Articles
Richie's Rabbit Punch
Whilst at Ettalong last Saturday, an unusual meeting of yesteryear was spoken about by one of our more recent old mates, Richie Powell.
Richie spoke of the time the former undisputed and undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion, none other than the great Rocky Marciano, came along to one of South Sydney's first grade training sessions in the mid sixties, and spoke to the players as well as had a photo taken for the Daily Telegraph.
According to Richie, Rocky was a true gentleman, short in stature but with huge hands. He also stated that due to his size, his fighting style was to angle his way towards his opponent and put his face on their chest to nullify their punches so he could clobber them.
He did a pretty good job as history shows 49fights 49wins 43KOs
His one regret was knocking out Joe Louis who by then was past his prime.
The famous training session photo is below, who do you recognise ???
Well apart from Macca and Satts, thats Richie Powell helping Jimmy Morgan hold up 'The Rock'.
Richie started playing at Souths in 1956, debuted in first grade in 1958 and scored 10 tries during his first grade career at Souths, playing his final first grade game for the Rabbitohs in 1967.
The highlight of his career was winning the SUN HERALD's BEST & FAIREST PLAYER OF THE YEAR Award in 1964.
The Sydney Morning Herald article is below.....
Scott Towers-Hammond
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paddo Tech Tricolour Magazine
Historically Paddo Tech has a close affinity with Chelsea Rugby League, due to the number of students who attended Paddo Tech who went on to play for our great club. The material for this article was made available by the Rugby League Museum historian Terry Williams.
See whose name you can spot...
The ten pages below are taken from the Tricolour school magazine
John Oates is mentioned below going on to 4th year
Brian Fuz, Bob Fishburn and a baby faced Kevin Junee are prefects
Phil Tyler is the parking guy who lets us in to the Museum car park
Phil Tyler and Brian Fuz trophy winners
Bronze Medallions to Barry Atkinson & Brian Fuz
Intermediate Stars awarded to
Ken Vessey, Barry Atkinson, Tom Ford, Terry Murray, Bob Fishburn
The butchers apprentice Laurie Rubagotti
I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane....
Scott Towers-Hammond
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred "Facetreader" Jackson faces Peter Dimond
One of the most talked about items on the website was initially placed on the website in January, and when the opportunity came for a reuniting of the old warhorses from exactly 50 years ago at the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1963 Wests v Saints grand final at the rugby league museum, I just couldnt resist.
Fred Jackson was working at the museum as a volunteer on Sunday 14th April and Peter Dimond was there at the reunion function when I grabbed Fred and brought the 2 together for their own 50 year reunion.
Fred introduced himself to Peter with a handshake and the phrase
" Hi Pete, I'm Fred Jackson and 50 years ago you helped me get into first grade"
Fred then related to Pete that Pete had "taken out" so to speak one of Souths players Alan Skene earlier in a game in the Pre Season comp in 1963 and Fred had "stumbled" onto Peter, well onto his face later in the game to be precise which resulted in Fred being sent off on the day.
Peter responded with
"Is that what happened to my face then ?"
Folklore has it that when Fred reached the sideline after receiving his marching orders, he didnt slow down and literally ran through the dressing sheds at Redfern Oval, smashing through anything in his path and out into the streets of Redfern and Surry Hills not looking back thinking the Wests enforcer was hot on his heels.
I was so happy to get this historic photo to allow the article to have a wonderful finale
Scott Towers-Hammond
The original article is below..........
Normally as the saying goes actions or pictures speak louder than words but I feel in this case the opposite is true !!!The article below appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 2nd April 1963 approaching 50 years ago
Pretty lenient suspension by todays standards.
The game was a 1963 Craven Filter 1st Grade trial at Redfern Oval.
Thats Fred below after being sent off for his altercation with Peter Dimond.
Thanks to Ken Vessey for the newspaper clipping......
Scott Towers-Hammond
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Sydney Federals
In the early years of the 20th Century many junior teams had nicknames which would seem incongruous one hundred years later. Whilst many clubs today adopt the monikers of NRL teams many of the early rugby league clubs used nationalistic symbols to represent their clubs (eg Millers Point Kia Ora).
Apart from South Sydney Federals, other teams also used that nickname such as Kogarah Feds and Enfield Feds (who have been reborn again in the new millennium). The South Sydney junior league, one of two grassroots competitions that can trace their lineage back to the games foundation season in 1908, only had four teams for that inaugural year and Feds was not one of them.
At that stage they were a rugby union side, and such was the mindset against the new code that when the Feds did switch to the new game in 1909, at least one member of the side had his family burn his football gear in a futile attempt to prevent him playing!
