Seasons 1965 to 1969

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1965

Brian Carlin took over as West Coach in 1965 from “Charger” Walls. West had a successful season winning Reserves and Thirds and being beaten by Maitland 19 – 12 in the Final. Reserve Grade beat Maitland 22 -11 in the deferred Grand Final. The West team was 1. B Spruce (try), 2. K Orr (try), 3. G Gaegler, 4. G Walsh,  5. M Alchin, 6. B Stanbridge (5 goals), 7. M Gallagher, 8. P Clarke, 9. G Alchin, 10.D Howlett, 11. K Davies, 12. M Page and 13. G Savage (try). J Cooper must have been a reserve because he scored a try. Third Grade defeated Maitland 30 – 15 in the Grand Final. The West team was 1. J Gardiner, 2. B Westbury (try), 3. E Snelson (6 goals) ,4. L Cox, 5. J Bowe, 6. B Martin (try), 7. J Cooper (2 tries), 8. A Glover (try), 9. K Emerton (try), 10.N Tarrant, 11. R Campbell, 12. K Duncan and 13. G Savage. New players to the club in 1965 included West Juniors Mick Gallagher and Wayne Hore. Mick went on to play 104 games for West and tasted 1^st Grade success in 1966 when West 31 def Cessnock 7. Wayne Hore went on to play 181 games for West, and tasted First Grade success in1966 and 1970, when West 21 def Maitland 14. “Bomber” Hore is one of the “foundation stones” that underpins the West Rosellas. At the time of writing (Feb 2014) “Bomber” is beginning his 24^th year as President of the WSRLFC – a remarkable achievement. Brian Stanbridge also joined West from Kurri, and became West’s most successful coach ever. Part of West’s folklore is the State Cup game against St George at Kogarah Oval on 23 May (and just incidentally – I was there). Apparently West hooker Allan Buman played in the annual City v Country game at the SCG the day before. Apparently, “Charger” Walls was on the West bus going to Kogarah, and because he was not selected in the team, he had a rum...or two...or three...or more. On arriving at Kogarah Oval it was found that “Charger” had to play, because Allan Buman had suffered an injury in the City v Country game. Apparently all was going to plan until the first scrum, when the entire St George front row reeled back in horror from the “foul” smell emanating from the West hooker.

1966

What a year!  For the first time West were Major Premiers in all 3 grades as well as being Club Champions. West welcomed new Captain / Coach, John Hobby (pictured) from Eugowra. Originally from Coolah, John was a tough lock or 2^nd row forward. He is regarded by many, along with Rex Elvin, David Howell and John Cootes as West’s best ever signings. Indeed Rex Elvin, David Howell and John Hobby all won Premierships in their 1^st year with West. In the 1^st Grade Grand Final, West 31 def Cess 9. The West team was 1. “Monty” Spruce  2. M Alchin (2 tries) 3. W Hore (try)  4. R Hensby (try)  5. J McLaughlin (try)  6. “Tag” Spruce 7. M Gallagher  8. J Hobby (try, goal)  9. D Rowston  10.  R Johnson  11. J Richards  12. A Buman  13. R Davies (4 goals). In Reserve Grade, West 19 def Maitland 9. The Reserve Grade side was 1. R Turner  2. ?? 3. G Sutcliffe 4. T Jukes (2 tries, FG)  5. O Kilpatrick  6. B Martin  7. K Hodgson (4 goals  8. G Alchin  9. K Emerton  10. K Partridge  11. G Whitmore (try)  12. A Dagwell  13 C Bakes  Res A Milton and R Walls. The deferred 3^rd Grade Grand Final was played at DISTRICT PARK (yep, District Park, now defunct, behind the tennis courts at Broadmeadow). Brian Warby scored a Club Record of 6 tries in this Grand Final when West 41 def Kurri 0. The winning West side was 1. B Warby (6 tries) 2. G Ravelon  3. B Stanbridge (3 goals)  4. W Mahoney (try)  5. K Campbell (2 tries)  6. A Wallis  7. J Cooper (try) 8. D Howlett  9. G Whitmore 10. G McLachlan  11. G Savage (try) 12. H Hill  13. R Campbell Res K Davies (goal), B Smith, J Everleigh. Players to come into West grade in 1966 included West stalwart (and games record holder) Allan Dagwell, Jesmond lads, “larger than life” “Cas” Whitmore and Danny Armstrong and local junior Alan Wallis. George Ravelon came to West from Narrabri and centre, Bob Hensby (who later formed a great combination with John Cootes) came from the Roosters in Sydney.  

1967

West nearly won all 3 again in 1967 – with First Grade unluckily beaten in the Grand Final by a couple of points. Reserve Grade defeated Lakes 21 – 9 in the Grand Final. The winning West team was 1. C John (try)  2. R Turner (try) 3. O Kilpatrick  4. D Armstrong  5. B Warby (goal)  6. B Martin  7. K Hodgson (5 goals) 8. G Walsh  9. K Partridge  10. K Emerton  11. G Savage (try)  12. A Dagwell  13. G McLachlan. Kevin Hodgson was Captain / Coach of this impressive team that lost 1 game during the season. Third Grade under Captain / Coach Brian Stanbridge also lost one game, and won the Grand Final 16 – 10 over North. The winning team was 1. W Smith  2. A Milton  3. B Stanbridge (6 goals) 4. D Howlett  5. K Campbell  6. A Wallis  7. J Cooper  8. W Mahoney  9. G Ravelon  10. D Bullen  11. R Campbell  12. H Hill  13. R Gilson (goal, field goal) Reserves I Paul, N Tarrant, K Davies. Players first appearing in grade in 1967 inc West Juniors Garry Dagwell, Chris John and Peter “Sherm” Holmes, who was the first player to wear pink football laces. But the biggest name to appear in 1967 was Father John Cootes. Cootes (pictured) was a Roman Catholic Priest and whilst studying in Rome he played Rugby Union with Lazio. He was a very talented player. On his return to Newcastle he played with West, and he represented Australia from West...that’s how talented he was! Cootes could do anything. On 7 May at Waratah Oval, goalkicker Rob Davies was dismissed from the field (yep, sent off). Coach John Hobby then missed one from in front. Then John Cootes kicked (I reckon) 11 from 11, but the Newcastle Herald said 11 from 15. Anyway, Cootes could score tries and kick goals, and from that day he was West’s goalkicker. All in all a very good year with just 2 points denying us a great year...and all the better with the arrival of John Cootes!.

