RUGBY league referees, in the early 1900s, would flee Wentworth Park on foot.
The whistleblowers forced not only to sprint out of the ground through a baying mob, but then off and up Wattle Street to where a tram — hopefully — was waiting.
And if it wasn’t?
“Our fans were usually close behind,’’ Glebe official Darren Flynn laughs. “Thankfully though, things have changed a lot since then.
“Back in the day, Dirty Reds supporters wouldn’t only chase referees, but stand outside the opposition dressing room banging the walls with fence palings.
“You could say it was fairly intimidating.”
Glebe Dirty Reds RLFC historic pics
Likely why Glebe — which celebrates 110 years since formation on Tuesday — won around 70 per cent of all games at the venue, too.
And, now, wonderfully, the club — and code — is returning home.
For the first time in almost 90 years, rugby league is headed back to Wentworth Park as part of a blockbuster 2018 pre-season carnival involving Glebe and Newtown.
Better, the foundation clubs — widely recognised as Australia’s first and second respectively — are joining forces as part of an ongoing revival of league’s traditional roots.
After reviving themselves this year on Ron Massey Cup, the Dirty Reds will next winter act as a feeder team for the Newtown Jets, who play in the new Intrust Super premiership.
Apart from training together, the two former rivals will also conduct regular double headers at Henson Park.
NRL Glebe captain Jackson Garlick (left) and Newtown captain Leigh Higgins at Wentworth Park. Pic Jenny Evans
And on February 11, the new pairing will also bring rugby league back to Wentworth Park — with each club taking on its counterpart from Blacktown Workers.
“According to our research, this will be the first game at Wenty Park since 1931,” Flynn says of a field now positioned inside Sydney’s famed greyhound track.
“That year, Balmain took on University.
“It’s also significant when you consider, back in 1908, Wentworth Park and Birchgrove Oval each held double-headers to start the Australian competition.
“From there, it became Glebe’s home ground for years.”
While the Sydney Roosters have previously used Wentworth Park as a training base, the ground inside the dog track is now a dedicated soccer pitch.
And as for what problems that throws up for any triumphant return?
Glebe Dirty Reds RLFC historic pics
“Ah, we’ve got to bring in our own goalposts,’’ Flynn laughs.
“Which is absolutely no problem.
“All up, it’s taken two years of discussions to make this a reality. But we’re hoping that once everyone sees the type of crowds we can bring, and the type of atmosphere that comes with a game day involving Glebe and Newtown, we’ll be able to play here regularly from 2019.”
Flynn added that partnering with the Jets was an easy decision to make.
“What Newtown have done, in the past five years particularly, has been incredible,’’ he said. “They’ve developed such a huge following.
“Their merchandising range, it’s second to none. And for bigger games at Henson Park, they’re attracting crowds in excess of 5000.
“It’s a game day experience, too, which plenty of people will argue is better than some NRL clubs here in Sydney.
Glebe Dirty Reds RLFC historic pics
“And that’s exactly where we hope Glebe can go in the future. We want to provide an experience for those league fans who still long for the halcyon days where you could have a beer and pie on the hill without breaking the bank.
“Games where your kids can run onto the ground afterwards and kick a footy.
“That’s the afternoon of footy we want to bring to Wentworth Park.”
Apart from being the first club to sign on with the NSWRL in 1908, the Dirty Reds can also lay claim to being the franchise most wronged by rugby league — removed, as they were, in 1929 thanks to subterfuge from Souths, Easts and Balmain.
Yet this year, a small band of volunteers revived the Dirty Reds in Ron Massey Cup.
And now, next up, is a return to their spiritual home.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/44a4ad2a4b770d3852b5801f1fe84609
