The Dawson Twins Minus 1
Juniors
- Messages
- 306
Frank Hyde rekindles league's glowing heart
By Peter FitzSimons
May 15, 2004
Gotta love this city. Last Saturday arvo, two of rugby league's foundation clubs, Newtown and North Sydney, are battling to win the Frank Hyde Shield at Henson Park. At half-time, after 40 minutes of torrid but entertaining football, the Jets are holding a narrow lead.
The great Frank Hyde himself, who started playing for Newtown in 1934, before going to play with Norths, is presented to the crowd from the commentary position, and the people cheer. The octogenarian is nearing the end of a wonderful speech of reminiscences when someone in the crowd yells out: "Danny Boy!" Hyde pauses, looks a little misty, gazes down on the crowd and replies softly: "Would you like to hear Danny Boy, would you?" They certainly would.
Out on the breeze then, across Henson Park over the crowd and beyond, comes a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Danny Boy. And, now, I want all TFF readers to hum it with him as the great man sings:
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling;
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying;
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow;
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow;
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so . . .
Stunning. You see? Flickering, maybe, but that wondrous torch of league-as-it-was still burns! Newtown went on to beat Norths 42-20 to win the cup.
By Peter FitzSimons
May 15, 2004
Gotta love this city. Last Saturday arvo, two of rugby league's foundation clubs, Newtown and North Sydney, are battling to win the Frank Hyde Shield at Henson Park. At half-time, after 40 minutes of torrid but entertaining football, the Jets are holding a narrow lead.
The great Frank Hyde himself, who started playing for Newtown in 1934, before going to play with Norths, is presented to the crowd from the commentary position, and the people cheer. The octogenarian is nearing the end of a wonderful speech of reminiscences when someone in the crowd yells out: "Danny Boy!" Hyde pauses, looks a little misty, gazes down on the crowd and replies softly: "Would you like to hear Danny Boy, would you?" They certainly would.
Out on the breeze then, across Henson Park over the crowd and beyond, comes a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Danny Boy. And, now, I want all TFF readers to hum it with him as the great man sings:
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling;
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying;
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow;
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow;
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so . . .
Stunning. You see? Flickering, maybe, but that wondrous torch of league-as-it-was still burns! Newtown went on to beat Norths 42-20 to win the cup.
and where he also mentioned the Jets were his favourite RL team)