But the Feds came over to league in the tidal wave of support that switched from the 15 man game to the more highly-evolved code after the Wallaby defections in 1909. South Sydney Federals soon made their mark in the new game
Under the grade system at that time the first grade competition was restricted to Souths, Easts, Norths, Wests, Newtown, Glebe, Balmain and Annandale. The Second and Third Grade competitions, though, were open to other clubs and there were many different clubs competing in the lower grades at times up until 1929, when they were restricted to the senior clubs. (The highest number of clubs in Second Grade was 17 in 1912 and Third Grade peaked at 23 teams in 1911).
Although the district clubs all entered their own teams in Second and Third Grade, other clubs in their area also entered teams including notable clubs such as Mosman (Norths), Camperdown (Newtown), Grosvenor (Glebe), Leichhardt (Annandale), Parramatta (Wests) and Sydney (Easts). The South Sydney district was a hotbed of rugby league and they provided several clubs for those lower grades, such as Mascot, Kensington, South Sydney Kinkora, Surry Hills and the famous South Sydney Federals.
The biggest years for those competitions were those before World War One wreaked havoc on Australian society and tore the heart out of a generation. To win a competition then was an outstanding achievement and Feds Third Grade premiership wins in 1909 and 1913 will stand for evermore in the NSWRL record books.
By then the clubs most famous son had already graduated to the first grade ranks. Harold Horder is a name that resonates through league history. He made his first grade debut in a blaze of glory against Glebe in a City Cup game in 1912, scoring an amazing length of the field try when he chased a kick back to his own goal and beat the advancing defence when he used his arm to swing around the goal post and raced away.
A member of the ARL Hall of Fame Top 100 Players (as voted in the centenary season of 2008), Horder won premierships with South Sydney and North Sydney, played for both NSW and Qld and starred in international football as well, establishing a record of 35 tries on the 1921-22 Kangaroo tour which will surely never be surpassed. A measure of his standing is that he was ranked only second to Dally Messenger in the standing of many good judges from the period before WWII.
Harold Horder was by no means the only decent player in the ranks of the South Sydney Feds, his brothers Roy and Clarrie were also accomplished players with the latter also representing New South Wales in interstate matches.
Harold Horder and his brothers Roy and Clarrie
Other well-known identities from the games early years involved with the Federals include JJ McGrath, a founder of the South Sydney district club, and Vince Sheehan who went on to play first grade.
Although the South Sydney Federals club has long since vanished the efforts of those who laid our games foundations, at all levels, should be remembered and celebrated.
Terry Williams Historian Rugby League Museum
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leslie Skelsey
A TOUCH OF SOUTH SYDNEY RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY
LESLIE SKELSEY CAPTAIN OF SOUTH SYDNEY FEDERALS
2nd GRADE PREMIERS 1912 & 1913
(INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY LESLIE'S SON, KEVIN SKELSEY)
WRITTEN BY KEN VESSEY
Leslie SKELSEY was born in 1889 and lived in Walker Street, Redfern which is a stone's throw away from the famous Redfern Oval and the home of the South Sydney Bunnies.
Leslie as a lad played rugby union and it is believed he switched from rugby union to the new professional game of rugby league in 1908.
This sudden change of code to rugby league was not welcomed by Leslie's loving Mother, who being a very keen follower of rugby union did not want her son Leslie playing "that" professional game which was not seen as a "gentleman's game".
It is told that his Mum was so determined in her belief that she burnt Leslie's South Sydney jersey and socks (colours of South Sydney Federals) under the then gas coppers exclaiming "you're not going to play that game" !!!
Despite all odds he continued to play rugby league for the South Sydney Federals and captained the Club to two 2nd Grade Premiership wins in 1912 & 1913.
In the team photo Leslie is in the middle of the second row holding the football of the 1913 team. Leslie joined the AIF and fought in France during 1916-1918 and upon his return married Vera May HANSEN in 1919.
Leslie passed away in 1956.
We sincerely thank Kevin SKELSEY for sharing this history of his Dad's playing days and the important role he played in the formation of the game of rugby league in the South Sydney District.
The information/photos were supplied by Leslie's son Kevin SKELSEY on a recent visit to the NRL Museum , whilst he was talking to Fred JACKSON; I have spoken to Kevin and is happy for the story/photos to appear on our website.
Bob Burns (aka Fishy)
A STORY OF COURAGE and DETERMINATION AGAINST ALL ODDS
Hi , I am Ken Vessey and it is with great pleasure that I put pen to paper to detail some of the interesting life,to date, of one of our Chelsea Old Mates Robert Burns (aka Fishy),who many of you will know and recognize from our Chelsea Old Mates functions but probably do not know too much about him.
