THE RED V NOSTALGIA THREAD

[baggygreen man]

There are some of us on this forum that grew up watching the Dragons, the mighty Red V decades before what was a sad time for us in '99. I refer to that time as our club 'selling our soul'.
I began following my beloved Dragons in boarding school to break the loneliness of being seven, in a strange place away from home, my mother and after losing my father only a year earlier.
Why did I pick the Dragons over other clubs as I knew nothing of their history being so young. Truth is I liked the jumper with the Red V emblazoned on it and have never wavered from it in over 50 years.

 

[baggygreen man]

The St George District Rugby League Football Club, which celebrated its century almost four years ago, was officially formed at the Kogarah School of Arts on November 8, 1920.
The newly formed club's team wearing red and white stripes, played their first Premiership match on St George’s Day (how prophetic), April 23, 1921 against Glebe at the Sydney Sports Ground.
The 13 players to take the field that day were: Lyall Wall, Norm Shadlow, Reg Fusedale, Herb Gilbert (c), George Carstairs, Frank Gray, Tommy Burns, Tony Redmond, Clarrie Tye, Sid Field, Roy Bossi, Ernie Lapham, Jack Clark.
Glebe won the encounter 4–3. In fact St George's inaugural season was not a happy one with them winning only two matches , yet they avoided the dreaded wooden spoon, a victory in itself for a new club..


Saints 1921 players and officials.

 

[justadragon]

I used to love watching the AMCO CUP games midweek, just to get that RL fix during the week. RABS was the commentator I think, plus used to love hearing Rex Mossop and best of all Frank Hyde

 

[Dribble&Yarn]

For some of our more esteemed posters on here - can you please provide an insight on to what the feeling was like at the time about the merger?

For context, I'm 32, so whilst I have some small memories of before the merger, my first real memories are of the 99 grand final. I would love an insight into that time period. I've asked my Father (who is also a Die Hard Dragon), I'm also interested in some others' thoughts as well.

Is anyone here from the Illawarra side of the merger?

 

[jeffdragon]

I used to love watching the AMCO CUP games midweek, just to get that RL fix during the week. RABS was the commentator I think, plus used to love hearing Rex Mossop and best of all Frank Hyde

Most teams played with many of their reserves in if I'm correct.

 

[jak]

The St George District Rugby League Football Club, which celebrated its century almost four years ago, was officially formed at the Kogarah School of Arts on November 8, 1920.
The newly formed club's team wearing red and white stripes, played their first Premiership match on St George’s Day (how prophetic), April 23, 1921 against Glebe at the Sydney Sports Ground.
The 13 players to take the field that day were: Lyall Wall, Norm Shadlow, Reg Fusedale, Herb Gilbert (c), George Carstairs, Frank Gray, Tommy Burns, Tony Redmond, Clarrie Tye, Sid Field, Roy Bossi, Ernie Lapham, Jack Clark.
Glebe won the encounter 4–3. In fact St George's inaugural season was not a happy one with them winning only two matches , yet they avoided the dreaded wooden spoon, a victory in itself for a new club..

View attachment 93832
Saints 1921 players and officials.

my grandfathers brother was one of those players

 

[justadragon]

Most teams played with many of their reserves in if I'm correct.

And also if I remember, wasn't there a country side somewhere where we could see all the bush players in action.

 

[justadragon]

For some of our more esteemed posters on here - can you please provide an insight on to what the feeling was like at the time about the merger?

For context, I'm 32, so whilst I have some small memories of before the merger, my first real memories are of the 99 grand final. I would love an insight into that time period. I've asked my Father (who is also a Die Hard Dragon), I'm also interested in some others' thoughts as well.

Is anyone here from the Illawarra side of the merger?

Good question DY, I wasn't from the Steelers side, my impression of the merger was that both clubs couldn't survive without eachother, and the NRL at the time was definitely looking at minimising Sydney teams further. I remember what a great team we ended up having by combining the 2 clubs, but after the 99 debacle we had a good team but were always choking.
I personally had no issues with the merger because at the start we were being touted as a super club, because our team was always constantly finals bound. It was many years later that I realised what the dynamics of the club was with its board setup and eventually due to that we find ourselves here, having made many many idiotic decisions. There is obviously quite a lot more detail, but a lot of things were clouded over in the early stages.

 

[Inisai Toga]

And also if I remember, wasn't there a country side somewhere where we could see all the bush players in action.

Yep! Western Division coached by Saints Johnny King won the first one!

 

[Dragon David]

For some of our more esteemed posters on here - can you please provide an insight on to what the feeling was like at the time about the merger?

For context, I'm 32, so whilst I have some small memories of before the merger, my first real memories are of the 99 grand final. I would love an insight into that time period. I've asked my Father (who is also a Die Hard Dragon), I'm also interested in some others' thoughts as well.

Is anyone here from the Illawarra side of the merger?

Good question DY, I wasn't from the Steelers side, my impression of the merger was that both clubs couldn't survive without eachother, and the NRL at the time was definitely looking at minimising Sydney teams further. I remember what a great team we ended up having by combining the 2 clubs, but after the 99 debacle we had a good team but were always choking.
I personally had no issues with the merger because at the start we were being touted as a super club, because our team was always constantly finals bound. It was many years later that I realised what the dynamics of the club was with its board setup and eventually due to that we find ourselves here, having made many many idiotic decisions. There is obviously quite a lot more detail, but a lot of things were clouded over in the early stages.

I wasn't from the Illawarra side of the merger D and Y. Justa has answered your question well and here is more of an insight as to the overall way things were prior to and during and after the merger for your perusal.

