My Story As A Supporter

[nontime111]

were ok, were just badly coached and need a new hooker and a decent half...... COREY NORMAN!!

 

[Black Forest Dragon]

after seeing the 'Ted Goodwin Stand" week in week out at the same place at the north-western end of Kogarah oval I made the "John Chapman stand".

As a 12 year old I thought Skull was someone to look up to - hee hee

Dragons were just the best

 

[wayne57]

Great post Wayne 57,

I've got you covered by a few years and loved the part about your dad and the pool room.

We used to go Beverly Hills and play Bally pin ball machines and shoot kelly pool.

SP booky in the corner and the occasional visit by the local Sgt to make sure everyone was behaving.

Used to travel home on the red rattlers with the door open trying to get the cigarette smoke (Capstan 5's) off our clothes.

Sure beats the hell of the shit the kids are getting into today.

I agree It was a great time to be Dragons supporter back then.

I would go and watch all three games, I think it was the under twenties, reserve grade and then the main game.

A day a footy meant a day at the footy, it was a good time for the fans of rugby league.

 

[S.B.]

n

The ' Match of the Day ' at the SGC , hell , that does bring the glory days back !
I can always recall saying to my pops - " who is that old man playing for us ? "
Of course the reply was - " his not old , that's Poppa Clay"
Well being only 10 or 11 at the time , anyone who was over 20 was old to me , but still I thought , but that fella has no hair ? He certainly was no oil painting , but he knew how to tackle , did old Poppa !

Not the best players i seen play for the Dragonc but Poppa Clay and Billy Smith were my 2 favourite players to watch.

 

[Old Timer]

I agree It was a great time to be Dragons supporter back then.

I would go and watch all three games, I think it was the under twenties, reserve grade and then the main game.

A day a footy meant a day at the footy, it was a good time for the fans of rugby league.

It was actually SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, President's Cup, 3rd grade, 2nd grade, 1st grade.

3nd grade was full of old sluggers who would like to belt the up and comers if given half the chance so very often for the good young players it would be Presidents Cup, 2nd grade, 1st grade.

 

[Gareth67]

n

Not the best players i seen play for the Dragonc but Poppa Clay and Billy Smith were my 2 favourite players to watch.

Yes , your right there , however in those years , when you were in that Dragon team you knew that you had earned your place and that you had a job to do if you wanted to remain there .
Billy Smith was also my favourite player . I believe that he started in the centers when he made 1st grade , and in later years to hlf back .
He could also tackle , around the bootlaces , unlike Poppa Clay who just crunched the opposition. I sometimes wondered if he had a night job as a wrestler ?

 

[Old Timer]

Yes , your right there , however in those years , when you were in that Dragon team you knew that you had earned your place and that you had a job to do if you wanted to remain there .
Billy Smith was also my favourite player . I believe that he started in the centers when he made 1st grade , and in later years to hlf back .
He could also tackle , around the bootlaces , unlike Poppa Clay who just crunched the opposition. I sometimes wondered if he had a night job as a wrestler ?

As Poppa was getting towards the end of his career Fearless Facer was looking for a replacement and Reg Gasnier recommended they have a look at a young 5/8 from North Sydney by the name of David Holman.
Saints played Norths at the SCG in the first round and young Holman won the Frank Facer Seiko watch for MOM.
As they ran onto the field for the 2nd round game Poppa told young Holman you won't win the watch today young fella and when Holman came too with the smelling salts in the dressing sheds he was told Poppa was the culprit.
Needless to say Poppa stayed at Saints for a few more years.

 

[Black Forest Dragon]

under 23s, Reserve Grade and First Grade,

...and yes I watched all 3 grades back them - good times indeed

 

[Gareth67]

As Poppa was getting towards the end of his career Fearless Facer was looking for a replacement and Reg Gasnier recommended they have a look at a young 5/8 from North Sydney by the name of David Holman.
Saints played Norths at the SCG in the first round and young Holman won the Frank Facer Seiko watch for MOM.
As they ran onto the field for the 2nd round game Poppa told young Holman you won't win the watch today young fella and when Holman came too with the smelling salts in the dressing sheds he was told Poppa was the culprit.
Needless to say Poppa stayed at Saints for a few more years.

Yeah , he wasn't a man of many words , was he ?
He let his actions do the talking ! But , the way in which you have described that particular unsavoury incident , has me almost smelling those salts myself .
That was a great yarn , I really enjoyed that .

 

[S.B.]

Smithy did start his career in the centers.Clay also began as lock and got moved to 5/8 to accomodate probably the best player i have seen in John Raper. The Dragons were reckognised for having the best 3 locks in the game at that tim. Peter Provan being the other one.

 

[ALSGI]

after seeing the 'Ted Goodwin Stand" week in week out at the same place at the north-western end of Kogarah oval I made the "John Chapman stand".

As a 12 year old I thought Skull was someone to look up to - hee hee

Dragons were just the best

Hahaha....Skull used to help me climb up the trees, called me Tiger and used to scare the shyte outa me at 5yo!!!! Especially when he used language at the Refs and Rex Mosop in the tv tower!!!! Also, I remember meeting Henry Tatana when he wanted to meet his 6yo daughters boyfriend - that was scarier than Skull!!!

 

[Gareth67]

Smithy did start his career in the centers.Clay also began as lock and got moved to 5/8 to accomodate probably the best player i have seen in John Raper. The Dragons were reckognised for having the best 3 locks in the game at that tim. Peter Provan being the other one.

Yes , the players were all class , with the obligatory blood and guts men thrown in , in those days .
However South Sydney also had another great up and coming lock forward about to make his mark in the game , the great Ron Coote .
The only reason he never made the Australian teams ( in the early part of his career) was as you mentioned , Johnny Raper .
There were times when I genuinely felt for him , always being the 2 nd best , when the reality was that there was only a few blades of grass between the 2 .