Gowrie Park match fifty years on
• Attending the fifty year reunion was back L-R: Alan Rosier, Lindsay Peterwood, John Wardlaw, Ron Forsyth and Peter Beattie. Front L-R: Bob Rowbottom, Wayne Rattray (coach), Greg Webb and Geoff Petterwood.
• The 1969 Ringarooma NEFU Premiership Team: Wayne Rattray, Keith Singline, John Wardlaw, David Wardlaw, Jack Harper, Des Stingle, Michael Carins, Peter Beattie, Bob Rowbottom, Trevor Styles, Greg Webb, Barry Stingle, Lindsay Petterwood, Robert Burr, Stephen Aikman, Geoff Bennett, Ray Evans, Geoff Petterwood, Alan Rosier and Stan Webb.
By Taylor Clyne
October 09, 2019
The 1969 Ringarooma Football Club Premiership and Gowrie Park match was arguably one of the most memorable achievement for the town so naturally the fifty-year anniversary is one to celebrate.
Joining together at the old football club rooms on Sunday were nine original players alongside their partners and friends to reminisce on the good times and enjoy a beer.
Ringarooma boosted the name of the North-Eastern Football Union on Saturday October 4, 1969 when they scored a five-point win over NWFA premiers Gowrie Park in a torrid challenge match at York Park.
The game was played as a curtain raiser for a Hawthorn match with the aim to name the best country team in Tasmania after Ringarooma won the NEFU premiership four weeks prior and had never lost a match all season.
“Fists were thrown freely in every quarter as both sides battled to uphold the names of their respective competitions in one of the toughest battles seen on the ground for a long time,” the Advertiser reported on Tuesday October 7, 1969.
“Over confidence on the part of Gowrie Park was a big factor in Ringarooma’s win. They took the North-Eastern Robins far too lightly in the first half and by the time they realised they were not playing a bunch of ‘bushies’ it was too late.”
Sylvia Petterwood said it was pretty special for a country team to go to York Park and play in front of 10,000 people.
“We spent the afternoon on Sunday match chattering and remembering the good old times,” she said.
“Six members of the team have now passed away, but we still get together on the anniversary. It was a great afternoon,” Mrs Petterwood concluded.