Interview with ------John "Chow" Hayes

West's Through and Through.

It was both a pleasure and an honour to interview John for my website, he was very free with his time and views.

It was great going back in time when West’s and StGeorge ruled the SCG almost every Saturday for 3 years.

It is impossible for me to cover John's complete career both on and off the field.

He has done so much for so long this is just the Readers Digest version of Johns interesting life.

 Also thanks to his lovely wife Margaret for a great morning tea.

I hope you enjoy his story.

Chow on the burst SCG 1960??

Note the sleeves rolled up.

Born John Thomas "Chow" Hayes at Marrickville in 1939 Sydney.

Chow left school at 14 and started in a  apprenticeship as a panel beater.

At this time of his young life Chow also began his Rugby League career .

First with South Strathfield next Haberfield and then Granville.

It was from Granville that Chow was picked to play  Presidents Cup with

Western Suburbs Rugby League Magpies.

Chow had a boyhood Rubgy League hero called Fred de Belin who played second row for Balmain.

Chow as a boy was a Balmain supporter .

Thats Fred de Belin with blond hair 3rd from the left.

Front cover of the program for the 1946 Grand Final.

1946 Grand Final teams.

Balmain beat St George 13-12.

NOTE: Ray Lindwall and his brother Jack playing for St George.

5 members of the 1948-49 Kangaroos.

Left - Right.

Jack Rayner, Doug Ritchie, Fred de Belin, Bob Lulham, Henry Benton

  Chow told me that Fred de Belin played with his sleeves rolled up so Chow followed his hero during his long football career.

Chow far right 1962 Grand Final sleeves up.

In 1958 Chow played in the second row for Wests Presidents Cup.

Wests won the Final aganist North Sydney.

The 1958 Wests Presidents Cup winning team.

Chow is top row 3rd from the right. Bill Beaver far right was the coach.

Because the Final was played before the first test over 68,000 people saw the game.

This Test match was played after the Presidents Cup Final at the SCG.

Just for the record Australia beat Great Britain 25-8.

The Ref that day for the Test match was Darcy Lawler .

Mr Lawler 5 years later would make a impact on Chow football life.

1959 and Chow was called up to grade and played 3rd grade for Wests.

Chow was 20 years of age.

Maybe Chows first  Grade game??

Two very good sides playing first grade that day.

Note: the game was played on a Saturday at the Sydney Sports Ground

Score that day  Wests  17 St George 18

 Darcy Russell kicked 7 goals and Mr Dimond a try.

After a big day at the SSG a way to get home.

The Wests Archives records show Chow in 1959 playing

2 Reserve Grade games  and 17 Third Grade games.

In 1960 Chow played 19 games in Third Grade.

1961

     Chows first First Grade game.

Score thanks to the boys at    www.rugbyleagueproject.org 

Wests 25    Newtown 15.

Chow played First Grade for the whole 1961 season.

This also was the year Chow joined the NSW Police Force.

Chow named in touring NSW squad 1961.

A wet night at training 1961

Chow left in number 17 jumper, Denis Meaney and Billy Carson.

A very sad end to the season.

Wests beaten by the power of St George

22 - 0

1962

Chow played 15 First grade games and 5 Reserve games.

Different year same result.

St George win again.

 Wests 6 - St George 9

1963

Chow played 19 First Grade games.

The day Wests were robbed.

Wests 3  -  St George 8

Chow was one of four players to play in all 3 Grand Final .

2 weeks late Wests win the Ampol Cup.

Wests 17 Parra 11

1964

 Chow played 17 First Grade games.

Chow also played for City. 

Chow was also picked to play for NSW against France.

NSW Team that beat France at the SCG.

Score NSW 36 - France 6

A very good NSW pack only Chow did not play for Australia.

1965 until 1970

Chow in head gear and sleeves rolled up v Norm Provan.

 (Photo from Steven Lilich )

 Chow played for Wests until the preseason of 1970.

Photos and stories and Wests stuff from those years.

Team photo 1966.

Bill Beaver playing for Wests SCG 1966.

