The Cumberland Throw is fortunate to have a readership of Eels supporters that cross many generations and many eras of the Parramatta club. From time to time we are sent memorabilia that Parramatta fans wish to share with the Eels supporter base. Primarily this is because they have photographs, newspaper clippings and programs that just can’t be accessed on the Internet.
Today we present some rare images from the 1960s featuring the legendary fullback, Ken Thornett. Along with two photos, there’s a newspaper column announcing Ken as the player of the year and a rare program from 1964 that features a different name at fullback for the Eels, former Origin coach, Ron Willey. This program also features an early exponent of The Cumberland Throw tackle – Englishman, Ivor Lingard.
I hope you enjoy this little piece of nostalgia.
Tearing it up against the Dragons.
A powerful runner who could bust through tackles.
Another award for “The Mayor”
A different name at fullback. Check out the pack!
Eels Forever
Sixties
Great stuff What jumper is it in the 2nd photo ?
I’m going with City, though not with any great confidence working from a black and white image.
I think it actually is a SYDNEY jumper as opposed to CITY
Absolutely correct. I was referencing (albeit incorrectly) for the younger generation. So, would you hazard a guess as to the date? Is it a special rep match? Is it vs Country? I was far too young in the 60s but I do recall matches played by Sydney teams that weren’t City vs Country. (Or is my brain growing feeble with age?)
There’s a few internationals in that Parra team. Did any of the Southern Division boys go onto a career in the Sydney Premiership?
No 9 Paul Quinn (Gerringong) was a long time Country prop who later moved to Newtown and formed a strong front row combination with Bruce Olive…who was also a very handy prop.
Paul toured England with the 1963 Kangaroos and played 7 times for Australia..
(Just as an aside,Co-incidentally, my cousin’s son who is also named Paul Quinn, came to Parramatta from St Gregs Campbelltown where he had played Australian Schoolboys. Paul is Player No 496—debuted 1991..He moved to South Sydney in 1993 and played two seasons of first grade with the Rabbitohs)
The referee in the match is Alan Byrnes – a CRL Life Member – and a driving force along with Bobby Millward for the inclusion of Illawarra Steelers in the NRL. I knew Alan and Bob very well and was on the CRL committee with both.
Charlie Kentwell and Ray Stewart the wingers are legends of bush football. Ray played until his fifties – and was a winger outside Mick Cronin when the Crow burst into representative football – first with Group 7 and then with Southern Division.
John Armstrong (hooker for S/D) was long time back up to Killer Kearney at St George, before moving bush.
I met John Armstrong on a cruise around Australia about 6 or 7 years ago. He had been working with Gold Coast RL–(Titans I think) as an administrator. Lovely bloke, very friendly. Also on that same cruise was Noel Dolton (ParraMATTA PROP, aka Tombstone) Noel now lives in Moruya on South Coast..
I recall Paul Quinn, he would be in his mid 40’s now Parra Pete. Played in that tough era for parra in early 90’s. He was a solid player IMO and if that team was surrounded by stronger older players, and I do not mean Sterlo and Kenny those crop of juniors ( Mahon, Liddiard, Penna etc.) could have done better. I still recall that era and we won some good games but could not mix it for the entire 80 mins.
That’s Paul. He HATED Sydney, comes from MUNGINDI and now lives in Dubbo, married to Carmel who is Peter Cusack’s (Ex Easts Souths) sister.
My old man talks v highly of Ivor Lingard Sixties. I’ll have to ask him for more information.
Great to see the old team lists. Southern division…never knew about this…
Ivor came to Parra from Featherstone Rovers and was probably the first exponent of the CUMBERLAND THROW …..
I was surprised he was signed as Leo Toohey – the five eight in 1962-1963 was a VERY GOOD player. After the Eels signed Ivor, Leo was snapped up by Canterbury (Berries) and gave that Club good service..
Bill Roney in the centres for Parra was a Medical Doctor…Good player too, and if the team had a rough match – he would have them in “stitches”…get it….lol
Thanks Pete. Great info on the players. I reckon you’d be great to share a beer with – lots of memories and yarns.
I am lucky I have a great memory, and can recall many events from my early days of following Parra from the elate 50s to the sixties. I hardly missed a game in the 60s until I moved bush with employment in 1966.
Loved that era…
Just looking at the post about the Parra v Southern Division…Oooops, the hooker I was talking about was PETER Armstrong, I met Peter on cruise…He was ex St George but not the hooker in this game
The hooker J Armstrong is John who was coach of the Country Seconds in 1981 that played City at Bruce Stadium..I was CO-Manager of the Country teams. Absolute champion of a bloke and a legend of BUSH FOOTBALL.
