PLAYERS from Charlestons’ rugby league club are coming together this weekend to celebrate 90 years since the club’s formation.
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Tex Stevens, who played for the club back in the sixties, said he decided it was time for some of the players to get together.
“I’d been to a couple of funerals and I thought it would be good for everyone to come together in better circumstances,” he said. “This year is 90 years since the club was formed, so about six months ago I started organising it; we’ve got about 50 or 60 people coming.”
Among those attending the reunion are former captain coach Keith Cook, who took the club to its only first grade premiership against Cowra back in 1979.
The club’s origins date back to the 1920s with the establishment of the Charlestons Rugby League Football Club.
The Charlestons club originally started as a social group and had teams in a range of sports, including tennis, rugby league and cricket.
Charlestons only tasted success in first grade rugby league once, in 1979, defeating Cowra 11-7, but won several lower grade flags during the club’s lifetime.
In 1989 the Charlestons Football Club amalgamated with the Bathurst Leagues Club to form the Penguins Football Club.
Wayne Boyd and Graeme Bell of the Charlestons Football Club were the core Charlestons’ executive who negotiated the merger with the Bathurst Leagues Club directors Dan Lavelle and Peter Tobin plus secretary manager Rick Mathews.
This weekend those attending the reunion will gather on Saturday at Bathurst Panthers to tell a few yarns and again on Sunday for lawn bowls and a barbecue.
Tex said it would be an opportunity to relive the glory days and catch up with friends.
“Some blokes haven’t seen each other in 30 years so it will be great,” Tex said.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the reunion can call Tex on 0411 432 664.
