Seasons 1960 to 1964
FOR A BETTER QUALITY PAGE (COLOUR, PHOTOS ETC) CLICK 1960 to 1964
1960
West appointed 3 new coaches in 1960. In First Grade Charlie Gill returned after a 5 years absence to take over from Jack Eveleigh. In Reserve Grade “Charger” Walls took over from Sid Brown and in Third Grade John Lightfoot took over from Neil Gibson. For the first time in “yonks”, West, at last, met with some measure of success. This was mainly due to many successful West Juniors coming through to grade eg Garry Dougherty, Rob Davies, Kev Duncan, Graham Sutcliffe, Les Olsen, Ivan Leggett, Ernie Snelson and Ted Curtis. Also arriving at West from Singleton were Maurie Kelly and Frank Usback from Singleton, John Partland from Kurri, Mick Alchin from Cardiff and Ron Gibson from North. First Grade finished in 3rd place and were beaten 15 – 4 by final winners Cessnock. Reserve Grade were undefeated all year, but were beaten 6 -5 in the Final. Being Minor Premiers West were able to challenge in the Grand Final and on 3 September West 13 (Kevin Hodgson, Joe Cordner, Noel Dagwell tries, Ron Gibson 2 goals) Maitland 13 – 9. West's winning team was B Bower, B Cleary, R Gibson, N Dagwell, L Olsen, B Martin, K Hodgson, T Curtis, J Lightfoot, J Cordner, T Walpole, R Wallsand V Hodge. This was Reserve Grade’s first win since 1953. West Third Grade were defeated 16 -12 in a close fought semi final. West Under 20’s were Major and Minor Premiers, Under 18’s were Major Premiers, and Under 16’s were Major and Minor Premiers. The year 1960 will go down in West’s history as the year that “the tide turned”. No longer would West be pushed around by all and sundry, no longer would West be the “easy beats” – West would always be “there or thereabouts” in “most competitions” in “most years”.
|
Round
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Reserves
|
Thirds
|
|
1 – 2 April
|
Toronto
|
Won 17 - 7
|
Won 36 - 12
|
Won 24 - 3
|
|
2 – 9 April
|
Kurri
|
Won 18 - 14
|
Won 20 - 9
|
Won 8 - 7
|
|
3 – 16 April
|
North
|
Lost 19 - 13
|
Won 18 - 13
|
Won 38 - 5
|
|
4 – 23 April
|
Cessnock
|
Lost 12 - 9
|
Won 36 - 8
|
Won 7 - 6
|
|
5 – 30 April
|
South
|
Draw 14 - 14
|
Won 40 - 12
|
Won 46 - 11
|
|
6 – 7 May
|
Maitland
|
Lost 16 - 5
|
Won 14 - 11
|
Lost 13 - 9
|
|
7 – 14 May
|
Waratah
|
Lost 13 - 10
|
Won 23 - 3
|
Won 25 - 0
|
|
8 – 29 May
|
Lakes
|
Won 16 - 13
|
Won 10 - 6
|
Won 18 - 2
|
|
9 – 4 June
|
Central
|
Won 9 - 5
|
Won 13 - 5
|
Won 30 - 2
|
|
10 – 11 June
|
Cessnock
|
Lost 26 - 7
|
Won 16 - 8
|
Lost 22 - 8
|
|
11 – 18 June
|
South
|
Won 34 - 11
|
Won 18 - 4
|
Won 19 - 8
|
|
12 – 25 June
|
Maitland
|
Lost 16 - 12
|
Won 15 - 11
|
Lost 10 -5
|
|
13 – 2 July
|
Waratah
|
Won 36 - 11
|
Won 49 - 3
|
Won 28 - 2
|
|
14 – 9 July
|
Central
|
Lost 14 - 11
|
Won 28 - 11
|
Won 23 - 0
|
|
15 – 16 July
|
Lakes
|
Won 15 - 5
|
Won 13 - 2
|
Won 10 - 7
|
|
16 – 23 July
|
Kurri
|
Won 14 - 10
|
Won 24 - 2
|
Lost 10 - 3
|
|
17 – 30 July
|
North
|
Won 21 - 10
|
Won 18 - 8
|
Won 19 - 16
|
|
18 – 6 August
|
Toronto
|
Won 17 - 15
|
Won 23 - 2
|
Won 34 - 2
|
|
13 August
|
SEMI
|
Cess 15 West 4
|
West 9 Cess 7
|
Mait 16 West 12