St George Illawarra overview and historic timeline

St George Illawarra overview and historic timeline

www.dragons.com.au

 

[jeffdragon]

And also if I remember, wasn't there a country side somewhere where we could see all the bush players in action.

Also there was nobody on the hill at .
Also remember them using white a white footy with brown hoops.

 

[baggygreen man]

I used to love watching the AMCO CUP games midweek, just to get that RL fix during the week. RABS was the commentator I think, plus used to love hearing Rex Mossop and best of all Frank Hyde

Same here jd. We both likely watched this final.

 

[baggygreen man]

Good question DY, I wasn't from the Steelers side, my impression of the merger was that both clubs couldn't survive without eachother, and the NRL at the time was definitely looking at minimising Sydney teams further. I remember what a great team we ended up having by combining the 2 clubs, but after the 99 debacle we had a good team but were always choking.
I personally had no issues with the merger because at the start we were being touted as a super club, because our team was always constantly finals bound. It was many years later that I realised what the dynamics of the club was with its board setup and eventually due to that we find ourselves here, having made many many idiotic decisions. There is obviously quite a lot more detail, but a lot of things were clouded over in the early stages.

I heard that the St George Leagues Club forked out big coin to keep the Steelers solvent/viable with the payback for us being a larger junior nursery. I suspect the SGJRL were doing fine and did not need the Steelers.

 

[Dragon David]

Same here jd. We both likely watched this final.

Too bad we lost that night. Big Arthur holding the Amco Cup sponsored probably by Uncle Nick himself for City Ford.

 

[jeffdragon]

My brothers in law worked at the gf in 85 doing up the dressing rooms.
I didn't go.
I started following the Saints in 1986.
First game I went to was at the SCG in 87.
V Parra
We lost to a John Muggleton fg 21-20 because we had nobody at marker.
Was on the front page of the Daily Telegraph the year we went back to Kogarah v Parra amd we lost.
Was on a train trip coming back from.
Newcastle in maybe 89 or 90 when it ploughed into the back of a steam train from Maitland.
We were in the 1st carriage,there were no seats so we moved to the last carriage.
6 passed away including a Saints fan still remember his name and remember most of the team attended his funeral.
In 92 my brother I'm law was employed to do up Saints dressing room.with paraphernalia.
So the day before it me a mate and him.
decorated the dressing room.

These are nostalgic events involving the Dragons
There are a few more regarding gf tickets
but I've bored you enough already.

 

[baggygreen man]

My brothers in law worked at the gf in 85 doing up the dressing rooms.
I didn't go.
I started following the Saints in 1986.
First game I went to was at the SCG in 87.
V Parra
We lost to a John Muggleton fg 21-20 because we had nobody at marker.
Was on the front page of the Daily Telegraph the year we went back to Kogarah v Parra amd we lost.
Was on a train trip coming back from.
Newcastle in maybe 89 or 90 when it ploughed into the back of a steam train from Maitland.
We were in the 1st but there were no seats so we moved to the last carriage.
6 passed away including a Saints fan still remember his name and remember most of the team attended his funeral.
In 92 my brother I'm law was employed to do up Saints dressing room.with paraphernalia.
So the day before it me a mate and him.
decorated the dressing room.

These are nostalgic events for me.
Sorry to bore any on this forum..

Interesting anecdotes @jeffdragon. Nothing is boring on this thread.

 

[Dragon David]

My brothers in law worked at the gf in 85 doing up the dressing rooms.
I didn't go.
I started following the Saints in 1986.
First game I went to was at the SCG in 87.
V Parra
We lost to a John Muggleton fg 21-20 because we had nobody at marker.
Was on the front page of the Daily Telegraph the year we went back to Kogarah v Parra amd we lost.
Was on a train trip coming back from.
Newcastle in maybe 89 or 90 when it ploughed into the back of a steam train from Maitland.
We were in the 1st carriage,there were no seats so we moved to the last carriage.
6 passed away including a Saints fan still remember his name and remember most of the team attended his funeral.
In 92 my brother I'm law was employed to do up Saints dressing room.with paraphernalia.
So the day before it me a mate and him.
decorated the dressing room.

These are nostalgic events involving the Dragons
There are a few more regarding gf tickets
but I've bored you enough already.

Nothing boring about nostalgia stuff of which your memory has done you proud young fella.

 

[Ben_Kusto_magic]

My brothers in law worked at the gf in 85 doing up the dressing rooms.
I didn't go.
I started following the Saints in 1986.
First game I went to was at the SCG in 87.
V Parra
We lost to a John Muggleton fg 21-20 because we had nobody at marker.
Was on the front page of the Daily Telegraph the year we went back to Kogarah v Parra amd we lost.
Was on a train trip coming back from.
Newcastle in maybe 89 or 90 when it ploughed into the back of a steam train from Maitland.
We were in the 1st carriage,there were no seats so we moved to the last carriage.
6 passed away including a Saints fan still remember his name and remember most of the team attended his funeral.
In 92 my brother I'm law was employed to do up Saints dressing room.with paraphernalia.
So the day before it me a mate and him.
decorated the dressing room.

These are nostalgic events involving the Dragons
There are a few more regarding gf tickets
but I've bored you enough already.

What a coincidence!
This was also my first St.George game I attended. My late father drove us out there and I remember being so excited. I vaguely remember going on the field at full time and just being absolutely awe struck by Craig Young!
Years later when I attended high school, John Muggleton became one of my teachers. Absolute legend of a bloke