THE RL1908 BLOG

News, Reviews & Opinion - Sean Fagan - RL1908.com

Every now and then I receive an email from someone keen on obtaining information on the history of their local or junior football club.

In most cases though there simply isn't any documentation that I can provide for them or point them to.

In the case of senior clubs, apart from talking to old players and officials, the only resource is the newspaper archive at the local or state library.

Unfortunately, there is no substitute for putting in long hours of trawling through old newspapers and micro-film.

Another hard truth is that there is no funding from any of the rugby league bodies for the researching and writing of club histories. Some may have the support of a linked Leagues Club or a particularly kind-hearted club sponsor, but most clubs are on their own.

The retention and bringing together of each club's history has been left to the goodwill and expense of those rare individuals who care enough about their club to do something about it before it's past is lost forever.

It's for these reasons that books like "Tiger Territory" and authors such as Wendy Casey should be applauded.

As former Oberon player, and present Melbourne Storm coach, Craig Bellamy states in the foreword in "Tiger Territory", the history of the code in Oberon "could be the story of any country town's experience with rugby league over the years."

But every town and club is unique - each has its own up and down times, its hardworking and unthanked volunteers and officials, its rising and long term players.

As covered in detail in "Tiger Territory" Oberon has the distinction of being only second to the St George Dragons when it comes to a club enjoying an unprecedented era of success, winning ten out of twelve Group 10 Grand Finals through the 1960s and early 1970s.

The book traverses through every season, covering just about every match the club has played.

"Tiger Town" includes biographies and interviews with players and others, as well as a register comprising details of every player to have turned out for the club, and lists of those who went on to play for Sydney teams, Country NSW representative sides and NSW teams - amongst the latter group are Tony Paskins, Bruce Gibbs and Tony Trudgett.

"Tiger Territory" will be of interest to anyone involved in Oberon rugby league and the men who have played for the club.

Tiger Territory: The History of Oberon Rugby League
Wendy Casey
Published by Landers Publishing (Mudgee) ISBN 9781876713201
Available in hardback: 344 pages (8 pages of colour photos).

$40 plus $9 postage - available from the author.
Contact/orders: Wendy Casey (phone 02-63361171)
Postal: Grande Vista, 200 Mount Olive Road, Oberon NSW 2787