KEN KAY – ONE OF CHELSEA UNITED JRL FOOTBALL CLUB FINEST YOUNG GUN PLAYERS
by Ken Vessey, Chelsea Old Mates Member
The idea of writing this story on Ken Kay was initiated by John “Jaffas” Jeffries, Chelsea Old Mates (COM) stalwart, to me whilst we were traveling up to the Ettalong Bowling Club for our annual 2018 COM’s day with our Central Coast colleagues. Jaffas at the time had a press clipping photo of Ken as a pupil in 1954 at Bourke St Primary School, Surry Hills and subsequently another press photo of Ken with the 1961 South Sydney 1st grade team on holidays at Coolangatta (these photos are below).
Bourke st 6 st 7 lb Rugby League team.
Back Row. ?, ? , Norm Johnson, ?, John Cunningham, Barry Atkinson, Jimmy Harvey
Front Row. ? , Billy Harvey, Ken Kay, ?, Garry Cork, ?, Alan Hogden
Below Souths at Coolangatta in 1961.
* Ken Kay.
On contacting Ken Kay at his North West Sydney home , he was most pleased with our intentions, gave his full approval and much of the information contained in this story was provided by him.
Born in 1942 Ken had an exciting childhood growing up in Nobbs Street, Surry Hills , which is only a stone’s throw away from the northern end of the Moore Park playing fields and the Moore Park playground where many competent basketball players were developed ,Sydney Sports Ground and the Sydney Cricket Ground. All sports were played on Nobbs Street but rugby league was the number 1 sport in the area and this was not a surprise as Ken’s surrounding families were the Roberts, Toohey, Heard, Jeffries and the Woods to name a few . Ken’s best mates were Kevin “Bilko” Roberts (dec) and Lou Toohey , who both had outstanding 1st grade rugby league playing careers plus Kevin as an international /1st grade referee plus he was Ken’s best man on his wedding day.
In those days , most Kids in Surry Hills attended either Crown St or Bourke St Primary or St.Peters Catholic Schools (which still operate today) and Ken along with many of his street mates in Surry Hills went along to Bourke St Primary School and from the first day he entered those School gates his desire to play rugby league grew greater everyday as he played in the school playground,up Moore Park for school teams under Teacher/ Master Coach Mr. B.Finigan , who was before his time in coaching skills and in Nobbs Street. He also made some solid friendships with similar boys from the Redfern area,who also loved playing rugby league and through their friendships formed the basis of talented school teams for Bourke St Primary School and later in High School at the Paddington Junior Technical School . Additionally most rugby league minded pupils from Bourke Street Primary and Crown Primary Schools were drawn to play rugby league for the very competitive strong Chelsea United JRL Football Club from a young age where their playing skills were developed and a good grounding in life were acquired from Gentlemen including Pat O’Grady, Ike Quinn, Ringo Phillips, Joe Coffey,Jim Norman,Fred Hailwood, Duke Degan, Tom Harvey, Jack and Bernie Purcell, Billy Harkins, Ray Judd, George Kempshall, Ted Hailwood, Ray Burns, Roy Murphy, Ted Hazzard.
Below Great Chelsea United 1959 D Grade
Back Row – Laurie Agus, Ronny Lalor, Dave Woods, Ken Kay, Billy McCarthy, Peter Atkinson, Tom Harvey, Colin Downing, Bobby Fishburn , ? .
Front Row – Gus Woods, Geoff Gale, Chicka Elston, Brian Fuzz, David Martin, Billy Stokes, Barry Atkinson.
Ballboy
Whilst playing for Chelsea United , Ken was a member of several premiership winning teams including E Grade coached by Ray Judd and D Grade coached by George Kempshall and would play in both C and B Grade games on a weekend . In 1959 , as a 17 years old he was selected to play in the A Grade Grand Final , as a replacement for injured Ray Phillips , which Chelsea United won. He was awarded in 1959 the Ron Macalpine Memorial Shield – Player of the Year , a remarkable achievement for a 17 year old. During these playing days he became a very capable Lock Forward who could also kick goals with monotonous regularity.
In 1960 he played with his Chelsea United teammates Laurie Rubagotti , “Bilko” Kevin Roberts,Billy Stokes and Dave Woods in the victorious South Sydney District RLC President Cup ,which was coached by the great Clem Kennedy, beating Eastern Suburbs at the SCG on the 11 June 1960 (see program below).
At 19 years old in 1961 he fulfilled his boyhood dreams and was graded by the South Sydney District RL Club as a lock forward/goal kicker , along with many of his Chelsea United teammates and played a total of 12 games x 1st grade ( Club 1st Grade Medal 484) ,21 games x reserve grade and 13 games x 3rd grade (see programmes below).
Prior to in 1963 becoming involved in a playing fee dispute with the South Sydney RL Club ,when the Club denied him a minor contract increase , he appealed the decision and was told by the Adjudicating Body that he was a South Sydney RL Club developed junior player and he should return to that Club to play . On a matter of principle Ken stood down from playing rugby league in 1964 as he could not acquire a release from the Club and he recalls how he would go and watch South Sydney games hurting so much inside because he loved playing. Ken told me in grade he commenced to wear a distinctive headgear and revealed that was the result,in his opinion, of an accidental kick in the head from Noel Kelly ,whilst going for the ball on the ground in a match against the Western Suburbs “Magpies”.
In 1964 he was approached by his ex Master Coach , Clem Kennedy who told him if he was willing to play for the team that he was coaching , the 1st grade Kingsford RL Club in the 2nd Division Competition , Clem believed he could acquire a release from the South Sydney Hierarchy for him to play. Naturally Ken jumped the opportunity, Clem acquired the clearance and Ken was back playing rugby league with ex teammates Tommy Cocking ,Johnny Robinson and Butch Summerhayes to name a few.
Upon the Kingsford RL CLUB withdrawing from the 2nd Division Competition, in 1965 and 1966 Ken transferred to the Cronulla – Sutherland 2nd Division Club to play with his ex South Sydney mates Tommy Cocking , Roy Goddard and Bobby Hough (see program below).
He played remarkable rugby league winning the Best & Fairest Award for 2 years and was offered a 1st Grade contract in 1967 when the Cronulla-Sutherland RL Club was promoted into the NSW Rugby League Grade Competitions. Ken then had to make a tough decision that would govern the rest of his life ,as he had been promoted to a Structural Engineer position in his professional career . He decided to retire from rugby league and pursue his professional career with great distinction .
The big question remains today – just how far would this talented player have gone in the Rugby League World ?
After retiring from playing rugby league Ken remained active in other sports including playing A Grade cricket for Baulkham Hills Cricket Club, played local Touch Football for a local team named “Moss Meats” for many years then played and coached representative Touch Football teams for Parramatta .
Today Ken resides in his leafy North Western Sydney suburb with his lovely wife Irene and enjoys the company of his daughter Linda, son Darren and their families comprising six grandchildren ( two girls and four boys). He told me that his wife and he really enjoy ocean cruising at every opportunity.
Well there you have it , a very interesting story about a very humble man who is one of Chelsea United JRL Football Club finest players .
I hope you enjoyed Ken’s story .
NOTE : If can help with the missing names please let us know.