Chow running at the SSG 1966.

Number 3 + is "Chicka" Moore of Newtown.

Chow ducks under a ball and all tackle from George Piper.

Photo thanks to Quigs @ era of biff.

Team photo 1967

Chow far left sleeves rolled up.

Chow playing front row.

Great Race horse.

Great clubman playing front row for Wests well above his weight.

1968 Team photo.

Chow bottom right sitting.

Interesting times at Wests.

Chow footie card photo 1968

Chow back playing in the second row.

Chow and Eric Pitt.

I think the head in the second row is Chows.

Good win 1969.

Neds last game for Wests.

Chow captain of Reserve Grade.

1970

A BIG season ahead.

Wests to go in 7- 0

As they say Tony back to the sign board......

* note sleeves rolled up.

This was the game that Mick Alchin was hurt and missed the full season.

Due to a leg injury this was Chows last game for Wests.

John Thomas "Chow" Hayes has fitted a least 3 lifetimes into one since he left school way back in 1953.

Playing for Wests for between 1958 until 1970.

Thats 14 years.

Thanks to Ray Bernasconi at Wests Archives for  Chows complete playing career with Wests.

1st Grade 160.

Reserve Grade 34.

Third Grade  40.

                            That equals 234 games in the Black and White.

But theres more.........

1971

Chow coached Wests reserve grade in 1971,1972 and 1973.

Taking Wests to the Semis in his first year as coach.

During this time Chow was going up through the ranks in the

NSW Police force.

1983 and 1984.

Chow coaching Norths in 1983.

Norths were a little unlucky and finished just outside the Top 5.

Today they would of made the Top 8.

 Chow  also coached the Bears in 1984.

The years roll on.

1985 until 2013.

Between 1985 and 2013 Chow was a very busy man going to the high rank of Chief Inspector in the NSW Police Force.

AND

A State of Origin Manager for NSW.

 Chow with a polo shirt with the complete list of players who played

for NSW from 1908 until 2013.

Chow is number 685.

AND

Manager on 2 Kangaroo Teams.

Some free advice from Mr Peters.

AND

 Chow was on the panel that picked the

Wests Tigers Team of the Century.

Wests Tigers Team of the Century

1. Keith Barnes © (Fullback)
2. Peter Dimond (Wing)
3. Charles Fraser (Centre)
4. Harry Wells (Centre)
5. Alan Ridley (Wing)
6. Vic Hey (Five-Eight)
7. Keith Holman (Halfback)
8. Steve Roach (Front Row)
9. Ben Elias (Hooker)
10. Noel Kelly (Front Row)
11. Paul Sironen (Second Row)
12. Arthur Beetson (Second Row)
13. Wayne Pearce (Lock)

14. Kel O'Shea (Reserve)
15. Jim Craig (Reserve)
16. Tom Raudonikis (Reserve)
17. Harry Bath (Reserve)

Coach: Norm "Latchem" Robinson

(Way to many Balmain players for my likeing)

AND

Chow was President of the Pratten Park Magpies for many years.

 Mr Dimond, "Yappy" Holman and Chow.

Very rare pic of 3 great West men taken inside the Wests dressing room at Pratten Park before a Magpie Reunion.

AND

Chow is a Life Member of both Wests and North Sydney. 

I could go on for hours talking about the many,many things that Chow has done  for the good of the great game of Rugby League and the people of NSW.

AND

They have even written a song about Chow.

Best player Chow played with or aganist  Noel Kelly

Best Ground SCG.

From me, Chow thanks for your time and letting me interview you at your home.

 Also thanks for your years as a Wests player and coach.

Job well done Chow.

 Chow 2013.

Chow in 2013 is a  Committee Member of the Northern Sydney MOL Committee.

The MOL are a wonderful group of people.

Please click onto the  link in red below and read all about MOL and then become a MOL member.

www.menofleague.com

NOTE:  John got his nickname from his schoolmates.

It comes from a criminal who’s name was John Frederick “Chow” Hayes.

Unlike John Thomas “Chow” Hayes he was a very bad man.