Sunday, January 20, 2013

Tad Bits of Magpie Pride

 

"There was not one Wests player I did not want to play with... not one dud. I loved Wests. It is the greatest club in the world. To put on a Wests Jumper is equal to wearing an Australian jumper." Noel Kelly
















"We're going to be competitive and we're going to find that Western Suburbs spirit. We are going to make clubs hate coming to Campbelltown... they'll just hate it." Tom Raudonikis












"There is nothing sweeter in the world than the smell of silvertail blood through a broken nose" J. Donnelly, Lidcombe Oval 1978

(Arthur Mountier pictured)









 "Training was conducted in the twilight, and dressing room amenities consisted of one shed - with one cold shower recess. Light was provided by either kerosene lamps or by candlelight. The wives of Ted Mead and Bill Elliot took it in turns to supply the candles." - Rugby League Wests Style 1908













Wests were the first Rugby League Club in Australia to officially adopt a mascot. In 1928 they officially became known as the Western Suburbs Magpies. 













I would say to Dallas in the dressing room, " I do not know if you are tough enough to handle these blokes."
Dallas blood would boil. There were times when I knew I was one second away from a smack in the jaw.- Roy Masters, first grade coach 1978-81 










"I played every game in 1939 and I got 17 pounds, 7 shillings and 7 pense. We would have played for nothing - the club spirit was fantastic. I loved the blokes I played with. I loved it at Wests'' Jimmy Sharman Jnr






Wests started the 1933 season in fine style winning 4 and drawing one of their first 6 matches. It was then that the Kangaroo tourists left for England.

The Magpies lost virtually their entire backline when Frank McMillan, Cliff Pearce, Alan Ridley, Les Mead and Vic Hey where selected to tour. Wests would not win another game and collected the wooden spoon.

With all of their stars back on deck Wests turned the tables and won the 1934 premiership. The first and only team to do so in First Grade.
 









Every time a team raises the NRL Premiership Trophy they are raising a part of Wests.

The famous trophy features an embrace of Arthur Summons (Wests) and Norm Provan (St George) after the wet and muddy 1963 grand final.

The 50th anniversary of this event will be celebrated this year.
 








Show your passion for this great club! Get to the games this year and cheer on the boys and consider becoming a member.  Just $30 a year gets you free entry to all Magpie home games. Sign up online, its quick, easy and safe backed by PayPal.

Click here to become a member! 

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