GOSFORD RUGBY LEAGUE
- Est. 2014 -
the
Issue No.42 --- Late August 2020 ISSN: 2652-4570
HERE COME THE TOWNIES: The Early History of Gosford Rugby League Available from the East Gosford Newsagency or online from Lulu Publishing Written & Published by Andrew Stark ISBN: 9780958198035 Published January 2020. 504 page, A4 sized, paperback
An in-depth look at the history of Central Coast footy. From its kick off back during the late nineteenth century, through to the modern day competition.
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
Vol 42: Late August 2020
This season’s semi final series kicks off on the last weekend of September. With little over a month remaining until the top five cut off is invoked, our U17s & U12s lead the way, while four of six Storm teams remain in the hunt.
Saddened to hear that U13s prop Angus Strelcs (pictured left) broke his color bone in a schoolyard mishap. Hayden Doyle’s young team are undeniably missing their powerful, orange helmeted enforcer and everyone at the Storm wishes Big Angus a speedy recovery.
After a bright start to division two footy, our under 15s have suffered a string of losses, including a round five shut out at The Entrance. Mick Sams’ team copped a 20-0 defeat . This was the first time the side had trailed by that score line since late in the 2019 division three grand final. On that particular day, Rylee Oakes saved the day IT’S TIME when he slotted a neatly taken field goal to narrow the deficit to 19.
This publication’s “It’s Time” campaign, launched in our last edition, has received a big thumbs up from under 16s mentor Greg Eather. A Gosford Townie junior himself, Coach Eather has thrown his full support behind the concept of our 2021 under 17s turning out in the old Gosford Townies strip.
© 2020 Opinions expressed in this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.
Vol 42: Late August, 2020
It was a week beyond the terrible news of a stabbing rampage at a Penrith Brothers vs. Wenty Magpies U20s game down in Sydney, when The Eye found himself queuing up, Great Depression style, before the COVID sign in table at Woy Woy’s Rogers Park. The day was balmy yet the hole in his desert boot had already begun sucking up precipitation from the spongy ground below. His camera felt heavy slung haphazardly over one of two drooping shoulders while an irritable bowel threatened to make the afternoon more explosive that it would otherwise have needed to be. Half an hour on and Gossy were being toweled up in the game he was there to cover when without warning, a bold vision danced seductively before him. The path beyond this grey day suddenly rolled out like an army of lawn bowlers delivering multiple jacks. The future had become starkly apparent. A 60 watt pearl globe flickered wildly above as a fresh new genre of literature sprang gloriously into view. Pulling urgently his tatty notebook from it’s well worn housing, The Eye scrawled;
The great dystopian rugby league novel; chapter one, Woy Woy.
The U16s suffered a hefty defeat at the hands of the Hawks during round five. That however, didn’t stop workhorse prop forward ‘Flying’ Finn Duncan (pictured right) from crossing for his first ever try. I’m led to believe it was a brilliant, 90 metre solo effort which featured a deadly right foot step, a shimmy, swerve and withering burst of speed, before culminating in a deft chip n re-gather over the nonplussed Toukley fullback’s head … that’s what I’m led to believe. Pushing hyperbole to one side; well done Finn.
Great to see premiership winning forward Amalia Hansen (pictured left) cheering on her old team during recent rounds.
Meanwhile, big brother Xavier is featured pulling the Grimace of the Year on the cover of this edition and is leading the way up front for the undefeated U17s. If all goes well, the Hansen family will have two premiership winning forwards sitting around the dinner table come Christmas.
© 2020 Opinions expressed in this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.
Vol 42: Late August, 2020
Our fun-loving under 16s squad has been desperate for a competent halfback since injury forced the retirement of representative playmaker, Kyle Dowling back during the 2018 pre-season. Having caught a couple of recent games, the work of halfback Jordan Pracy has certainly caught The Eye. This lad is a most unlikely number seven yet is blessed with unerring enthusiasm and a keen willingness to take on the line. The solo try he scored against Erina back in round 4 would have done 1970s Manly dasher Johnny Gibbs proud.
The Storm U13s witnessed a bright young opponent in full flight during their recent 46-12 loss to St Eddies. Bears fullback Jay Clarke scored six scintillating tries in a performance that prompted The Eye to scrawl the lad’s name into his little black book before hunting down and cornering the young champion’s dad post game in search of a little background info. Well apparently young Jay, who glides across the turf like a startled gazelle, is the second fastest 200 metre runner for his age, in the nation. He’s also fourth fastest over the 100 and despite playing up a year last season, he notched over 40 tries. While this kid is clearly going to be a handful for any defensive line, Eye would suggest that when we next line up against the Bears, we don’t kick off straight to the aforementioned fullback. Down four nil after 12.5 seconds is a less than ideal start. Top:
Halfback Jordan Pracy shifts the ball wide during the U16s exciting draw with Erina in round 4.
