: HawkHead Graham Lancaster

During the Illawarra Hawks' 43-year existence, 221 players have pulled on the club's jersey.

But the number of fans who have supported the foundation club during that period is exponentially more.

As such, the club has decided to profile some of the most prominent and longest-serving HawkHeads with our new 'faces in the crowd' series.

After profiling the journeys of Yvonne White and Anita Bout, we decided to feature the larger than life character that is Graham Lancaster - who came on as a corporate sponsor shortly after the club won its only championship.

“We at Lancaster Law and Mediation had just formed a new firm and I had some say in the sponsorship stakes,” Lancaster said.

“The Hawks are our team here in the Illawarra and I wanted to support them in any way I could.

“The other reason I love the Hawks is they’ve always punched above their weight, resource-wise and have been tenacious as a club.

“At the end of the day, Illawarra fans are passionate, often being the underdogs, and proud of it - we stick together, making us the best fans in the NBL.

“And I’m not allowed to say that one of us poured beer over Sydney Kings player, Marcus Thornton, because that would be politically incorrect.”

During his time as a HawkHead, Lancaster has become one of the most recognisable fans at every home game in the WIN Entertainment Centre, thanks to his red and black Viking horns (a gift from a friend originally, Graham says that Vikings used to hunt with hawks, falcons and other birds of prey).

“Basketball has brought a passion to me, my family and others around,” he said.

“There are moments so sublime that you just feel alive. 

“And Hawks are beautiful and savage creatures, not like angry ant JackJumpers.

“The Hawks have given me a reason to write poetry, develop a series of Hawk’s cries and wear helmets with horns and spikes - not to mention to make others feel good.”

Lancaster isn’t just recognisable at Hawks home games, also travelling on the road at times, including the 2017 NBL Finals to Perth.

“We took it to them that year and I had the chance to take on the biggest arena of opposition supporters - it’s a moment I’ll never forget,” he said.

As well as that trip, a number of players stand out among the rest as favourites to him.

“I’ve sponsored AJ Ogilvy and Emmett Naar, so they are up there as my favourite Hawks - not just because of the sponsoring, because they are great team players,” he said.

“Oscar Forman probably edges out Tim Coenraad for dropping bombs and everyone loves a three-pointer. 

“Of course, you couldn’t beat the feeling when Zac Delaney took the court – everyone smiled.

"Now Lachie Dent, a former IBA junior, takes that role.”

As we head into the pointy end of the season, Lancaster is confident we can add another banner to the WIN Entertainment Centre roof.

“We are definitely in the mix this season,” he said. 

“We run a little hot and cold at times and then we gel and the belief grows. 

“We can beat any team in the top four, with proper refereeing and our team firing. 

“We have a depth of shooters and a bench that has been underutilised at times. 

“When our defence is on point, we are strong.”