I recall a game at cumberland oval – mid 60’s when an announcement came over the the grounds speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are sorry but we can’t start the game yet (first grade) – 3pm usual time as one of our team hasn’t turned up – he’s running late” That person was Dr Bill Roney – delayed at Parramatta Hospital. True story. Wouldn’t happen today!
Parra Pete, I spoke to my father (he’s 87) about this team (and your comments) and his face lit up. He said that Leo Toohey had one of the best passing games he can remember. He also said that Ken Foord was a master of the intercept.
Sixties, your dads right re intercepts (I had forgotten about that aspect of Ken Foord’s game) He certainly was lightning fast,nearly as fast as Dave Irvine I reckon. To me Ken always looked sort of awkward (like he wasn’t tough enough, but he was if you know what I mean ) on the field & the crowd used to call him Mary & gee him up, but he was certainly one of the best wingers to play for the eels. Also recall Brian Hambly having the nickname “Grumpy”. Was a great team, there would have to be at least 8 internationals in the side (1, 4, 6,7,8,10,12 & 12) that day. Yes it was a great pack, but that backline was also pretty good to. I guess they all had knicknames then but their the only two I recall. Thanks for post, has brought back a flood of memories re my late Dad and our trips to Cumberland.
Kenny Foord passed away a couple of years ago..He was quick, and an interceptor of the highest quality. He had a goose step. Worked as a copper, and had a ‘love hate relationship with Jack Argent.
He played up at the Leagues Club one night and got barred. He complained to Jack who told him, “No Kenny, you know the rules, you know the rules”.
Not long after Kenny booked Jack for having bald tyres on a work ute.
The Colonel told him “Bit weak Kenny” to which Foordy replied “No Jack, you know the rules, you know the Rules”.
Ken joined Parra in 1962 with Billy McCall from a pommy Club (not sure but I think it was Workington Town – same Club as Mike Jackson came from) Bill was a prop and a solid player also…Gawd I loved those days….
Ron ” thirsty ” lynch , well named
I communicate with Leo a lot. He played with my mate Kevin Goldspink at Canterbury after he left Parra…Goldy and I were business partners for over 20 years in a Hotel/Motel here in Hay. Kevin is one of the greatest blokes I know. A great mate who has introduced me to many of the ALL TIME greats of the game. A MIGHTY BLOKE….
Goldy toured with the 1967 Kangaroos.
Leo, Bob Bugden and Ken had a great ‘set move’ they called Steptoe….and I told Leo how much I loved watching that ‘move’ come off..Usually resulted in Ken scoring. He told me the moves were a huge part of the “old game”..and it is something he regrets as ‘gone from the game” Leo Toohey joined Parra in 1962 from Souths on a fifty pound transfer fee ($100)…The Eels got great value from him and he was a regular first grader 1962/63…
A few memories there, I assume the reserves D Hallas & T Gilandas are Derek Hallas (great pommie centre an Alex Gilandas. Alex was a School Teacher (and our school RL coach at Macquarie Boys High) Great times then Alex used to use a record player blasting out Billy Haley & the comets at training & the team went on to win two Parramatta knockouts & one NSW state knockout (2nd year was washed out). Two of the team the late Phil Jelley & Brian Bennet eventually went on to play a few games for Parramatta. THANKS Sixties!
Phil jelley of the long blond locks !
Ray, I had no idea that Phil Jelley had died. When you mentioned his name I recalled instantly sitting in the pouring rain at North Sydney Oval in 1973 with my father one Sunday and Phil scored right under the posts at the southern end where we were sitting. It was late in the game and the ground was a quagmire and you couldn’t tell who was on which team as the players were covered in mud from head to toe.
Phil’s try took the score 7-6, the eels trailing by 1 and Keith Campbell lined up the sitter……and it slued off his boot and missed as my father said “well I’ll be buggered”.
I looked up the result to make sure that my memory was accurate and would you believe that Phil Jelley and Brian Bennett where the eels try scorers that day. I had no idea that Brian had scored that day as he lived a few houses down from where I grew up in Guildford. His brother Paul also played for Parra, lower grades only I think, and his old man Buck was a really nice guy.
Thanks Ray for jogging my memory.
Yes Phil’s passing at the relatively young age of 62 was a bit sad. Brian was a reasonable goal kicker, they should have given him the kick. But Keith Campbell from memory had a reasonable boot but the conditions prevailed; I guess your dad’s comment summed it all up.