Right:
The view of St Eddies fullback Jay Clarke which became painfully familiar during round 5.
© 2020 Opinions expressed in this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.
Vol 42: Late August, 2020
The Eye’s senior photographer, ole yellow-tooth, has found himself a kindred spirit in under 10s coach, Luke Deguara. Both gents swear by fibro, have a natural aversion to the colour orange and cut their teeth supporting the mighty Western Suburbs Magpies. Thankfully for the 10s boys, their coach is too young to remember the infamous Lidcombe Oval face slapping days of yore (see below).
Left: Jack Jefferies warms up the face of the great Tommy Raudonikis in the Lidcombe Oval sheds prior to a 1979 game.
Forget the Tigers: It’s WESTS!
While the focus of this magazine is invariably placed upon our competition teams, there are some tremendously talented youngsters coming through in this year’s 6s, 7s &9s. If we can keep this crop together, the next decade is shaping as a very exciting era for our humble little club.
Without wanting to Jonah the boys, our under 17s have now racked up 18 straight home & away victories. The team’s last non-finals loss occurred way back in the ultimate round of 2018, when they stumbled 14-10 at Berkeley Vale. In fact, after losing their opening four games of 2017, the Purple Pride has been successful in 80% of all games played. Here’s hoping that Uncle Wayne’s old team, a side subsequently molded by the Martin Brothers, can garnish this imposing set of statistics with silverware come October.
© 2020 Opinions expressed in this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.
THE CLASS OF 2020 A Concise History of Our Most Senior Team. by Grahame Parke
The under 17s are playing their final year of junior footy and come early October, hold high hopes of lifting silverware. Their campaign has been a long and winding affair, beginning way back in 2009 when current team members, Jake Martin and Josh Hanlon were two of nine tiny tots stepping out for the club’s under 6s. At year’s end, the coach, Jeremy McGowan conceded, “when the season started, they had no idea what to do”. THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
Above: The Gosford Kariong under 6 team of 2009. Jake Martin (3rd from left front row) & Josh Hanlon (2nd from right front row) are the only two who remain in the U17s of 2020.
The full team was; Josh Stedman, Ben Shepherd, Corey McGowan, Jake Martin, Kyle Campbell, Cooper Ellis, Josh Hanlon, & Hayden Swale (Best & Fairest). Rachel Stedman (Manager) & Jeremy McGowan (Coach). The following year, the U7 Greens saw the addition of Blake Carney & Ryan O’Malley. The McGowan’s had left the district and the new coach was 2009 trainer, Robbie Hanlon who would mentor the boys for two seasons. Blake McDonald joined the fold in 2011 when the team shared the Storm’s Mini League Team of the Year Award (with U9s) By 2012 the side had progressed to the U9(1)s and were coached by Club President Colin O’Malley. Michael Porter arrived and he won the team’s Best & Fairest Award at his very first attempt, before kicking on to play eight season’s at the club. Graded in Division 2, the 2013 U10s were coached by former Townies junior Bronson Darlington. The side lost Josh Hanlon to ambition, but were buoyed by the arrival of dashing three-quarters; Nash Dorratt-Mavin and Sam Bissett.
THE CLASS OF 2020 A difficult introduction to competition footy saw the team struggle for numbers throughout the 2013 season. This continued into 2014 when they finished at the foot of the ladder with just three wins from sixteen starts. A clear highlight was the glass ceiling smashing achievement of boasting four female players. The Storm U11s of 2014 became the first, and to date the only Gosford competition team to do so. The pioneering quartet were ; Tia Oakes (pictured below), Niki Kerr, Zahlia Vickers & Kayla Hodge (who was on loan from the U10s).
The team dropped back to division three in 2015 and Wayne ‘the fixer’ Oatley took over as coach. Before a ball had been kicked, the side had lost all four girls as well as Jordi Elliott; the tearaway prop deciding to throw his lot in with Ourimbah (he would return in 2018). The boys suddenly found their mojo in division three, notching 10 wins from 13 games to finish the year in second place. Unfortunately a 14-10 preliminary final loss to the Tigers ended the year just a week shy of the big dance. Photos – Andrew Stark
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020 Above Left: Coach Wayne Oatley and previous coach Bronson Darlington look less than impressed during a 2015 halftime break. Above Right: Nash Dorratt-Mavin on the fly for the U12(3)s of 2015.
