What happened at the Extraordinary General Meeting – Sunday 19 March 2006?
On the morning of Sunday 19 March 2006, nearly 4000 of the South Sydney District Football Club’s Members descended on the Millennium Room at Telstra Stadium to vote on the biggest decision facing the Club in its 98 year history.
Members had to decide on whether the Club would remain 100% in the hands of it’s Members, or whether 75% of the Club would sold to Blackcourt League Investments, a company owned by South Sydney Life Member and Academy Award winning actor Russell Crowe, and Australian businessman Peter Holmes à Court, for A$3 million.
To be passed, the proposal required 75% of the vote to be in favour of the change. Nearly 4000 Members entered, 49 Members aired their views in front of their peers, and the voting Membership accepted the proposal with 75.8% of the vote accepting the change.
The Chairman of the Football Club, Nicholas Pappas, described it as a momentous day for the Club, giving it the opportunity to at last operate on a level playing field with the other NRL Clubs.
“This has been people power at its most potent,” Mr Pappas said.
“Our supporters have given Peter and Russell an opportunity to unite this Club and make it a force again in the NRL.
“It also enshrines all core values that our Members hold so dear and ensures that the Club forever remains in Sydney.
“This is the mandate Members gave my Board and we have delivered on all our promises.
“This is a time for the entire South Sydney family to come together and embrace a bright new future for our much-loved Club.
“I congratulate Russell and Peter on the dedication they have shown towards our beloved Football Club and thank our Members for the magnificent manner in which they acquitted themselves today at such a critical moment in our Club’s history.”
What is a Rabbitoh?
The name ‘the Rabbitohs’ stems from a group of men who skinned and sold rabbits around the back alleys of Sydney at the turn of last century.
Unable to secure jobs at the wharves, men chased and caught the rabbits and sold them on the streets as a source of income.
Reports say that a number of players playing with South Sydney in the Club’s initial years were Rabbitohs, and hence the nickname ‘Rabbitohs’ was adopted by the Club.
It is widely regarded as one of the most unique and reflective team names in world sport.
Where is Redfern?
Located on Sydney’s CBD southern fringe, the Redfern region has long been industrial, and was once the domain of sandhills and swamps.
While the region, including Cleveland Street and nearby Green Square, Zetland, Beaconsfield and Rosebery, is the location for many warehouses and business centres, there has been a great deal of residential development in recent years and its character is changing.
Redfern is the spiritual home of the Rabbitohs. It is the location of Redfern Oval, the Rabbitohs home ground for many years and where the Club will train out of its state-of-the-art training centre in 2008. Redfern is also the home of South Sydney Leagues Club and the South Sydney Football Club Headquarters, all of which is currently under construction for re-opening in 2008.
What happened in the 1999 season?
Played – 24, Won - 10, Lost – 14.
Points For - 349, Points Against – 556.
Finished – 12th.
1999 was a season with a devastating end.
After a year of some achievement and improvement in the team’s performance on-field came the devastating news that South Sydney would be excluded from the premiership.
That decision overshadowed anything the team or Club had done throughout the year, gaining some respectability and a solid building block for better days ahead.
The team started strongly and confidently under Coach Craig Coleman, but the seven week suspension of halfback and playmaker Darrell Trindall was a defining moment in the ‘99 season.
The stats say it was the best year since 1994, with average crowds of over 12,000 attending the home games at the Sydney Football Stadium. Club Chairman George Piggins finished the year with the following comments: “If justice prevails [a reference to Souths’ court challenge] I expect to see this wonderful club rise from the ashes and retain the well-earned title of Pride of the League.”
It would be three years before the Club would grace the NRL fields again.
What’s the story of The Bell?
The Bell seen being purchased at auction by Russell Crowe in 2000 was the original Timekeeper’s bell used in the first ever game of Rugby League in Australia in 1908.
The bell was donated to the Rabbitohs by Albert Clift and was purchased for $42,000 at the Save Souths fundraiser and was next used to signal the beginning of the Rabbitohs’ return match to the NRL in 2002 against the Sydney Roosters.
Both Russell and Albert joined together in ringing the bell that day, Friday 15 March 2002. National Rugby League Chief Executive Officer David Gallop said it was a very moving experience.
“Albert Clift’s ringing of the bell to signal Souths opening to the 2002 season remains one of the most emotional moments in Rugby League,” Mr Gallop said.
What happened at the march on 12 November 2000?
On the 12th of November 2000, an estimated 80,000 people marched from Redfern to Sydney Town Hall on George St to protest against the expulsion of the Rabbitohs from the National Rugby League.
In one of the greatest displays of people power ever seen in Australia, the multitude of supporters marched behind movement leaders in George and Nolene Piggins, Bob McCarthy and John Sattler.
An array of speakers addressed the masses including the likes of Alan Jones, Andrew Denton, Sean Garlick, Ray Martin and George Piggins.
South Sydney junior and 2008 recruit Craig Wing remembers this day as the last time he wore the red and green of the Rabbitohs, prior to his return to the Club for the 2008 season.
And it wasn’t just Rabbitohs supporters marching that day, with supporters of other Clubs also marching in support of the Rabbitohs and their own Clubs including groups from the North Sydney Bears, Newcastle Knights, Western Suburbs Magpies, Balmain Tigers and the Canterbury Bulldogs.
It was a definitive day in the history of the Club and an example of how important a Rugby League Club can be to Australians.
Do you like the new Rabbitohs merchandise?
The Rabbitohs developed a completely new line of merchandise for the 2007 season, including training, playing and supporters gear.
Everything from caps including the white Rabbitohs caps worn by Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes à Court in the first episode of South Side Story, jerseys, t-shirts, singlets, shoes, flags, hoodies, tracksuits, jumpers, jackets, business ties and socks, coffee mugs and body boards have been redesigned and sold by the South Sydney Football Club.
Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes à Court played an active role in helping to design the new merchandise that is available for sale from the Rabbitohs stores.
Versus (US) Schedule (ET/PT)
10/10/07 10pm – 10:30pm
10/11/07 1am – 1:30am
10/14/07 5pm – 5:30pm
10/14/07 10pm – 10:30pm
10/15/07 1am – 1:30am
10/16/07 10pm – 10:30pm
10/17/07 1am – 1:30am
10/22/07 7pm – 7:30pm
10/28/07 2:30pm - 3pm
11/11/07 8pm – 8:30pm
11/11/07 11pm - 11:30pm
Star-TV (Canada) Schedule (ET)
23/10/07 9pm - 9:30pm
24/10/07 3am - 3:30am