Rugby League History Western and Southern NSW 1920-1976: Rugby League History

Author:   Greg James Riach
Publisher:   History of Rugby League Western and Southern Nsw Greg Riach
ISBN:  

9780645663419


Pages:   354
Publication Date:   31 August 2023
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   Available To Order   Availability explained
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Rugby League History Western and Southern NSW 1920-1976: Rugby League History


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Overview

Rugby League History Western & Southern NSW 1920-1976. This book takes the reader on a journey through the history of football in the Western and Southern districts of NSW from 1920-1976. It encompasses groups 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15. Much of the content has been sourced from newspaper reports and photographs of players and teams throughout the decades. It is divided into three sections. The first section consists of a summary of each decade and includes the great moments for teams and players. Records were made with some still remaining. Great players and coaches emerged such as Ian Walsh, Bob Weir, John Hobby, Leo Nosworthy, Don Parish, Tony Paskins, Barry Beath, Norm Brown, Earl Harrison and Ken McMullen. The second section highlights players who aspired to represent their region, Southern and Western being predominant with both producing a number of representative players. This book highlights the years and successes of the teams and players. Southern and Western Division teams played England, New Zealand and French touring teams from the 1920s -1970s. Country trials were also held to select the country Firsts and Seconds teams to play their city rivals each year. Great players emerged from the country teams with some selected to play for Australia. Also included is the 1974 Amco Cup. The third section focusses in particular on the Maher Cup, which was initiated in the southern region and the Jack Hore Cup which was founded in the western region. The Maher cup produced some of the greatest rugby league players including Eric Weissel and Jack Kingston who both went on to represent Australia. It covers the inaugural cup challenge (1920) to its final challenge (1971) and its retirement to Tumut. The Jack Hore Memorial Gold Cup was instigated by the Canowindra town's people after the sudden death of Jack Hore, an extremely talented sportsman who played cricket and football for Canowindra. The first challenge match was in 1926 where Canowindra defeated Young. Rex Norman was captain coach for Canowindra in its earlier cup challenges. Included in the book are stories of the challenges and events through the years of its existence. The Johnnie Walker and Clayton cups are also examined. The Johnnie Walker Challenge Cup was initiated in 1922 at a meeting in Dubbo and came to rest in the 1980s. The Clayton cup is highlighted as an award of supremacy for outstanding country rugby league teams. Cobar won the award in 1971 and 1972. Throughout all sections there are numerous pictures and photos depicting teams, individual players, action shots, cartoons, souvenir programmes and trophies. Rugby league football is more than just a thrilling spectacle of 26 players demonstrating their skills on the field. The principal strength of rugby league is that it gives ordinary people the opportunity to show their talents and skills.

Full Product Details

Author:   Greg James Riach
Publisher:   History of Rugby League Western and Southern Nsw Greg Riach
Imprint:   History of Rugby League Western and Southern Nsw Greg Riach
Dimensions:   Width: 21.00cm , Height: 2.40cm , Length: 29.70cm
Weight:   1.139kg
ISBN:  

9780645663419


ISBN 10:   0645663417
Pages:   354
Publication Date:   31 August 2023
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order   Availability explained
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

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Reviews

"f you love country rugby league, this book is for you. Greg Riach has turned his passion for bush footy into a 350-page trip down memory lane, exploring some of the history in western and southern towns and regions. He has meticulously sought photos and anecdotes, stories of champion players and teams and the incredible impact of the 13-a-side code that has captivated rural towns for over well over a hundred years. Greg brings to life great players from the incredible sporting nursery across the sandstone curtain. Ian Walsh, Eric Weissel, Bob Weir, Earl Harrison, Barry Rushworth and Ron Crowe feature in the annals of NSW and Australian folklore for their deeds on the league fields of country, city and in Kangaroo tours. The book takes us to their roots and introduces many ""could have been a Test player if he wanted to"" to blokes who strapped on their boots to uphold their local towns. Greg takes us through the early years when inter town challenge matches that grew from fledgling local, mostly pub, comps. The carrots being dangled were a bevy of Cups, some supplied by local hoteliers of cafes, others by major merchandisers like Johnnie Walker, Rech's and Tooths. Greg has captured some historic and colourful battles for the likes of the Maher Cup, Jack Hore Gold Cup and Johnnie Walker Cup. There are tales of teams and in some instances, communities that no longer exist. These portray a changing demographic and capture the social impacts of farming, mining and other booms and busts, droughts and floods. This coffee table collectors' item should find a shelf in libraries, local history collections and in the Christmas stockings and on birthday, Father's Day and sports lovers lists for years. Superb labour of love Greg. Thank you for pulling so much information and so many colourful aspects of the great game of rugby league into a momentous book. Geoff Mann, Sporting commentator ABC Radio, Daily Liberal and Photo News Dubbo. Book details glorious busy footy history: From goal posts made of gum tree branches to trucks driving around properties to pick up players for games a new book Rugby League History- Western and Southern NSW 1920-1976 has it all. Author Greg Riach spent three years trawling through newspaper reports and photographs of players and teams throughout the decades from Groups 9,10,11,14 and 15. Margie McDonald Media and contact coordinator NSW Rugby League ""For over a century the sport of rugby league has played an integral role in developing the character, culture and commitment of a vast array of towns and cities around regional NSW. Fifty years since they were achieved, the halcyon deeds against the odds of small towns like Oberon in group 10, Eugowra in group 11 and Harden in the might of the Maher Cup remain folklore more than 50 years since those halcyon days which galvanised their local communities. Greg Riach deserves widespread thanks and praise for the manner in which he has painstakingly researched the way in which rugby league influenced its local towns and for his compilation of a product which should be compulsory reading for a wide section of the community."" Michael Greenwood, Parkes sports author."