THE CLASS OF 2020
Photos – Andrew Stark
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
Clockwise from top left: Jake Martin (U9s – 2012), Gokhan Emeli (U12s – 2015),
Josh Stedman & Josh Hanlon (U9s – 2012, Blake Carney (U11s - 2014)
THE CLASS OF 2020 The team was re-graded into division two having scored three fifty point victories during the opening month of 2016. Blake McDonald rejoined the team after a four year absence, while Jake Martin & Nash Dorratt-Mavin were fast developing into representative quality footballers. Wayne Oatley’s team again qualified for the end of season games, dipping out 26-4 to a fine Kincumber side during week one of the play offs. For the second year in succession, team captain Jake Martin was a standout choice for the team’s Best & Fairest Award. Wayne Oatley headed to Queensland during the 2016/2017 off season and the new coach of the U14(2)s was former Gosford Open Grade star, Greg Martin. The team began the year poorly, losing their first four games before finding form to rack up five wins on the trot. They ultimately snuck into the finals, winning two thrilling knockout semi finals before falling 22-18 to Budgewoi in a ding dong Bateau Bay battle. The team was rocked during the semi final period to learn that popular front rower Cameron Sanchez had been diagnosed with cancer. The 14(2)s wore blue wrist bands during the end of season games in support of their stricken teammate. Photos – Andrew Stark
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
2016 action - Top: Blake McDonald races away for a try. Above: Xavier Hansen pulls a face at former & future team member Ryan O’Malley, as Blake Carney, Josh Stedman and Michael Porter look on.
THE CLASS OF 2020 Bad news turned to absolute tragedy during early January of 2018 when coach and popular clubman, Greg Martin was killed in a motorcycle accident. The death of Gosford Kariong’s 2017 Coach of the Year set off a wave of grief which swept both the club and the district. The team was front and centre at Greg Martin’s funeral and the outpouring of emotion saw a number of new recruits drawn to the U15(2)s of 2018. Shaun Martin and Blake Laybutt oversaw a dynamic newlook Storm squad which included former Asquith Magpie and North Sydney development player Isaac Vuna, Ourimbah duo Keegan Ropoama and Jack Turnbull, the return of Jordi Elliott, along with impressive forwards Nathan Cahill and Hayden Doyle. The team appeared to be on a mission, romping through the opening ten rounds undefeated before the emotional tumult of the previous six months eventually took its toll. They lost five of their final seven games to dip out in the minor semi final; a 20-14 loss to Ourimbah (a team they’d beaten by 30 earlier in the year).
Top: Greg Martin with his son Cooper pictured after the Storm’s Awards Day of 2017. Just months later the popular clubman lost his life. Above: The U15(2)s of 2018 stand united during a minutes
silence for their fallen coach. The team played brilliantly that day to defeat The Entrance 50-0 THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
THE CLASS OF 2020 2019 saw the newly minted U16(2)s run rampant from the get go, yet despite their dominance, that elusive premiership did once again elude them. Foundation player Josh Stedman left to tour the US in 2019, however his loss was countered by the addition of former Terrigal back rower Nick Elwin, rangy second rower Jackson Ward, and the return of Ryan O’Malley who in his years away from Carrington Street had transitioned from a dummy half to a winger. The side was coached by Shaun, Lachie & Brendan Martin. They won the minor premiership in a canter and entered the grand final against Terrigal undefeated. In a keen contest, a controversial send off just before half time proved too much of a hurdle and the Sharks managed to cause an almighty upset, winning the day 14-10. It was an extremely tough way to lose a decider yet as they say in the classics … that’s footy!
So we come to 2020. Once again the team was rocked by tragedy. In April, 17-year-old Rhys Morris was killed in a car accident at Niagara Park. Rhys had played in the Gosford-Terrigal U16s team in 2018 and was a good mate to many of the Storm players. This horrible start to the year was further compounded by COVID-19, and it looked as if the team was to be denied one final shot at a title. Thankfully footy ultimately got back on the park and yet stalwarts Nash Dorratt-Mavin and Gokhan Emeli had departed for Kincumber, Jackson Ward went to Erina, while Sam Bissett & Michael Porter both retired. Josh ‘Lucky Star’ Hanlon returned after a seven year absence, while former Terrigal lock Jackson Knowles added further starch up the middle. The team has once again begun their campaign well and the script would demand that come October 11th, this long and winding road will lead its way to glory.
