It was in 1926 that a group of young cricketers at Arncliffe Scots decided they wanted something to do in the winter months and so formed a rugby league team.
Fast forward 90 years and the proud club, the oldest in the St George district, are preparing to celebrate a major milestone – their 90th anniversary.
The club will hold a celebration reunion at the Arncliffe Scots Club on September 23.
The night will see stories told and re-told of former glories with the club’s two living Australian representatives John King and Pat Jarvis to attend, as will the club’s patron and former president Ian MacLean.
Glenys Ellis, whose father Percy Davis formed the club, said it promised to be a memorable night.
“They tell stories. No one misses a tackle or a goal. Everyone scores a thousand tries,” she said.
“It will be wonderful.”
Ellis has deep family roots at the club. Along with her father, her two sons Huw and Rhys Ellis feature on the club’s long playing service award for 25 continuous years alongside MacLean. She also met her husband, Glenn, through the club.
Ellis, who is also in her 19th year as the club’s secretary, said one of her proudest moments came last year.
“For the 100 year of Anzac game between the Dragons and the Roosters our club was chosen to stand with the first graders,” she said.
“Our under-8s and under-9s were there. They don’t normally do it but they chose Scots because we are the oldest club [in the district]. [The players] shook hands with the kids and then walked out with them. On that stage, it was amazing.”
The club are preparing to display a host of their treasured memorabilia in the renovated foyer of the Scots club. Among the items includes an Australian jersey signed by the club’s four Australian representatives (King, Jarvis, Matt McCoy and Ross Kite) and a Dragons jersey signed by their 29 St George representatives.
Then there is the Cahill Park bell, the only remaining relic of the club’s early days at the ground, which hasn’t been rung since the celebration of the club’s 50th year at the ground five years ago.
Bookings: glenys@scots.net.au.