Foundations and Early Success: 1935-1944 /

 

 

 

1935 - The First Year; 8th  

Preparing the Club for its first season was exciting, yet far from glamorous. Training was held at McMahon's paddock, a rough section of ground near Belmore station which players referred to as 'an old cow paddock'.

Lighting proved to be an issue, with the car lights of supporters at times the only way for the team to avoid potholes while training at night.

Despite these setbacks, the camaraderie was strong amongst the Canterbury players, with hardships uniting them - most of whom were local juniors, or those from Western Suburbs who joined due to the residential rule. 

Head Coach Ed 'Tedda' Courtney came from a reputable pedigree; playing 304 games for Wests, Newtown and Norths, and was one of the competition's pioneering players in 1908; playing 13 Tests for Australia. 

As for home grounds, while the development of Belmore Sports Ground had helped the Club's cause for a license in the top-grade, the venue had not yet been ready for the 1935 season. Therefore the side did not have a home ground in its very first season.

On April 25, 1935, thirteen pioneering players took the field for the very first time in Blue and White jerseys with large thick bars onto North Sydney Oval, a nice contrast to Norths' Black and Red. 

The very first team was as follows; G Main, V Dwyer, J Morrison (Captain), S Elliott, B Crawford, H Brown, T Carey, F Sponberg, A Wellington, J McConnell, J Hartwell, R Lindfield, F Chaplin. 

Despite being a perfect April day bathed in sunshine, the side was defeated after a promising start, 20-5, with Jack Hartwell holding the distinction as the Club's very first try scorer in first-grade. 

The following weeks would prove to be a hard adjustment to the fledgling side with some tough lessons learned; a horror 91-6 loss to St George - a competition record still to this day - before an equally humiliating 87-7 defeat to eventual Premiers, Easts, the following week. 

There was still light at the end of the tunnel, however, and on 22 June, Canterbury-Bankstown recorded its very first victory in first-grade, a 21-2 three-tries-to-none performance against University. In the penultimate round of the season, the side's second victory came, also against University, 16-15. 

By the end of the season, Canterbury had scored 22 tries, kicked 42 goals for 150 points, but had 140 tries and 120 goals scored against for a total of 660 points - finishing in 8th position just behind University. 

Despite the results, Club officials took charge and went on a search for talent for 1936, despite an unpopular practice in League circles at the time, it brought the Club a new reputation and a new name. 

Season Snapshot

• Canterbury-Bankstown took the field for the first time on April 25, 1935, going down to North Sydney, 20-5. Front rower Jack Hartwell Snr scored the Club's first try in first-grade. 
• Ed 'Tedda' Courtney was the inaugural Coach, while Jack Morrison was the side's inaugural Captain.  
• The 91-7 loss against St George in Round 5 remains as a competition record.
• The side's two wins came against eventual wooden spooners University; 21-2 in Round 8 and 16-15 in Round 17. 
• The side finished the season in 9th place with two wins and fourteen losses.
• George Main topped the point-scoring with 58, while Vic Dwyer topped the try-scoring with four.

1936 - The Recruitment Drive; 3rd, Semi Final

 

Season Snapshot

• Marked the first season playing at Belmore Sports Ground, with the first match an 11-6 victory over Western Suburbs in Round 1 on Monday, April 13.
• A signing frenzy including legendary Frank Budge as Head Coach catapulted the side to a 3rd place finish after the regular season. 
• The Semi Final defeat defeat to eventual Premiers Eastern Suburbs (25-13) marked the Club's first finals appearance and the first at Belmore Sports Ground.

 

1937 - Country Bumpkins; 5th

 

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1938 - Minor Premiers, Premiers

 

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• Season 1938 marked two significant milestones in the Club's history; the first Minor Premiership and the first Premiership title. 

 

1939 - 2nd, Semi Final

 

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1940 - 3rd, Grand Finalists

 

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1941 - 2nd, Semi Final 

 

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1942 - Minor Premiers, Premiers

 

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1943 - 7th

 

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1944 - 8th, Last

 

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