You might wonder "how did I get this task" - well at a recent Chelsea Old Mates Committee meeting we spoke about the life of Fishy along with the recent hope and happiness in his life and we decided it was a story that should be told and I was given the task because I have known Fishy since 1956 in High School at Paddington Junior Technical School.
Bob 3rd from Right bottom
So settle back for a few minutes and I hope you enjoy my version of Fishy's life to date.
Bob was born on the 8 June 1943 at The Royal Womens' Hospital, Paddington and grew up in Dudley Street, Paddington along with two sisters and one brother. He attended Paddington Primary School and in 1956 moved over to the High School where he met a number of Chelsea United Rugby League Football Club players including Barry and Peter Atkinson, Brian Brigden, Alex Buerckner, Tommy Ford, Brian Fuz (deceased), Billy and Jimmy Harvey, Smokey Judd (deceased), Ken Kay, Ronny Lalor, Bob Lanigan, Terry Murray, John Oates, Shanna Pearson, Alex Smith, Kevin "Bilko" Roberts, Laurie Rubagotti and Ken Vessey (nineteen in total).
He soon became Mates with many of the nineteen guys, played school sports and importantly played rugby league with some at the Chelsea United Rugby League Football Club from 1958 (E Grade) till 1966 (A Grade). Amazingly after 57 years many of those nineteen guys are members of the Chelsea Old Mates and Bobby sees them at our functions.
Bob was a natural sportsman and grew up playing Cricket (was an astute
Bob 2nd from Left top
wicket keeper) , Aussie Rules and naturally Rugby League but his true love was playing Rugby League as a natural lock forward or anywhere he was picked because he just wanted to play the game with his mates. He built up a reputation as a fearless tackler, ball distributor and a player who would never "come off the field" through injury.
At Paddington Junior Tech he was a member of the 1957 school's undefeated touring team to Western Australia
Bob Middle at back with big smile
Bob 2nd from Right
and his team mates included Brian Fuz, Bob Lanigan (capt), John Oates and Jimmy Harvey.
In 1958 he was selected with Brian Fuz in the NSW Schoolboys Rep Team
Bob 2nd from Left
(under 9 stone/15 years old) which also contained Alan Stewart a brilliant fullback who subsequently played for Chelsea United and Bobby tells a funny story that during the very competitive selection trials a player from another school, named Warren Thompson (yes our THOMMO) had a fantastic game scoring 6 brilliant tries and was considered a certainty selection but was not picked in the team !!!! It was later revealed that the selectors had overheard a player talking about something that was not to their liking and they had misidentified that player as our THOMMO, whereas the overheard player was in actual fact our Fuzzy, who was selected and named Captain !!!
As an aside, for those of us who saw Fuzzy play, what a great delight and thrill to watch his natural skills and all round ability - we shall never forget those days.
Bobby enjoyed success in cricket as a wicket keeper
Bob is wearing the pads Paddington Cricket 1954
even though he was told at an early age he was "legally blind" but that did not stop him playing sport -- but more on his eyesight later.
People often ask why Bobby did not play in the South Sydney President Cup trials/teams when he was playing in the highly successful Chelsea United D, C and B Grade teams and the simply answer is that he was always suffering from a range of injuries including broken jaw/other joints,knees and shoulders when the trials were held and he could not play. Bob in subsequent years thought he might have been suffering from osteoporosis back then, when little was known about the condition.
Bob 2nd from Left middle row Chelsea 1960 D Grade
Upon leaving school he completed an apprenticeship as a Plumber and up until the 14 April 1988 worked successfully in his trade when unfortunately he was involved in an work accident, which resulted in the death of his work companion and Bob's right leg was severely broken resulting in a metal plate, thirteen screws being placed above his knee plus a bone graft to keep his leg in place. He eventually recovered and was able to return to work but in a few years he broke his right leg again on two separate occasions (around 2001) and two more plates were placed in his upper right leg.
On top of all this, sadly since his original injury in 1988 he had contracted the dreaded disease "Golden Staph" which eventually spread through his top right leg and into his right hip and on the 2 April 2002, Surgeons had to amputate his right leg and right hip bone. Bob spent eight months in hospital followed by one year in care at the Salvation Army Macquarie Hostel, Wollongong Road, Arncliffe and since recovering he has resided at this residential care facility,where he looked after very well.
At a period through his terrible ordeal, Bob had thirty six operations in twenty three weeks and there is no doubt in my mind that a lesser man would have had his spirit broken completely by such horrific events and impact upon his life but not our Bob because he has picked himself up, dusted himself off and got on with his life.