Photos: Andrew Stark
Top: The result of the 2019 grand final was a bitter pill to swallow. Above right: Rhys Morris tragically lost his life during April of this year.
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
THE CLASS OF 2020
Top: Wrist respect; Cameron Sanchez (2018), Greg Martin (2019) & Rhys Morris (2020) Above: Brilliant performance in 2019. The team won the minor premiership by 11 competition
points with 12 wins, 3 byes, & no losses or draws. Points for 346, points against 116. Below: Gosford Kariong celebrate a try during the early rounds of 2020.
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
Photos - Andrew Stark
THE CLASS OF 2020
Photos - Andrew Stark
2020 action Clockwise from top left: Jordi Elliott, Josh Hanlon ,Jack Metcalfe, Isaac Vuna, Blake Carney. Opposite page: Team captain Jake Martin is playing his thirteenth consecutive year with
the Storm and has been a constant member of the same team since 2009.
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THE CLASS OF 2020 Photos - Andrew Stark
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THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
Jordi Elliott -- U17s --
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE - LATE AUGUST 2020
Peck’s Paste Devilled Ham Player of the Month
Photo – Andrew Stark
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored segment. No meaty spreads company has in any way endorsed this publication. When smeared liberally onto a buttered SAO, this product has been noted as an afternoon tea favourite among Eye Media Conglomerate employees
Hey Buddy, You’re Blocking My View
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
Purchasing Photos … It’s Just So Easy! Sling the guy with the camera a lobster ($20), and within days he’ll email you a couple of photo’s (jpeg files), featuring your little champion (or not so little champion) captured in full flight for the mighty Gosford Kariong Storm. Simply hand over one, crisp, orangey note, along with your email address, and sit back & marvel as the old bloke gets frantically to work on your order. Purchases can also be made using Paypal for $22.
Email: 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com
t he
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Photos – Andrew Stark
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE - LATE AUGUST 2020
Photos – Andrew Stark Photos – Andrew Stark THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
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Photos: Andrew Stark
Twas A Tough Day At The Woy For The 13s
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Photos – Andrew Stark
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Photos – Andrew Stark
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Photo – Andrew Stark
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
Photos – Andrew Stark
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Photos – Andrew Stark
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
Photos – Andrew Stark
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Photos – Andrew Stark
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Photos – Andrew Stark
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A Try …
Blake Carney’s Eventful Arvo
Photos – Andrew Stark
A Tackle Gone Wrong …
And Sadly, A Popped Shoulder …
A Leap …
Photos – Andrew Stark
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
YIKES!
It was good to see Gosford rugby league legend Edward Johnson braving the early morning Carrington Street cold during round 6. The 2019 premiership winning coach was running his eye over Chris Habkouk’s undefeated U12s. Big Ed is pictured roped off alongside Shaun ‘Colgate’ Martin, Narelle Walters, Belinda Wade and young Hayley (who’s keeping a keen look out for snow flakes). THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
“Go back to where you started … examining all of it, travel your road again and tell the truth about it. Sing or shout or testify or keep it to yourself: but know from whence you came.” - James Baldwin (African American Author)
HERE COME THE TOWNIES: The Early History of Gosford Rugby League ISBN: 9780958198035
The following extract is taken from the book’s chapter focusing on 1919 and the Spanish Flu Epidemic.
No sooner had hostilities on northern battlefields met their ultimate and merciful cessation, than a horrific influenza pandemic did begin its pneumonic sweep across the globe. The beleaguered peoples of the world simply couldn’t take a trick, for the Spanish flu of 1918/19 is claimed to have killed more people than the war it so cruelly followed. Australia’s mortality rate inverted this trend; however a death toll of ten thousand left an already grieving nation wondering just what calamity may befall it next. The epidemiology suggests that during the final stages of this deadly disease the infection did deny a patient’s lungs oxygen, causing the victim to turn blue, purple or black before their ultimate expiration. The impact upon the Brisbane Water district was thankfully milder than in many other, less fortunate regions. THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
The illness contributed to a dozen local deaths during the winter of 1919. Gosford Football Club President and popular Mann Street pharmacist, Stan Eggins was run off his feet during the height of the infection and he was directly involved in issuing public health advice to a somewhat panicked populace. His preventative tips for staving off the flu reached as far and wide as Queensland’s Maryborough Chronicle. A sage newspaper item appeared in which the Gosford chemist advised the public to, Take every other morning for an adult, ten drops of pure rectified spirits of turps in a spoonful of fresh milk (not common turps). - Maryborough Chronicle, 3-2-1919.
