25yrs of Magpies to be celebrated at Campbelltown

A WALL of fame celebrating the Western Suburbs Magpies is just one of the ideas suggested as the rugby league club gets set to celebrate 25 years in the Macarthur region.

The club is seeking ideas on how to mark the anniversary milestone.

Other ideas so far have included a mural depicting the Magpies’ history and merger with Balmain to form the joint venture club Wests Tigers, a past and present players’ hall of honour and a magpie statue.

Magpies marketing and operations manager Daniel Watson Hayes welcomed the ideas. He said he particularly liked the suggestion of a wall of fame.

“They all have a lot of merit, but a wall of fame or plaque at the stadium would go down particularly well,” he said. “I like the idea of photos of former player greats lining the tunnel - similar to ANZ Stadium.

“How inspiring would that be for players as they run out on to the field?”

Watson Hayes said it would be fitting to honour the Magpies, particularly the teams of the 1990s whom he believed were the cornerstone of the club’s success of the modern era. “I think about the talent of the McGuinness brothers, John Skandalis, Paul Langmack . . . that’s what we should be tapping into,” he said.

Campbelltown Council general manager Paul Tosi said he would welcome approaches from the Magpies to discuss the issue.

OTHER THOUGHTS ON THE ISSUE

We share a wonderful history and together we have a terrific future. I look forward to working with the council and the Wests representatives to find the best way to share and celebrate our history.
STEPHEN HUMPHREYS
Wests Tigers CEO

The Magpies are an important part of Campbelltown’s sporting history and we value the contribution they’ve made. We’d like to hear from the Magpies so we can take any proposal they suggest to council.
ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG Campbelltown Mayor

A walk of fame sounds like a great idea to me. There are so many Western Suburbs Magpies players who deserve to be recognised and I can’t think of any better place than Campbelltown Stadium, the home of the Magpies.
AMY CROSS
Macarthur Chronicle Facebook

It’s a great idea because we need something to honour all the past players who have pulled on the black and white jersey to represent Campbelltown. I’d like to see a big bronze magpie at the stadium which points in a westerly direction.
GRAEME SZYNAL
Save Our Sport rally organiser

I’d like to see some sort of statue as well. There is nothing at Campbelltown Stadium in recognition of the Magpies and there absolutely should be. Brisbane have their Wally statue so where is our version in Campbelltown?
JOHN FARLEY
Macarthur Chronicle Facebook

I am surprised to hear there isn’t already a memorial. Something should definitely change about that.
ADRIAN HARPER
Macarthur Chronicle Facebook

http://macarthur-chronicle-campbelltown.whereilive.com.au/news/story/25-years-of-western-suburbs-magpies-to-be-celebrated-at-campbelltown/