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This article written by the late great Daily Telegraph Sports writer George Crawford appeared in January, 1964.
I thought the "Flash back" might appeal to the Club's current supporters in tracing the success of the Parramatta Rugby League Club.
Attendances at club matches exceeded all previous years, especially home matches; attendances for the year totalled 376,659.
The Club won its first ever premiership in any grade with the third grade team beating St George 14-4 in the premiership Grand Final..Scorers for Parra, Peter Delaney and Peter "Dutchy" Linde tries, John Wicks 4 goals...
PARRAMATTA HUNGRY FOR FIRST LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP
By George Crawford.
Parramatta, which turned from a Rugby League gloom club to a boom club in two years, has planned two more major signings for the 1964 season.
One of the new top liners is an Englishman, the other an Australian. ( The players were Ivor Lingard and Barry Rushworth)
Parramatta will not name the new players until the contracts are completed.
But Secretary Mr Spencer ONeill says, Believe me, the new men are really big stuff. Parramatta promoted to first grade ranks had a wretched first 15 years.
League fans laughed at the pitiful efforts as the team struggled along at the foot of the premiership.
The renaissance came in 1962 and since then the laughs have turned to cheers for Parramatta now is firmly established as one of the most powerful clubs, with the largest following of all. Parramatta reached the premiership semi finals in 1962 and the final last year.
Players, officials and the huge army of supporters are convinced Parramatta this year will sweep aside even St George, and win the premiership.
Ironically a former St George official, Mr Baden Wales, gave Parramatta the advice which turned it on its way to prosperity.
BIG NAMES
In 1961, Mr Wales then a NSW League Vice President, said Parramatta should speculate and build a team of big name players.
Mr Wales said: It doesnt matter where the players come from, the people of Parramatta are entitled to a good football team.
The cue was wise for full-blooded professionalism and proprietary football were already well on the way.
A hard-working committee headed by President Mr Stan Simpson, Secretary Mr Spencer ONeill and Treasurer Mr Jack Argent set about rebuilding the team
First in the rebuilding campaign they imported internationals Brian Hambly and Bobby Bugden and from English Club Workington Town they signed Ken Foord, Mike Jackson and Bill McCall.
They also got Ron Lynch and Noel Dolton and scored a major triumph in signing former Rugby Union star Ken Thornett who had played three years of League with the English Club Leeds.
TEST CENTRE
Last year they added former English Test centre Derek Hallas and Rugby Union Test second rower Dick Thornett to the line-up.
They also netted former international fullback Ron Willey from Manly, centre Bill Roney from Eastern Suburbs and Leo Toohey from South Sydney.
The influx of stars gave Parramatta a tremendous impetus.
The instant success of the first-grade team infused interest into the lower grades.
Youngsters in the lower grades developed rapidly, and last year Parramatta also reached the finals in reserve and third grades.
It now has the same strength that has kept St George on top of the League for the past eight years.
Many of the reserve graders are so good that first graders have to hold top form to retain their positions.
The third graders put similar pressure on the reserve graders.
That is the set-up which makes a football Club run successfully.
The live wire Parramatta committee is aware that the Clubs army of supporters is increasing as success mounts.
To cope with this, the committee has arranged for accommodation at the Clubs ground, Cumberland Oval, to be increased from 19,000 to 30,000.
The licensed Parramatta League Club and the Parramatta Park Trust combined in the operation, and the work will be finished before the 1964 season starts.
Cumberland Oval will easily be Sydneys finest suburban ground.
It will be in keeping with the Parramatta Clubs enterprise and drive.
There is only one touchy point in Parramattas current boom days.
Should coach Ken Kearney be sole selector?
Kearney has held the dual position in Parramattas two boom years.
Despite the success, many Club members contend a three man selection panel should choose the teams.
The issue was heatedly debated at the clubs 1963 annual meeting.
One of Kearneys supporters had already given the Club written notice that he will move for Kearneys re-election for 1964 at the Clubs annual meeting next month.
Another heated debate is inevitable.
President Simpson enjoys members thrashing out these points.
He says: It provides life and assurance against complacency.
Parramatta has lost only one first grade player for 1964.
Front rower Bill McCall has left to coach second division club Penrith.
Parramatta is not planning to buy a replacement for McCall.
Officials declare the transfer market is not offering a better forward than some of its rising stars in reserve grade.
They have two theories:
 The switch of Kangaroo second rower Brian Hambly to the front row and promote reserve grade star Barry Leaney;
 Or keep Hambly in the second row and promote reserve grade front rower Billy Jones.
RISING STAR
Leaney, a rapidly rising star, was the best forward in Sydney reserve grade football last year.
Jones was a reserve grade hooker but showed outstanding talents as a prop when Parramatta toured New Zealand at the end of last season.
Hamblys success as a stop gap prop for Australia in the recent Third Test against France has contributed to the Parramatta speculation that he may now be equipped to become a permanent front-rower.
Hambly is 28 the ideal age for a front rower.
Still a lot of Parramatta supporters would be reluctant to see the teams great international back-row combination Ron Lynch, Dick Thornett and Hambly separated.
I do not think it would matter greatly because young Leaney is highly talented and Hambly is a champion in any position in the pack, bar hooker.
Parramatta is destined for another great season.
