Today through the avenues of Chelsea Old Mates Facebook and our Chelsea Old Mates Website , many people are familiar with the name Chelsea United Junior Rugby League Football Club but probably not some much of the Club’s History and it’s remarkable characters/players.The purpose of this article is to provide brief comments on the History of the Club “When the Black and Gold Eagle Soared” , it’s achievements , it’s Supporters and Characters and some information on one of it’s finest Players and Clubman.
Firstly , the Club was formed in 1951 by brothers George and Stan Ryan , creating the name after Chelsea Street, Redfern near the Moore Park training area. The original Club colours were a gold jumper, black V ,black and gold hooped socks but in a short time the black V was replaced by two thin black V’s. Earlier in 1935 a team named Chelsea won the South Sydney Junior League A grade in 1935 but ceased to exist by the start of World War Two.
The Club was always proud of the fact that it was a Family Club and whilst competition was fierce in all junior league grades in the early days. In 1954 it’s first success came in B Grade winning 6-5 against a very strong Alexandria Rovers team and won the same competition the following year 1955. In subsequent years the Club won premierships in all Grades including A,B, C,D,E,F,U11’s ; overall the Club won 20 competitions and the Joe Healey Club Championship four times ; the mid 1950’s – mid 1960’s were highly successful years , winning in many different grades including A Grade Premierships’ in 1958 –1959 , 1976 and 1986 ; in the late 1950’s – 1960’s the Club’s players were well represented in the highly successful South Sydney President Cup including Captains Barry Atkinson (twice) , Jim Norman and Les Brown.
Talented/gifted players were plentiful throughout the years , too numerous to list but these come to mind (surnames only) Ryan, Tubb, Woods (a few) , Curran, Hailwood, Peet, Burns, Owens, Phillips (a few) , Edwards, Brown, Murphy, Selby (a few), Sherrin, Walsh, Hough , Atkinson (a few) , Roberts, Toohey , Heard , Kay, Bieber, Green (a few) , McCarthy (a few), Martin (a few), Fishburn , Lanigan , Thompson, Downing (a few) , Hayward, Hazzard (a few), Shortland ( a few), Black (a few), Gaffney (a few) , Bostick, Votano ( a few) , Brown, Harrison, Roberts .
The Club throughout the years had a good bunch of Sponsors including Harry Blandy (Bootmaker) , Nick James Café, Bob Barton Tailors, John Macalpine (Barber) , Licensees of local Hotels the Bat and Ball, Cleveland Inn, Forresters and of course The Governor , Crown Hotel. Additionally there was a tireless group of workers/supporters including the Chelsea United Ladies Support Committee , Norm Barry, George and Stan Ryan, Tom Harvey, Eric Degan, Fred and Barry Bieber, Jim Feint, Tommy Brown, Fred West, Bill Harkins, Fred Hailwood, Jim Norman , Pat O’Grady, Dick Green, Midge White, John Moore, Pat Norton, Digger Livingstone, John Graham and John Heard.
Unfortunately the Club ceased competing in 2006 and a special thanks go to Ike Quinn, Ray Teuma, Glenn Harrison and Don Holman for their sterling efforts to keep the Club performing up until 2006.
I hope that gives you an appreciation of the Chelsea United JRL Football Club.
Now a few words concerning one of the Club’s finest players and Clubman — RAY BURNS .
Ray is very proud to boast that he is a one Club Junior Rugby League Player , that being the Chelsea United JRL Football Club. As soon as he was old enough to play rugby league , he did so for the Club and in a short time had developed into a very talented Three-Quarters Centre and formed playing partnerships with team mates, including Ringo and Ray Phillips, Ted Hailwood, Greg Edwards, Bobby Hough, Reg Curran and Ron Brown that would span through their playing careers .
Many of us younger players back then, playing in the lower grades , would always watch the A Grade team train but the majority of our eyes were always focussed on Ray to try and acquire some of his many playing skills.
He was a Member of many premiership winning teams but notable senior premiership wins were in 1954 B Grade and 1958/59 A Grade. In 1954 was graded with the South Sydney District Rugby League Club and played 1 x reserve grade and 4 x 3rd grade matches. Additionally Ray was a naturally gifted goal kicker , who could kick goals from anywhere on the field ; see 1st attachment ex The Rugby League News 31 July 1954 , where Ray was playing 3rd grade v Eastern Suburbs and an article under the SOUTHS COLUMN heading reads “ Burns’ kick was two yards on his side of halfway – and against the wind” – when one realises they kicked leather footballs back then , it was a remarkable goal conversion.
Ray’s loving wife Pamela in recent years sadly passed away , after a long illness . We all admire Ray for his outstanding outlook on life, we regularly see him attending our Chelsea Old Mates functions and we are delighted to see him attend and find out how he is going.
The attachments hopefully give you an understanding of the fierce competitions that existed back in the 1950’s in a strong South Sydney Junior League , the camaraderie that existed then and still does amongst those team members of bygone years.
Thanks Ray for being such an excellent player and Club Member .
By Ken Vessey