"If you love country rugby league, this book is for you. Greg Riach has turned his passion for bush footy into a 350-page trip down memory lane, exploring some of the history in western and southern towns and regions. Superb labour of love Greg. Thank you for pulling so much information and so many colourful aspects of the great game of rugby league into a momentous book. Geoff Mann, Sporting commentator ABC Dubbo. ""For over a century the sport of rugby league has played an integral role in developing the character, culture and commitment of a vast array of towns and cities around regional NSW. Fifty years since they were achieved, the halcyon deeds against the odds of small towns like Oberon in group 10, Eugowra in group 11 and Harden in the might of the Maher Cup remain folklore more than 50 years since those halcyon days which galvanised their local communities. Greg Riach deserves widespread thanks and praise for the manner in which he has painstakingly researched the way in which rugby league influenced its local towns and for his compilation of a product which should be compulsory reading for a wide section of the community."" Michael Greenwood, Parkes sports author. ""Despite being played in a turbulent period that included the Great Depression and World War 2, the area covered by author Greg Riach's recent publication, saw Rugby League reach it strongest public appeal throughout NSW. To his credit the author has included clubs that saw the game played, not only played in the bigger towns but the many small villages in the area covered by his book and participated in the various competitions which included Groups 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 20 plus Second Division competitions in Western and Southern NSW. In the early days trains and radio played a big part in growth of the game and clubs were able to draw big crowds and big-name players which were attracted to the various clubs. Having read a number of books covering Rugby League in the N.S.W. country area I rate Greg's Rugby League History, equal to any of those publications, and I rate it a 10 for all the information in it, and a job well done."" Brian Hughes, life member and former Secretary, Temora RL Club. author of The Famous Maher Cup: The final years, 2010. ""This book is an entertaining blend of information, articles, yarns, pictures and photos, following the history of rugby league from the 1920s to the 1970s. I thoroughly enjoyed delving back into the past and reading stories about legends of the local game. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes rugby league history, or those with connections to western and southern NSW. It's a great read that provides an interesting insight into the game's history and the towns that played during this golden era of rugby league."" Mick Ewings, former West Wyalong and Parkes RL player. ""Greg Riach has compiled a great book easy to read. Extremely well documented and researched. Historically one of the best Rugby League books I have ever read. Vast coverage of local and international footballers from a great era of Rugby League."" Stephen Howse. Cootamundra RL Club. ""I'd just like to say I'm so impressed with the detail of Greg's book. It will be great reading for all bush footy followers, particularly in my age group. It brings back so many fond memories. Country football was so important to the local community throughout the years covered in the book. Footy was the fabric of every town where we would watch our local lads every Sunday. Thank you for compiling this wonderful book."" Kerry Gibbons, Oberon RL Fanatic."


Author Information

Greg Riach was born in Parkes NSW and attended both Parkes primary and high schools. Although he played rugby league in five sevens and six sevens school teams, as well as in knockout carnivals and intra school matches, rugby league was not to be his sport of choice. All of his friends played hockey and so at the age of sixteen he joined them and continued playing until the age of thirty-one.Greg played and coached premiership winning teams and coached Western Districts Colts Hockey Team in the Zone Championships held in Parkes, defeating Sydney in the final. He was also the holder of NSW State Hockey Umpires Badge.Greg's teaching qualifications include Diploma of Education, Bachelor of Education Degree, Diploma HVAC & Refrigeration Engineering. As a teacher he compiled and wrote a number of technical student manuals for trade and diploma courses.Greg eventually retired from Ultimo TAFE as Head of the Refrigeration and Airconditioning Section in July 2018. Although he has spent almost half of his life in Sydney, he still has solid roots in the country and as was once said, ""You can take the boy from the country but you can't take the country from the boy.""

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