On can only speculate as to whether it was Eggins’ turps flavoured milk which spared the good folk of Gosford the very worst of the disease. What is known however, is that despite the seriousness of a raging pandemic, the local chemist did dutifully shut his drug dispensary between one and six each Saturday afternoon to attend Gosford football matches. The 1919 season presents as a watershed year in the history of Gosford football. For the very first time, the GFC did compete in a locally sanctioned competition and had a smidgen of luck fallen their way, the team may well have ended the season clutching the trophy. The silverware had been donated by the proprietor of Erina’s Woodport Sawmill, Mr Alexander Charles Frew whose shiny Stanley Eggins - Gosford Football Club President of 1919 Left:
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
HERE COME THE TOWNIES by Andrew Stark
HERE COME THE TOWNIES by Andrew Stark
cup was to be presented to the team finishing ahead of the pack after the series of home and away fixtures was complete. A separate League Trophy competition was also constructed and was to be played at the conclusion of the Frew Cup. The League Trophies were individual medals given to players of the winning team. The two-week knockout series was fought out by the top four teams; the rankings determined by the completed Frew Cup competition ladder. The structure of the season has a clear correlation to today’s home and away rounds which are followed by a semi-final series. Back in 1919, the minor premiers were deemed to have won the competition, while the winners of the ensuing challenge series were crowned the knockout champions. The weighted importance of these two competitions was a direct inversion of the contemporary emphasis. Winning the first past the post, minor premiership was the major achievement in 1919. The knockout series which followed, and which led to a season’s grand final, was deemed to be of lesser importance. Six teams entered the 1919 Frew Cup which was once again played under the auspices of the Wyong & District Rugby Football League. The Gosford Football Club was quick to set in place the founding principle of rugby league. During the Club's pre-season meeting held in early May, it was decided that a weekly levy of one shilling was to be imposed upon each member; creating an in-house insurance scheme from which injured players would subsequently be supported. A further item of business struck a most progressive tone as players were informed that a system of regular training is to be introduced under the direction of the selection committee. Gosford’s 1919 season would become a tale of two distinct halves. At the midpoint of their Frew Cup campaign, Gosford boasted just the single win from their opening five games. Their lone success being an 11-5 victory against competition easy beats Yarramalong, who would become so disheartened by their early efforts that they forfeited the entire second half of the season. In complete contrast to their pre-July fare, Gosford became the form team of late winter and remained undefeated THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
HERE COME THE TOWNIES by Andrew Stark Right:
Alexander & Ellen Frew. The 1919 competition trophy was donated by the local saw miller.
Below:
Gosford pictured just after the First World War, looking toward Waterside Park, later to be renamed Grahame Park,
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
throughout the return fixtures. An 8-0 win against the previously undefeated Wyong, was followed by victories over Erina 5-3, Ourimbah 20-2 and a final, comprehensive 15-0 away win over the eventual premiers, Jilliby... Peace Day did push the second last round of the football season back a week as celebrations overtook Gosford and the entire nation on July 19th. Decorated floats colourfully wended their down Mann Street en route to an afternoon of activities in the park. The local school children put together a series of exhibits symbolizing Peace, Prosperity and the British Empire and a full three minutes of silence was observed to solemnly commemorate those who had fallen during the war. Two days before Peace Day, the Jilliby team had been rocked by the news that one of their players, 25-year-old Richard Sheldon had lost his battle with influenza. Sheldon was a recently returned serviceman who’d relocated to the district to try his hand at farming and was one of three local influenza deaths recorded on the same day. The weekend prior to Sheldon’s passing; the Jilliby team had struggled so greatly with an outbreak of the infection within their ranks that their scheduled fixture against Erina needed to be postponed until later in the season… .