|
|
27 August
|
FINAL
|
Cess 33 Mait 5
|
Mait 6 West 5
|
|
|
3 September
|
GR FINAL
|
|
West 13 Mait 9
|
|
1961
After a successful 1960 season, West were hopeful of further successes in 1961. Rex Elvin, who had previously played with Central, came for Glen Innes to be Captain / Coach of First Grade, whilst “Charger” Walls and John Lightfoot were again in charge of the Lower Grades. “Sexy Rexy” was a tough man – yep, a tough man, who “gave better than he got”. West won the First Grade title for the first time in 39 years (1922 was in the distant past), and this was in no small way to the coaching ability and leadership of Rex Elvin. Players who made their grade debut in 1961 included Allan Buman, Ken Davies, Bill Dent, John McLaughlin, Bill Westbury and Ron Williamson. John Mangano resumed his West career after a layoff of a couple of seasons. During the year 4 players played their 100th game for West – “Sooty” Hector, Neil Gibson, “Charger” Walls and John Lightfoot. West were Minor Premiers in both First and Reserve Grades and won their first ever “Mal Woolford” Club Championship. Both teams were beaten in the final series, but being Minor Premiers both teams had the right to play a Grand Final. The table below shows how First Grade were beaten 15 – 11 by Maitland in the semi final, and then playing Denman in a “trial” game, before beating Waratah 10 – 9 in the Grand Final. The winning West First Grade team was Ken Breeze, Neil Gibson, Graham Sutcliffe, “Wagga” Johnson, Ernie Snelson, Barry Martin, “Wrinkles” Hodgson, Noel Dagwell, Rex Elvin, Ted Curtis, Rob Davies, Allan Buman, Col Curry. West 10 (Kevin Hodgson, Allan Buman tries, Rob Davies 2 goals) def Waratah 9. Thirty Nine years is a long time. I was there! It was, and always will be the “best West day ever! Reserve Grade played Maitland on 3 consecutive Saturdays, before winning the Grand Final a week after First Grade – West 15 (V Hodge 2 tries, M Alchin try, C Cavanagh 3 goals).. HOW GOOD WAS THAT TWO GRAND FINAL WINS…and how West celebrated..that afternoon, that night..in fact until December. On Wednesday 13 December 1961 a “Victory Presentation Cabaret” was held at St Phillips Hall Waratah to honour West becoming Club Champions, and winning First and Reserve Grade. OH, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BETTER FOOTBALL TEAM THAN THE ONE THAT PLAYS FOR WEST!!!!!
|
Round
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Reserves
|
Thirds
|
|
1 – 1 April
|
Kurri
|
Lost 18 - 16
|
Won 42 - 12
|
Lost 18 -11
|
|
2 – 8 April
|
Toronto
|
Won 21 - 4
|
Won 24 - 7
|
Won 18 - 9
|
|
3 – 15 April
|
Waratah
|
Lost 21 - 6
|
Won 44 - 5
|
Won 9 - 7
|
|
4 – 22 April
|
Cessnock
|
Lost 9 - 6
|
Won 25 - 6
|
Won 21 - 8
|
|
5 – 29 April
|
Maitland
|
Draw 13 - 13
|
Won 22 - 14
|
Lost 17 - 8
|
|
6 – 6 May
|
South
|
Won 23 - 7
|
Won 24 - 14
|
Lost 4 - 0
|
|
7 – 13 May
|
North
|
Won 20 - 8
|
Won 15 - 11
|
Won 13 - 3
|
|
8 – 20 May
|
Lakes
|
Won 33 - 13
|
Lost 13 - 11
|
Won 8 - 0
|
|
9 – 12 June
|
Central
|
Won 21 - 10
|
Won 10 - 8
|
Won 5 - 0
|
|
19 June
|
Caltex 500 K/O Final Maitland 20 West 17
|
|
10 – 24 June
