parra pete
Referee
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The old grey Mayor he ain't what he used to be..but he was still fantastic and just the lift the team needed.
From Rags to Riches - 1971
By Tom Easton
PARRAMATTA in 1971 qualified for the semi finals only to be beaten 19-8 after 20 minutes of extra time.
The teams spectacular climb from the bottom of the table was described as rags to riches by most journalists
The description was certainly apt, but two significant factors occurred in 1971.
One was the appointment of Ian Walsh as coach, and the other, the return of The Mayor Ken Thornett, although no longer the dynamic force of his great years, nevertheless proved an inspiration at the back of his team. Ian Walsh drove the side hard.
The semi final team against St George was Ken Thornett, Terry Scurfield, Ron Graham, Peter Langmack, Kevin McFarlane, Graham Lye, John Wilson, Keith Campbell, Dick Thornett, Ron Lynch, Denis Fitzgerald John McMartin, and Bob OReilly. Laurie Wakefield and Gary Pethybridge replaced John Wilson and Peter Langmack who were injured during the game
Denis Fitzgerald burst into prominence in 1971 when selected to play for NSW against Queensland. Fitzgerald later staged a successful fight against a serious illness and was selected to play for Australia.
Bob OReilly played for City 1 against Country, NSW v Queensland, Australia v NZ at Carlaw Park, and appeared in two minor matches on the NZ tour.
Keith Campbell played City 2 v Country, NSW V Queensland and for Australia v New Zealand at Carlaw Park.
Denis Fitzgerald: NSW v Queensland, Terry Scurfield NSW v Queensland, :Ron Graham City 1 v Country 1, and was selected for NSW but withdrew due to an ankle injury.
Parramattas successful 1971 season was a bolt from the blue, but it did prove the old adage that a champion team can always beat a team of champions.
Attendances totalled 345,312 with another 27,155 attracted to the pre-season trials..an increase of 144274 over 1970s attendance.
(Goes to show the drawing power of the man they called The Mayor)
Peter Langmack was the brother of international and former Canterbury player Paul.
Typing this up, I recalled a funny story about Peter.
One of my mates was a President of a Country Club on the lookout for a captain/coach. He rang Billy Rayner and asked if he could nominate a suitable coach..Billy said Ian McKechnie, John Moran or Peter Langmack would give good value. My mate rang Peter Langmack and asked him if he was interested. Peter said he was.
"What sort of money would you look at?"
"Last year at Parra", Peter said, "I paid mainly reserve grade and was paid $5000.
"Out of that, the CLub took 35 c in the dollar tax"...
"We can do better than that. We are prepared to offer you $8,000..You sign a contract for $3,000 and we lodge the other $5000 with a Solicitor..that way you only pay tax on $3,000." the conversation continued, "What sort of work do you do",
"I'm a Public Servant"...
"Oh yeah" my mate continued, "What Department"..
"Taxation" Peter replied.
My mate nearly swallowed the phone!!!!!!
From Rags to Riches - 1971
By Tom Easton
PARRAMATTA in 1971 qualified for the semi finals only to be beaten 19-8 after 20 minutes of extra time.
The teams spectacular climb from the bottom of the table was described as rags to riches by most journalists
The description was certainly apt, but two significant factors occurred in 1971.
One was the appointment of Ian Walsh as coach, and the other, the return of The Mayor Ken Thornett, although no longer the dynamic force of his great years, nevertheless proved an inspiration at the back of his team. Ian Walsh drove the side hard.
The semi final team against St George was Ken Thornett, Terry Scurfield, Ron Graham, Peter Langmack, Kevin McFarlane, Graham Lye, John Wilson, Keith Campbell, Dick Thornett, Ron Lynch, Denis Fitzgerald John McMartin, and Bob OReilly. Laurie Wakefield and Gary Pethybridge replaced John Wilson and Peter Langmack who were injured during the game
Denis Fitzgerald burst into prominence in 1971 when selected to play for NSW against Queensland. Fitzgerald later staged a successful fight against a serious illness and was selected to play for Australia.
Bob OReilly played for City 1 against Country, NSW v Queensland, Australia v NZ at Carlaw Park, and appeared in two minor matches on the NZ tour.
Keith Campbell played City 2 v Country, NSW V Queensland and for Australia v New Zealand at Carlaw Park.
Denis Fitzgerald: NSW v Queensland, Terry Scurfield NSW v Queensland, :Ron Graham City 1 v Country 1, and was selected for NSW but withdrew due to an ankle injury.
Parramattas successful 1971 season was a bolt from the blue, but it did prove the old adage that a champion team can always beat a team of champions.
Attendances totalled 345,312 with another 27,155 attracted to the pre-season trials..an increase of 144274 over 1970s attendance.
(Goes to show the drawing power of the man they called The Mayor)
Peter Langmack was the brother of international and former Canterbury player Paul.
Typing this up, I recalled a funny story about Peter.
One of my mates was a President of a Country Club on the lookout for a captain/coach. He rang Billy Rayner and asked if he could nominate a suitable coach..Billy said Ian McKechnie, John Moran or Peter Langmack would give good value. My mate rang Peter Langmack and asked him if he was interested. Peter said he was.
"What sort of money would you look at?"
"Last year at Parra", Peter said, "I paid mainly reserve grade and was paid $5000.
"Out of that, the CLub took 35 c in the dollar tax"...
"We can do better than that. We are prepared to offer you $8,000..You sign a contract for $3,000 and we lodge the other $5000 with a Solicitor..that way you only pay tax on $3,000." the conversation continued, "What sort of work do you do",
"I'm a Public Servant"...
"Oh yeah" my mate continued, "What Department"..
"Taxation" Peter replied.
My mate nearly swallowed the phone!!!!!!
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