At this stage it appears to be St Georges greatest threat.
I thought the "Flash back" might appeal to the Club's current supporters in tracing the success of the Parramatta Rugby League Club.
Attendances at club matches exceeded all previous years, especially home matches; attendances for the year totalled 376,659.
The Club won its first ever premiership in any grade with the third grade team beating St George 14-4 in the premiership Grand Final..Scorers for Parra, Peter Delaney and Peter "Dutchy" Linde tries, John Wicks 4 goals...
PARRAMATTA HUNGRY FOR FIRST LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP
By George Crawford.
Parramatta, which turned from a Rugby League gloom club to a boom club in two years, has planned two more major signings for the 1964 season.
One of the new top liners is an Englishman, the other an Australian. ( The players were Ivor Lingard and Barry Rushworth)
Parramatta will not name the new players until the contracts are completed.
But Secretary Mr Spencer ONeill says, Believe me, the new men are really big stuff. Parramatta promoted to first grade ranks had a wretched first 15 years.
League fans laughed at the pitiful efforts as the team struggled along at the foot of the premiership.
The renaissance came in 1962 and since then the laughs have turned to cheers for Parramatta now is firmly established as one of the most powerful clubs, with the largest following of all. Parramatta reached the premiership semi finals in 1962 and the final last year.
Players, officials and the huge army of supporters are convinced Parramatta this year will sweep aside even St George, and win the premiership.
Ironically a former St George official, Mr Baden Wales, gave Parramatta the advice which turned it on its way to prosperity.
BIG NAMES
In 1961, Mr Wales then a NSW League Vice President, said Parramatta should speculate and build a team of big name players.
Mr Wales said: It doesnt matter where the players come from, the people of Parramatta are entitled to a good football team.
The cue was wise for full-blooded professionalism and proprietary football were already well on the way.
A hard-working committee headed by President Mr Stan Simpson, Secretary Mr Spencer ONeill and Treasurer Mr Jack Argent set about rebuilding the team
First in the rebuilding campaign they imported internationals Brian Hambly and Bobby Bugden and from English Club Workington Town they signed Ken Foord, Mike Jackson and Bill McCall.
They also got Ron Lynch and Noel Dolton and scored a major triumph in signing former Rugby Union star Ken Thornett who had played three years of League with the English Club Leeds.
TEST CENTRE
Last year they added former English Test centre Derek Hallas and Rugby Union Test second rower Dick Thornett to the line-up.
They also netted former international fullback Ron Willey from Manly, centre Bill Roney from Eastern Suburbs and Leo Toohey from South Sydney.
The influx of stars gave Parramatta a tremendous impetus.
The instant success of the first-grade team infused interest into the lower grades.
Youngsters in the lower grades developed rapidly, and last year Parramatta also reached the finals in reserve and third grades.
It now has the same strength that has kept St George on top of the League for the past eight years.
Many of the reserve graders are so good that first graders have to hold top form to retain their positions.
The third graders put similar pressure on the reserve graders.
That is the set-up which makes a football Club run successfully.
The live wire Parramatta committee is aware that the Clubs army of supporters is increasing as success mounts.
To cope with this, the committee has arranged for accommodation at the Clubs ground, Cumberland Oval, to be increased from 19,000 to 30,000.
The licensed Parramatta League Club and the Parramatta Park Trust combined in the operation, and the work will be finished before the 1964 season starts.
Cumberland Oval will easily be Sydneys finest suburban ground.
It will be in keeping with the Parramatta Clubs enterprise and drive.
There is only one touchy point in Parramattas current boom days.
Should coach Ken Kearney be sole selector?
Kearney has held the dual position in Parramattas two boom years.
Despite the success, many Club members contend a three man selection panel should choose the teams.
The issue was heatedly debated at the clubs 1963 annual meeting.
One of Kearneys supporters had already given the Club written notice that he will move for Kearneys re-election for 1964 at the Clubs annual meeting next month.
Another heated debate is inevitable.
President Simpson enjoys members thrashing out these points.
He says: It provides life and assurance against complacency.
Parramatta has lost only one first grade player for 1964.
Front rower Bill McCall has left to coach second division club Penrith.
Parramatta is not planning to buy a replacement for McCall.
Officials declare the transfer market is not offering a better forward than some of its rising stars in reserve grade.
They have two theories:
 The switch of Kangaroo second rower Brian Hambly to the front row and promote reserve grade star Barry Leaney;
 Or keep Hambly in the second row and promote reserve grade front rower Billy Jones.
RISING STAR
Leaney, a rapidly rising star, was the best forward in Sydney reserve grade football last year.
Jones was a reserve grade hooker but showed outstanding talents as a prop when Parramatta toured New Zealand at the end of last season.
Hamblys success as a stop gap prop for Australia in the recent Third Test against France has contributed to the Parramatta speculation that he may now be equipped to become a permanent front-rower.
Hambly is 28 the ideal age for a front rower.
Still a lot of Parramatta supporters would be reluctant to see the teams great international back-row combination Ron Lynch, Dick Thornett and Hambly separated.
I do not think it would matter greatly because young Leaney is highly talented and Hambly is a champion in any position in the pack, bar hooker.
Parramatta is destined for another great season.
At this stage it appears to be St Georges greatest threat.
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