1968

West had another good year in 1968 with First Grade disapponting by losing their last 3 games of the season and failing to reach the Grand Final. Reserve Grade, again under coach Kevin Hodgson won the Grand Final by defeating North 15 – 9. The West team was 1. B Warby (3 goals)  2. K Campbell  3. D Armstrong  4.  R Cronin (try)  5. P Holmes  6. B Martin (try) 7. K Hodgson  8. D Rowston  9. B Carlin  10. K Partridge (try)  11. T Browne  12. M Page  13. G Waldie. Third Grade under coach Brian Stanbridge made it 5 consecutive Premierships, when they defeated South 12 – 0 (perhaps 12 – 6) in the Grand Final. The West team was 1. C John  2. A Milton (try)  3. G Walsh  4. E Ellum  5. R Dowse  6. W Weston  7. J Cooper  8. D Howlett  9. B Stanbridge ( 3 goals)  10. J Peterson  11. R Bullen (try)  12. L Bartholemew  13. R Campbell. In one of the smallest turnover of players recorded there were only 18 new players who played for West in 1968. The most notable of these were West United prop Tony Browne, utility Ken Smith and Waratah 5/8 David Higgins.

Ken Smith : Ken Smith was born in Ryde, and commenced his football career with the Burnside Schoolboys. He played Under 18’s with Concord West (coached by Harry Wells) and in 1959 he was approached to play First Grade Rugby League in Eugowra.  At Eugowra, Ian Walsh was the coach for the 1959 and 1960 seasons without any success…and then… John Hobby took over in 1962 with immediate success by taking out the Minor Premiership. 1963 was another excellent season, and Ken was chosen in the Group 11 team as five – eighth. In 1964 with John Hobby as Captain / Coach and Ken Smith as five eighth Eugowra won the Major titles. John Hobby joined West in 1966 (and won the Grand Final with a 31 – 7 win over Cessnock) whilst Ken Smith coached Eugowra. In 1967 Ken coached Coolah and in 1968 he joined John Hobby at West. At West Ken was so versatile that he played in the backs or the forwards. At West he also gained the nickname “Poppa” because of his resemblance to St George great “Poppa” Clay. In 1970 he had a great game on the wing in the John Raper coached team that defeated Maitland 21 – 14. He had a real winger’s game and capped it off with a grand try. In 1971 Ken won the “Best and Fairest” trophy for Reserve Grade. His willingness to play in any grade in any position was an object lesson to all the footballers at West.

1969

John Hobby’s 4 year term came to an end, with one Premiership in 1966, three Minor Premierships (1966, 1967 and 1968) and 2^nd in the points table in 1969. Hobby was one of West’s best players ever and his record as Captain / Coach speaks for itself. The Bill Lockett coached made it 5 in a row when they defeated South 14 – 8 in the Grand Final. The West team was 1. C John  2. B Warby (try, 4 goals)  3. I Bell  4. C Pritchard (try)  5. K Campbell  6. A Wallis  7. J Cooper  8. W Lockett 9. R Dean  10. T Browne  11. K Partridge  12. K Wright 13. B Carlin  Res G Ravelon.     The Brian Stanbridge coached Third Grade made it 6 in a row when they defeated Maitland 23 – 16 in the Grand Final. The West team was 1. P Gilfeather (try)  2. O Kilpatrick  3. T Kelly (try)  4. G Dagwell (try)  5. Bob Campbell  6. B Martin (try)  7. R Mitchell  8. B Stanbridge (4 goals) 9. J Peterson  10.  G Ravelon  11. W Mutu  12. B Rooney (try)  13. R Campbell. Many new faces joined West grdae in 1969. West juniors “Flea” Anderson, Ian Bell, Steve Lawson and the Jesmond soccer goalkeeper “Bull” Druery all debuted in grade. Manly Junior Frank Frasca came to Newcastle University and made his name with West (and with the “fruit” community in Newcastle). Roger Dean came from Coonabarabran, Col Pritchard came from Newtown via Narrandera and Eugowra, and Brisbane lad Victor Poudziunas came to West from RAAF Williamtown. Marist Brother student, and South Junior, John Barber also made his grade debut in 1969. But the “biggest” imports were Alby Wiggs and Neil Berri from New Zealand. Rumour has it that Glen Maloney went to New Zealand to persuade a goal kicking winger Ernie Wiggs (Alby’s brother) to come across the “dutch”. However he came back with 2 props, the bigger Alby Wiggs (pictured) and the smaller “Butch” Beri. Both players fitted in well, and played 3 seasons with West. They were soon joined at West by the popular Kiwi, Waka Mutu, who played 5 seasons with West mainly in the lower grades. All in all another successful season for West.