I remember when ……..
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The years rolled by and each year we dreamed the dream and endured the jibes, jokes and cheap shots from other club supporters. Each year as the season unfolded we asked whether this would be the year of our dreams. We went close on a number of occasions but fell at the final hurdle, beaten but not humbled, eager to fight another day.
Then, after a half century of tears we witnessed the winter of our dreams when on the 25th September, 1999 those Magnificent Men from Eastwood held aloft the 1999 Shute Shield having defeated Sydney University 34 -17.
Eastwood District Rugby Union Football Club, 1st grade Premiers at last! The cream had finally risen to the top.
On grand final day, the Woodie faithful streamed into the Sydney Football Stadium as though on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Eastwood supporters at the ground outnumbered the Students 3 to 1 and those who could not be there were glued to the ABC telecast. And when the referee whistled fulltime, tears welled-up in the eyes of the most hardened supporters and legend has it that a number of older followers passed away quietly, happy in the knowledge that the Woodies had finally captured the Holy Grail of rugby.
Prior to the match, every male over the age of eighteen claimed to have played for the ‘Woods’ at some stage of their lives and afterwards back at the club, those making the same claim had trebled.
Today we celebrate the 10th re-union of the 1999 Premiership winning team and remember those Magnificent Men.
Eastwood 1st XV 1999
1. Bill Young
2. Josh Cullen
3. Rod Moore
4. Nathan Grice (c)
5. Anthony Reed
6. Dave Fryday
7. Scott Fava
8. Daniel Manu
9. Travis Hall
10. Tim Donnelly
11. Matt Miller
12. Paul Dineen
13. Alan McDonald
14. Matt Barr
15. Peter Miller
Sub: Dan O’Hara
Dean Michnicwicz
1999 Squad Members
Aaron Broughton-Rouse
Matt Burke
Matt Dunning
Scott Staniforth
Aaron Spooner
Gareth Richmond
Chris Stannin
Jon McGill
Rick Veitch
Gareth Adamson
Aaron Patchett
John Webeck
Andrew Wisemantel
Matt Nilan
Ben Nelson
Coach: John McKee
Assist.Coach Bruce Robinson
Manager: Barry Taylor
Assist.Mgr/Trainer: Neil Dickie
Grand Final Score:
EASTWOOD 34
(P. Miller, M. Miller, D. Manu, M. Barr, Pen. Try, T Donnelly 3 Conv, 1 Pen Goal)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 17
(B. Daly try, C. Malone 4 Pen. Goals)