Warren Thompson (Thommo) , Colin Downing and I have never heard him complain about what happened and says"no use complaining, it's not going to fix it".
In June 2004 whilst a few of us were contacting people to attend a benefit for the "great man" Pat O'Grady a fluke telephone contact was made with Bobby and he subsequently attended the Benefit and reconnected with many of his old Chelsea United mates. It was a fact that over the years many of us had lost contact with Bobby and at that time we made a commitment to maintain contact with him and assist where we could.
Since that time we have maintained regular visits to see Bobby to check he is well, resolve his needs, made sure he attends all of our Chelsea Old Mates functions and have provided valuable welfare assistance to him through the kind generosity of the Men of League Foundation.
Bob was in many ways the conduit for the formation of the Chelsea Old Mates in June 2010, as the need to stay in contact and assist where possible our friends and colleagues from the Chelsea United Rugby League Football Club or any other Clubs was fully recognized and today we are proud that our membership database has 402 members.
Finally back to Bob's alleged "legal blind" eyesight and the recent new hope and happiness he looks forward to in his life. Over recent years he had been told by eye practitioners that had visited him in his care facility that there was nothing could be done to improve his eyesight, which does not allow him to read a newspaper/book or see the print on a TV screen. Warren knew of an excellent Eye Surgeon, so the three of us (Warren, Colin and I) raised the subject with Bob regarding to get a true and thorough eye assessment, the wonderful advances that had been made in eye surgery and he just replied "yes it would be great to see better so let's do it".
Bob had an examination by the Eye Surgeon,was diagnosed with having cataracts in both eyes and that his eyesight could be improved by the removal of the cataracts. On the 14 January 2013 he had the cataracts removed from his left eye and to date his eyesight has improved to his sheer delight and he has a further check up visit on the 19 February 2013 at which his right eye operation will be scheduled. We all sincerely hope that the next operation will be successful and Bob will enjoy much improved eye vision and happiness in his remaining years.
Bob in 1965
I hope you have enjoyed reading this story as much as I have enjoyed preparing it about Bobby who is a truly remarkable character.For those who might be interested Bob's mobile phone number is 0427 463 191, address Salvation Residential Aged Care Facility,171 Wollongong Road, Arncliffe.
Ken Vessey
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The day Learco Pustetto was captain
One game at Mascot oval we decided to make Lee the captain for the day (we were not the best side at the time) Barry Bieber was coach at the time and he really did not care to much!
Lee led us out to face Mascot undefeated at the time. Our captain had a slight speech inpediment (a stutter) Mascot tossed the coin and by the time Lee called heads or tails the coin had been on the ground for a few seconds.
After 4 tosses the Mascot captains gave up and said let them kick off or receive what ever they want! Lee then gave his first order, backs to the left forwards to the right! The came the order could someone fill the gap in the middle?
I as usual got a few cautions and looked like being sent off (again) Lee approached the Ref. put his arm around him and started explaining that we had been mates for years and explaining what a good bloke I was.
This did not go over well as the ref. told Lee he was not to touch him in any matter! We gave them a good run for their money but we had 3 young triers that were 2 years younger than us and they were a top side.( they went through undefeated that year)
Even though we were not the best side our mateship was never in doubt, we raised our own money for our trips away (chook raffles) and even had excess money to get certain players out of jail or hospital (no names, no pack drill).
To this day it makes me proud that Scott goes out of his way to keep these memories alive.
All the best Ian Phillips
(The Kid. Bex or Punishment what ever my nickname was at the time).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chelsea Old Mates article on Noel Kellys Kids website
Please click the Noel Kellys Kids banner above to go to Tony's article
Tony Lewis the webmaster of the Noel Kellys Kids website attended our final Old Mates Day for 2012 at Erko Thursday 6th December.
This was the result of an invitation from Ken Vessey and from all reports Tony was most impressed with the mateship and the memorabilia that was on display on the day as well as the food at the Erko and our website in general.
Tony decided to put an article together about the Chelsea Old Mates....
Tony Lewis - Scott Towers-Hammond - Chris Devine
Noel Kellys Kids is a website by Tony Lewis, Greg Willis and Steve Lothian honouring Rugby League Legend Noel Kelly and the Western Suburbs Magpies from 1966 to 1969. Noel Kelly was Captain Coach of the Western Suburbs Rugby League Club at that time. The site involves statistics, photos, with interviews from Wests greats.
Thanks Tony for your input on the day and we hope to see you again or maybe even we can go along to a Pratten Park day.
More photos from the day will be on the Photo Gallery under Old Mates Days shortly...
Scott Towers-Hammond
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------