|
Cessnock
|
Won 15 - 6
|
Won 32 - 10
|
Lost 8 - 3
|
|
11 – 1 July
|
Maitland
|
Lost 21 - 7
|
Won 13 - 10
|
Lost 10 - 8
|
|
12 – 8 July
|
South
|
Won 9 - 2
|
Won 25 - 11
|
Lost 9 - 7
|
|
13 – 15 July
|
North
|
Won 22 - 5
|
Won 13 - 6
|
Won 7 - 2
|
|
14 – 22 July
|
Lakes
|
Won 23 - 7
|
Lost 18 - 10
|
Won 17 - 0
|
|
15 – 29 July
|
Central
|
Won 18 - 15
|
Won 20 - 9
|
Won 11 - 5
|
|
16 – 5 August
|
Kurri
|
Won 23 - 13
|
Won 33 - 2
|
Lost 19 - 9
|
|
17 – 12 August
|
Toronto
|
Won 29 - 6
|
Won 56 - 2
|
Won - Forfeit
|
|
18 – 19 August
|
Waratah
|
Lost 27 - 14
|
Won 20 - 0
|
Won 33 - 6
|
|
26 August
|
SEMI
|
Maitland 15 West 11
|
West 12 Lks 4
|
|
|
2 September
|
SEMI
|
|
|
West 20 Sth 14
|
|
9 September
|
FINAL
|
West 33 Denman 15
|
Mait 11 West 10
|
Mait 11 West 7
|
|
16 September
|
GR FINAL
|
West 10 Waratah 9
|
West 13 Mait 13
|
|
|
23 September
|
GR FINAL
|
|
West 15 Mait 12
|
|
1962
In 1962 the only change to the coaching staff was that Cec Cavanagh was appointed Reserve Grade coach replacing “Charger” Walls. Rex Elvin was again the First Grade coach and John Lightfoot coached Third Grade for the third time. Players coming to grade in 1962 included John Bowe, Mick Bowen, Ritchie Herbert, Harvey Kay, Alan King, Tom Martin and Graham Negline. West could not repeat their First Grade success of 1961 and were defeated in the Semi Final by South. However, Reserve Grade were Minor Premiers, and although beaten by Maitland in the Semi Final, they went on to win the Grand Final 14 – 3 over Maitland. (West 14 – Ted Curtis, Noel Dagwell tries, Noel Dagwell (3) and Ron Gibson (1) goals def Maitland 3). West were again Club Champions. 1962 saw “Big John” Lightfoot hang up his boots, but he was not lost to the club as in future years he became Assistant Secretary and Selector. On the Junior front West were Minor and Major Premiers in Under 16’s.
|
Round
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Reserves
|
Thirds
|
|
1 – 7 April
|
Central
|
Won 22 - 10
|
Won 10 - 0
|
Won 6 -3
|
|
2 – 14 April
|
Cessnock
|
Lost 25 - 5
|
Won 15 - 9
|
Lost 19 - 8
|
|
3 – 23 April
|
South
|
Won 15 - 11
|
Won 26 - 15
|
Won 9 - 0
|
|
4 – 28 April
|
Toronto
|
Won 21 - 8
|
Won 16 - 12
|
Won 36 - 18
|
|
5 – 5 May
|
Lakes
|
Won 23 - 16
|
Won 20 - 15
|
Won 15 - 9
|
|
6 – 19 May
|
Maitland
|
Won 20 - 13
|
Won 13 - 6
|
Lost 8 - 6
|
|
7 – 26 May
|
Waratah
|
Lost 13 - 9
|
Lost 13 - 10
|
Lost 25 - 0
|
|
8 – 16 June
|
Kurri
|
Won 19 - 9
|
Won 17 - 5
|
Lost 5 - 3
|
|
9 – 23 June
|
North
|
Lost 21 - 17
|
Won 25 - 7
|
Lost 5 - 0
|
|
10 – 30 June
|
Cessnock
|
Won 25 - 3
|
Won 9 - 3
|
Lost 34 - 9
|
|
11 – 7 July
|
South
|
Won 17 - 13
|
Lost 13 - 11
|
Lost 17 - 7
|
|
12 – 15 July
|
Toronto
|
Won 29 - 9
|
Won 76 - 0
|
Won 35 - 4
|
|
13 – 20 July
|
Lakes
|
Won 19 - 8
|
Won 32 - 0
|
Lost 15 - 5
|
|
14 – 28 July
|
North
|
Lost 21 - 13
|
Won 30 - 5
|
Won 11 - 9
|
|
15 – 4 August
|
Maitland
|
Won 14 - 11
|
Lost 17 - 2
|
Lost 25 - 6
|
|
16 – 11 August
|
Waratah
|
Lost 17 - 5
|
Won 14 - 6
|
Won 15 - 5
|
|
17 – 18 August
|
Central
|
Won 30 - 21
|
Won 26 - 12
|
Won 23 - 14
|
|
18 – 25 August
|
Kurri
|
Won 16 - 3
