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History
Brighton JRLFC was formed on 20th December 1965 at a meeting held at the Coronation Hall, Barden St, Arncliffe.
The first Annual General Meeting of the Brighton JRLFC was held at the Brighton Le Sands Life Savings Club on 8th February 1966.
The then President of the St George Junior League, Mr. George Taylor, acted as Returning Officer at the Clubs first Annual General Meeting.
Elected at the first annual meeting as Secretary was Bruce Hartley & John May as Treasurer.
The meeting failed to elect a President, the position being left vacant. Come May that year, at a committee meeting, elected to the executive was Peter Hamlin who became our first President.
Founders of the club were Mr. Bruce Hartley & Mr. John May.
The club in its first year nominated four teams, then known as D Grade (U/17), E Grade (U/16), K Grade (U/11) & L Grade (U/10).
The composition of these teams were as follows:
'D' Grade Mostly players from Arncliffe Scots.
'E' Grade All players from Arncliffe Scots except four.
'K' Grade All players from Ramsgate United.
'L' Grade All newly recruited from the immediate area.
In our first season the U/11 'K' Grade won the competition, only losing one game to Allawah. Our U/10 team were defeated in the Grand Final. Our E Grade was defeated in the Semi Final and our D Grade failed to make the Semi Finals.
The clubs home ground in the first year was Scarborough Park. We trained at Rockdale Park (Seniors) and Scarborough Park North (Juniors).
The clubs first year was a struggle financially and although we made it at the end of the season we only had a balance of $25.00.
The club, because of the financial demands, asked the District Club, headed by Frank Facer, for a loan to enable us to finance the 1967 season. The District Club said it would only assist if the Brighton Club declared itself bankrupt. The pride of the club to do this was too important. We politely declined their offer and worked harder in the period leading up to the 1967 season, enabling the club to continue its march to success.
Coaches in our first year were:
U/17 Bob May
U/16 Bruce Hartley
U/11 Perc Castles
U/10 John May
Two players have captained representative winning teams. S.G.Ball 1976 - Barry Jones, Jersey Flegg 1975 - Stephen Darby.
In 1981 the St George Presidents Cup team won their competition, defeating Parramatta in the final. The club had four representatives: Graham Jones, Bill Noke, Bruce Miller & Michael McClintock. Graham Jones scored 3 tries in this game.
The clubs most successful period was without doubt the eighties. We won 21 competitions in this period. On four occasions we won three Premierships, 1981, 1983, 1987 & 1988.
Extra time results: Our U/21 team defeated Penshurst RSL in extra time 39 - 24 in 1990. The same year our U/15 team was defeated by Newtown in the last 40 seconds of extra time by a field goal 8 - 9. In 1991 our U/15 team was defeated by Holy Cross. In 1987 our U/17 team defeated Illawarra Catholic Club to win the competition.
In 1970 our U/15's had to play their Grand Final over again after the result was tied after extra time. The replay again went into extra time. Unfortunately we were eventually defeated by Penshurst RSL.
The first Presentation Night was held at the Rockdale Masonic Hall in Bay St, Rockdale.
The clubs first ever representative player was Michael Beattie, selected to play for City.
The clubs first ever International player was Brad MacKay, graded in 1987 after a total of nine seasons with the club. Jason Stevens has also represented at International level. Both players also represented at NSW State of Origin level.
Some of our former players who have played first grade are Jason Stevens, Geoff Hardy, Bart Williams, Brad MacKay, Kurt Landers, Garry Jenkins, Randall Barge, Brad Perry, Greg Totten, Steve Funnell, Darren Brown, David Nui, Scott Freestone, Bill Noke, Scott Thompson & Terry Sands (Mid week).
Shaun McRae, the well known elite trainer with Canberra, who has also toured with the Kangaroos is an ex Brighton player. Shaun has coached held administrative positions in the English Super League and has been appointed to coach the famous South Sydney club at Redfern NSW in the 2005 season.
Clubs that are now extinct which were competitors of Brighton through the years are:
Allawah, Kinsgrove De la Salle, Marist Brothers, Narwee Colts, Ramsgate United, Bexley RSL, St George Rowing Club, Peakhurst Inn, Penshurst West, Lugarno, Bardwell Park, Oatley RSL, Peakhurst Hawks, Bexley Kingsgrove & Kyeemagh.
The player who has recorded the most games played for the club is Glenn Wallace. Glenn's total is 322 matches.
The most remarkable achievement by a team was that of our 1975 U/6 team, who went on to play in eighteen consecutive Grand Finals. Unfortunately they only won five. Glenn Wallace featured in all these matches. Marty Evans only missed one. Brad MacKay was a member of nine until he was graded.
Brighton have won competitions in all grades except 'A' Grade. We went close in 1993 when we were runners up to Penshurst RSL.
Until 1991 Brighton had won at least one competition each year, 39 in all.
The Brighton club moved to Scarborough Park from Brighton Oval in the season of 1988. In 1987 we moved our training venue from Scarborough, North of Barton street to the current venue. In 1974 the Clubs 'L' Grade (U/10), coached by Alan Cleary won not only their competition, but also the Coca Cola State Knock Out. This competition consisted of all Junior League winners in their metropolitan areas.
Big try scorers in the early years, Scott Freestone, 'O' Grade 1971 - 67 tries. 'N' Grade 1972 - 61 tries. Mark Hanlon 1970 - 62 tries.
In the season 1978 the club paid its 'A' Grade coach on the one and only occasion. Payment was $500.00 and the coach was Dave Rayner, a former English club player.
The team did not win the premiership or for that matter make the semis. The competition was large and split after the first round and a second division was formed. Brighton won this, defeating Allawah in the final.
In 1980 the club acquired its first sponsor, ALSCO Linen. They sponsored the clubs U/11 team. That year the U/11 team only lost one game. That game was the Grand Final. We were beaten by Penshurst RSL 4 - 5.
The Club had yearly competitions against the Singleton Club from 1968 to 1986.
In 1987 the Club
arranged its first interstate tour to Banyo Queensland. U/12, U/14, U/16
and U/17 teams toured.
Brighton Seagulls has the distinction of being the first club in the St George
Junior Rugby League to have had a girl playing in one of our teams. Diane
Farek (nee Fathers) played in our U/6 team in 1977.
In 2000 our U/14 & U/17 sides made the Grand Final. Our U/14s were beaten by Leichhardt Juniors & our U/17s defeated Riverwood to take out the premiership.
End
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