North Sydney Bears Rugby League
The
Mighty Bears!
A Social History of the North Sydney Rugby League Club
by Andrew Moore (hardcover - 592 pages)
"The
aim of this Bears book is to address two omissions that occur in history
books - the local history study that ignores popular culture and sport,
plus the 'quickie' sports history that avoids the local area - and also
to write a 'social history' of the North Sydney RLFC."
"I
hope that this book will appeal to some readers who are dyed-in-the-wool
supporters of neither 'The Greatest Game of All' nor the North Sydney
Bears."
Author
Andrew Moore has produced a rugby league club's history unlike any other.
He has turned his attention to not only the on-field deeds of the North
Sydney teams through the 20th century, but also the context within the
community that the club sits.
"The
Mighty Bears!" is a passionate book, combining the enthusiasm of
a long time fan with the scholarly detachment of an academic historian.
Andrew Moore is an uncommon mix - very few sporting clubs anywhere in
the world would be able to produce a history book comparable to 'The
Mighty Bears!'. For that reason alone this book demands attention.
Moore
examines the changes that came upon the suburb of North Sydney - the
most dramatic of course being the construction of the Sydney Harbour
Bridge - and how this affected the working-class Bears and thier players.
He also looks at how the North Sydney club supported the local community.
The
book celebrates the club's achievements and players with meticulous
research and detail. The great Jimmy Devereaux of 1908 who was "far
better than that goal-kicker from Easts". The Norths team of 1921
and 1922 - the best club teams ever to grace the field, their backline
was the Australian Test side. Frank Hyde's 1943 team that thrilled the
war-time crowds. The revival period of the 1990s and the heart-breaking
Finals.
Also
included are many colour photographs and a full statistical history
of Norths from 1908 to 1995. It includes yearly player lists, game by
game results and overall records.
Published
in 1996 the book remains unblemished by the effects of the Super League
war and the eventual omission of the Bears from the NRL in 2000.
Today
the spirit within the North Sydney clubs remains confidently strong
- they continue as the Central Coast Bears proudly and rightfully displaying
in 2003 a badge marking their 1908 foundation.
The
fight within the Bears has not diminished despite what has befallen
them - given their stoic history so clearly heralded in this book, how
could it!
Talking to club officials they state, without hesitation, that the Bears
will be back in the NRL. Based at their new home on the Central Coast,
the Bears will return to first grade - sooner rather than later - to
continue their proud story.
Published
by Pan Macmillan Australia - ISBN 0 7329 0869 8
The
Mighty Bears! is on sale at the North Sydney Leagues Club
12 Abbott Street, Camray NSW 2060 / Telephone: (612) 9466 8888