|
Won 28 - 3
|
Won 17 - 0
|
|
1 September
|
SEMI
|
South 27 West 10
|
|
|
|
8 September
|
SEMI
|
|
Mait 31 West 9
|
|
|
15 September
|
FINAL
|
|
West 18 Cess 11
|
|
|
22 September
|
GR FINAL
|
North 18 South 6
|
West 14 Mait 3
|
|
1963
In 1963 West invested in Queensland representative, and Test reserve, Paul Pyers to be Captain / Coach of First Grade. Glen Walker, who played 33 lower grade blames for West from 1958 to 1963 was appointed Captain / Coach of Reserve Grade, and Tom Martin (Barry’s brother) was appointed Captain / Coach of Third Grade. Meanwhile, “Mr West”, Glen Maloney was elected Secretary for the 11th occasion (11 of 23). New players to the club included the “Fisherman” Col Bakes, from South Sydney (although Col was a Forster lad), and Keith Conroy from Parramatta. West juniors Lou Cox and Dave Howlett Jnr and Ray Campbell (from Shortland) made their first appearances in Grade. (Ray Campbell played 148 games for West, and this included just 2 First Grade appearances). West won 4 of their first 5 games, but then it was “all downhill” to a 7th place finish. Reserve Grade were a consistent team all year, but were defeated by Waratah in the first weekend of the semi finals. Third grade also finished outside the semi finals. It was left to West Under 18’s to “fly the flag”, as they were Minor and Major Premiers. Players in this team like Captain Mick Gallagher, Alan Wallis, Gary Walsh, Malcolm Page and Peter Holmes would all make an impression in grade in future years.
|
Round
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Reserves
|
Thirds
|
|
1 – 6 April
|
Cessnock
|
Won 13 - 12
|
Won 19 - 15
|
Lost 16 -11
|
|
2 – 13 April
|
Macquarie
|
Won 26 - 2
|
Won 33 - 9
|
Won 24 - 4
|
|
3 – 20 April
|
Waratah
|
Lost 18 - 16
|
Won 19 - 5
|
Won 15 - 12
|
|
4 – 4 May
|
South
|
Won 17 - 11
|
Lost 22 - 5
|
Lost 18 - 12
|
|
5 – 11 May
|
Kurri
|
Won 13 - 9
|
Won 13 - 7
|
Won 18 - 2
|
|
6 – 18 May
|
Central
|
Lost 10 - 5
|
Draw 10 all
|
Won 18 - 0
|
|
7 – 25 May
|
North
|
Draw 13 all
|
Lost 26 - 15
|
Won 10 - 7
|
|
1 June
|
New Zealand 24 Newcastle 6
|
|
8 – 16 June
|
Lakes
|
Lost 10 - 8
|
Won 19 - 0
|
Lost 5 - 3
|
|
9 – 22 June
|
Cessnock
|
Lost 9 - 3
|
Won 18 - 10
|
Lost 7 - 5
|
|
10 – 30 June
|
Macquarie
|
Won 40 - 5
|
Won 32 - 2
|
Won 23 - 0
|
|
11 – 6 July
|
Waratah
|
Lost 14 - 12
|
Lost 12 - 0
|
Lost 15 - 8
|
|
12 – 13 July
|
Maitland
|
Won 15 - 12
|
Lost 23 - 3
|
Lost 27 - 5
|
|
13 – 20 July
|
South
|
Lost 30 - 16
|
Lost 10 - 7
|
Lost 27 - 0
|
|
14 – 27 July
|
Kurri
|
Lost 18 - 9
|
Won 25 - 24
|
Lost 15 - 5
|
|
28 July
|
Newcastle 27 South Africa 14
|
|
15 – 3 Aug
|
Central
|
Lost 11 - 7
|
Lost 13 - 6
|
Won 5 - 2
|
|
16 – 10 August
|
North
|
Lost 9 - 8
|
Lost 28 - 3
|
Won 10 - 9
|
|
17 – 17 August
|
Lakes
|
Lost 17 - 11
|
Won 22 - 5
|
Lost 17 - 10
|
|
18 – 24 August
|
Maitland
|
Won 19 - 12
|
Won 21 - 5
|
Lost 20 - 12
|
|
14 September
|
SEMI
|
|
Waratah 18 West 10
|
|
|
28 September
|
GR FINAL
|
South 12 Central 7
|
|
|
1964