Right:
The champion Jilliby team of 1919
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
HERE COME THE TOWNIES by Andrew Stark
Wearing the royal blue jerseys made famous by Newtown in the Sydney premiership, Jilliby would become the Cinderella story of 1919. The small-town team was crowned champions of the district despite Jilliby never having previously possessed a football team. The physically lightweight thirteen from the Dooralong Valley could just as easily have been denied their triumph however, as they were controversially allowed to keep first-round competition points accrued from an 11-5 win over Erina. It was a game in which W&DRFL delegates found that Jilliby had played a man in defiance of rule 21. While no direct detail is given as to what this rule may have consisted of, an official sanction was in place that required any team found to have breached the rule, be required to automatically forfeit any points they may have accrued from said game. The 1919 season was the first in which local players were required to be registered. All club secretaries had been instructed to make available a full list of their registered players prior to kick-off. One strongly suspects that Jilliby had played an unregistered player during this first-round victory over Erina, hence the rule 21 breach. A late May meeting of the competitions executive committee, somewhat benevolently decided to allow Jilliby to keep their points… With half a dozen members of the Smith family in their side, the athletically agile Jilliby team carried forth to claim the Trophy Cup medals, defeating Wyong 3-2 in the final.
“Andrew Stark has written a terrific book called, Here Come the Townies. Townies.” - HG Nelson (ABC Radio 11th April 2020)
Available for purchase, at the East Gosford Newsagency, on-line from Lulu Publishing, or direct from the author.
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – LATE AUGUST 2020
HERE COME THE TOWNIES by Andrew Stark
Once upon a time, nestled beside a steep north-south range, a smattering of rocky outcrops and a grand expanse of water; a small town football club was formed … Here Come The Townies delves into the rich history of the Central Coast region’s oldest football club. Kicking off in Clarke’s Paddock during the late nineteenthcentury, the town’s oval ball concern traversed two World Wars and the Great Depression before ultimately falling prey to the failed Grahame Park relocation bid of the North Sydney Bears. This ripping yarn documents the highs and lows of a much-loved provincial sporting tradition. Spluttering beginnings did ultimately blossom into one of the nation’s most discernible rugby league entities; the Gosford Townies RLFC
- Here Come The Townies The Early History of Gosford Rugby League This 500+ page tome offers a valuable resource into the history of the Central Coast and its outlying regions, circa 1890-1950. It is a richly constructed story which pushes beyond the sporting field to incorporate all aspects of Australian life during the first half of the twentieth century. In amongst the yarns of local football hero’s lie cameo appearances made by characters as diverse as Billy Hughes, Bert Hinkler, Ginger Meggs and Madame Adelina Patti, Europe’s most famous opera singer of the late 1800s. Their collective connections to the travails of the region’s most loved football club are brought to light for the very first time.
“Here Come the Townies: there’s a film in this!” -Rampaging Roy Slaven (ABC Radio 11th April 2020)
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
Available for purchase, at the East Gosford Newsagency, on-line from Lulu Publishing, or direct from the author.
2020 COMPETITION LADDERS As of August 23rd
U17(2)s
* *
Gosford Kariong
12
Umina Wyong Our/BV Terrigal Toukley
8 6 4 4 0
U13(2)s Erina Toukley St Edwards The Entrance Umina/Woy Woy
U15(2)s
Pts
Pts 12 10 8 8 6
Gosford Kariong
4
Wyong Berkeley Vale
3 3
THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE LATE AUGUST 2020
U16(2)s
Pts
Toukley Berkeley Vale Kincumber Terrigal The Entrance St Edwards
Pts
* The Entrance (B)
11 9 9 7 6 4
Warnervale Wyong (Gold) Umina/Woy Woy Northern Lakes (G) Budgewoi Terrigal Erina
9 9 8 8 7 6 6 5
Gosford Kariong
1
Gosford Kariong
4
Erina
1
Northern Lakes (B) The Entrance (G) Wyong (Green)
*
U12(2)s
4 2 0
Pts
Gosford Kariong
11
Terrigal Ourimbah Woy Woy Berkeley Vale Kincumber St Edwards The Entrance Wyong
10 10 8 7 6 2 2 2
U10(1)s
Pts
Blue Haven The Entrance Kincumber Berkeley Vale Ourimbah Woy Woy Terrigal Toukley Wyong Erina Northern Lakes
12 10 10 10 9 4 4 4 3 3 1
Gosford Kariong
0
8
* U17s & U15s Results Pending
The Bills A Big Day Out @ Woy Woy
OF THE THE EYE GAZINE A M M R O ST
Starring Jack Bills, Tommy Bills, Angus Bills, Delysia Bills, Matt Bills … and a special guest appearance from the King of the Bill’s; referee Bill Curnoe (legendary Central Coast whistleblower).
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‘Gosford Rugby League: the Eye of the Storm’ e-mag compiled, photographed, written & designed by Andrew Stark
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