2011 Pratten Park Reunion

      There were a few special guests this year at the reunion.

        Phil Jackson who story appears below was one of them.

Special guest Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson (born c. 1932) is a former Great Britain Rugby League World Cup winning footballer, and captain playing at Centre, or Stand-off/Five-eighth, as well as a Barrow club legend. Jackson won 27 Great Britain caps, played in the 1954 and 1957 Rugby League World Cups and twice toured Australasia with the Lions.

Jackson was born in Canada but moved to Barrow-in-Furness, England, with his parents at the age of three. He played rugby league at school but his first senior rugby experience came in union after he took up an apprenticeship at a shipyard. He switched to league when he was offered professional terms by Barrow in 1950 at the age of 18.

With Barrow, where he was known as the 'Prince Among Centres', he played in three Challenge Cup finals in the 1950s. Injury forced him to retire in 1959 but he later moved to Australia and was tempted back into playing by the Goulburn Workers Club in New South Wales. He took up coaching after retiring and eventually settled in Wagga Wagga.

He was inducted into the Barrow Hall of Fame when it was launched in 2001 alongside 1950s team-mates Willie Horne and Jimmy Lewthwaite.

Ben Fisher and Phil Jackson

Nev Charlton and Phil Jackson

Kurt Fearnley who was unable to attend last year due to illness also made a appearance.

Kurt Fearnley and Peter Hardgrove

A little info on Kurt.

1`

Jon Clarke and Ken Stonestreet

Les Hanigan and Jack Dansey.

A story about Les playing for Country 1966.

Two old Magpie supporters Alan Mair and Rick Wayde.

Flying winger Mick Alchin.

Mick checking for a pulse the year 1968.

Barry Glasgow, Ted McCabe and Steve Winter.

Another flying winger John Fisher, Peter Ford and older brother Tony.

The year was 1964.The school Homebush Boys.

Ex English international Charlie Renilson and Keith Deacon Wests player from the '50s

Paul Dixon,Barry Pierce and Gordon Kennedy.

Bill Hansen, Ned, Ron Costello and John Graves.

Jack "Nipper" Leary.

Jim Leis, Wayne Smith,Trevor Clarke and Big Bob Cooper.

Looks like Bobs in trouble.

Wayne in his playing days.

Tom Donnelly and Peter Ford

Steve Knight

Steve played with Wests between 1972 and 1975. During his time at Wests Steve played 74 First grade games and scored 24 tries.

Steve came from Manly Rugby Union and had played 6 Tests with the Wallabies before he joined the Magpies.

Steve also played for Balmain (37games) and Manly (31games)

Steve in 1969.

Steve in full flight playing for West 1970's

Steve Knight and Ivan Jones

Ivan was the halfback for the mighty South Sydney side that won the 1967 GF.

They beat the Berries 12-10.

Wests won the Third Grade Comp that year beating Balmain 7-2

Jim Cody trying to get the team together 50 years later.

Well done Jim.

L to R Carl Ross, George Downie, Ray Bernasconi,Norm Dhu, John Rochester, Jim Cody,

Ian Russell and Barry Ferney

Wests beat Souths 12-7 in the GF and were coached by Eddie Hooper.

Shane Day, Steve Blyth and Jim Myers living in the 70's

MC for the day the one and only Bruce Sacre.

Sadly a number of explayers past away this year below is the list.

On a happier note Life Member Bruce "Bruiser" Clark

Bruce always has a smile.

Well almost always. Bruce, Arthur Mountier and Dallas 1982.

A Wests scrum a few years early.

1968

Don Parish and Colin Lewis.

Doug Page and Jim Cody

Doug played for Wests between 1964 and 1966 plus 1970.

29 First grade games.

Mainly at lock or second row.

The photos below were taken by Colin Lewis who has kindly allowed me to show them .

Col Lewis and Pat Regan

Colin Bell and John Wiles

Mike Bailey and Mick Alchin

Allan Fallah Wests hooker between 1984-90 102 games in first grade.

Allan fires out a pass

(note white shorts and jumper)

Two proud Magpies Bill Owens and Bruce Sacre.

Hilton Kidd

Hilton played for Balmain 1945-48 and Manly 1951.

Hilton played in the 1946 grand final win over St George

Balmain 13 Saints 12.

Darcy Russell and Col Ratcliff

Darcy played for Easts 1948-51 then Wests 1957-60.

Darcy was the leading point-scorer in the Sydney comp for three years 1957,59,1960.

By my records Darcy is over 80?

Col played in the 1952 winning premiership side for Wests.

Wests won 22 to Souths 12.

George Baldacchino and John Fisher.

John playing on the wing in a pretty good Wests side.

Wests lost that day but have a look at the South Sydney side 11 of the 13 played for Australia

The score thanks to a great website www.rugbyleagueproject.org

Western Suburbs Magpies 10 lost to South Sydney Rabbitohs 20

Date

Saturday, April 19th, 1969

Referee

Les Samuelson

Venue

Sydney Cricket Ground(Sydney)

Crowd

24,013

Mick Luibinskis

Neale Mc Innes, Bruce Clarke and Tony Armstrong.

Tony Brown

Tony played for Newtown 1956-64 (121 games)

Penrith 1967 (3 games)

Tony joined Penrith in 1965 from Newtown as Penrith started to prepare for their move to play in the main Sydney Rugby League compertion in 1967.

Paul Dillon, Mick Alchin and Chow Hayes.

The two Teds having a great day together.

Sid and Garry Walsh.

L to R Terry Lamb,Herb Smales, Michael Duke and Peter Lamb

John Kearns

No not taken at the 2011 Reunion.

This photo was taken at the Wests Rugby League Club Annual Ball and Players Night 1966

Can you name the 4 first grade players??