The 1964 season saw Ron “Charger” Walls as First Grade non playing (YES SIR – NON PLAYING) Coach – the last non playing First Grade coach at West for 45 years! Reserve Grade had a new coach in Ivan Leggett, while former West junior, Kevin Duncan, took over the Third Grade job. Many new faces this year – former North junior Brian “Mick” Carlin joined West from Innisfail, John Richards came from South and Ken Emerton came from Forster. West juniors who arrived in 1964 and made their way in grade included Dennis Rowston, Geoff Savage, “Monty” and “Tag” Spruce, Garry “Yarba” Walsh, John Cooper, Bob Turner and Bill Mahoney. A “special” junior was Ken Maddison, who played just one season with West First Grade, before moving to St George and finally representing Australia from Cronulla. Owen Kilpatrick began has long (135 game) career with West before moving on to be a Director of West Leagues Club (2013 finds him “Chairman of the Board”). Special mention is made of “the Motor Cycle Policeman from Narrabri”, and my favourite player of all time, yes all time – Keith Partridge. West had a successful season. They were beaten 27 – 12 in the First Grade Grand Final, but Third Grade, for the 1st time ever won the Premiership by defeating Kurri 28 – 16 to win the Premiership. West 28 - TRIES G Walsh (3), K Partridge, O Kilpatrick, T Martin GOALS G Negline (5) def Kurri 16. The West team was D Negline, T Martin, H Kay, J Bowe, L Cox, O Kilpatrick, J Cooper, G Walsh, F Wade, K Partridge, R Heath, K Duncan and G Negline. Additionally, Newcastle won the State Cup in 1964 – and this team included West players Allan Buman, Ernie Snelson, John McLaughlin, Brian Carlin and Ken Maddison.
|
Round
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Reserves
|
Thirds
|
|
1 – 4 April
|
Waratah
|
Lost 10 - 4
|
Won 33 - 7
|
Won 22 - 4
|
|
2 – 11 April
|
Kurri
|
Won 18 - 7
|
Draw 10 all
|
Won 13 - 5
|
|
3 – 19 April
|
Macquarie
|
Won 23 - 9
|
Won 34 - 5
|
Won 8 - 5
|
|
4 – 25 April
|
South
|
Won 8 - 6
|
Won 12 - 9
|
Won 11 - 5
|
|
5 – 2 May
|
North
|
Won 23 - 19
|
Won 16 - 4
|
Won 36 - 2
|
|
6 – 16 May
|
Lakes
|
Won 20 - 2
|
Won 20 - 15
|
Won 7 - 4
|
|
7 – 23 May
|
Cessnock
|
Won 15 - 13l
|
Lost 7 - 3
|
Lost 7 - 5
|
|
30 May
|
Newcastle 16 France 14
|
|
8 – 6 June
|
Maitland
|
Won 14 - 10
|
Lost 4 - 2
|
Lost 12 - 2
|
|
9 – 13 June
|
Central
|
Lost 22 - 6
|
Lost 7 - 6
|
Won 6 - 5
|
|
10 – 20 June
|
Waratah
|
Won 16 - 5
|
Won 16 - 8
|
Won 30 - 4
|
|
11 – 27 June
|
Kurri
|
Won 24 - 14
|
Won 8 - 7
|
Lost 10 - 7
|
|
12 – 5 July
|
Macquarie
|
Won 24 - 9
|
Won 16 - 10
|
Won 29 - 3
|
|
13 – 11 July
|
South
|
Lost 25 - 15
|
Lost 20 - 14
|
Won 10 - 3
|
|
14 – 18 July
|
North
|
Won 35 - 2
|
Won 25 - 4
|
Won 40 - 2
|
|
15 – 25 July
|
Cessnock
|
Won 25 - 14
|
Lost 15 - 12
|
Won 14 - 4
|
|
16 – 2 August
|
Lakes
|
Lost 21 - 20
|
Lost 8 - 5
|
Won 28 - 2
|
|
17 – 9 August
|
Maitland
|
Draw 5 all
|
Lost 18 - 15
|
Lost 12 - 7
|
|
18 – 16 August
|
Central
|
Won 14 - 3
|
Lost 17 - 5
|
Won 36 - 7
|
|
29 August
|
Final – State Cup – Newcastle 14 Parramatta 7
|
|
5 September
|
SEMI
|
South 20 West 11
|
|
Kurri 18 West 10
|
|
12 September
|
FINAL
|
West 21 Central 12
|
|
West 13 Mait 9
|
|
19 September
|
GR FINAL
|
South 27 West 12
|
|
West 28 Kurri 1
|