Western Suburbs President Peter Norrie recalls Athletic’s 1977 triumph

This Saturday, 1977 Jubilee Cup winners Athletic will be holding a team reunion as part of the Western Suburbs Old Timers Day. Their manager at the time, Peter Norrie, has great memories from that year.

"It was the comradery I enjoyed. We had a team that stuck together from about 1976-80. The friendships you make over that time, they just last forever"

His team were not short of talent. His top players included Kevin Phelan, Brian Cederwall and Scott Crichton led by coach Trevor Snowden and captain Tony Meachen. Sadly, one of their club legends Rob Miller, passed away earlier this year.

If current players think they have it tough, they might be in for a shock! Norrie recalls many Wellington representative playing their big match on the Saturday before turning out for their club side on the Sunday! 

Athletic Rugby Club eventually combined with Onslow and Karori to form Western Suburbs. Sadly, the club lost their senior team four years ago resulting in a significant loss in player registrations. These days the club only has three senior teams left, the Under 85 kgs, Mixed Veges (Reserve Grade) and the Presidents.

Norrie, hopes against hope the club may return to the big league.

"The opportunity to get it back (our senior teams) is going to be incredibly difficult. It's going to take a lot of money, time, energy and a lot of enthusiasm. I just don't know if that's out there at the moment. It's going take a monumental effort"

He described the culture at Western Suburbs as fairly unique given its makeup.

"When you bring three clubs together, you're trying to create a new culture. Perhaps that culture never developed properly, despite some initial success"

Norrie also believes the club struggled in the latter years due to its location. The distance from the city became much less appealing for today's young, up-and-coming players.

On the positive side, the club does have one of the more successful junior grades in the Wellington region although they'll inevitably lose talent in later years.

Despite the club's challenging times, undoubtedly there will be plenty of stories, laughs and beers in store as the former players relive the 'good old days'.