East Launceston Football Club won their one and only NTFA premiership in 1967 and members of that team are gathering to celebrate the achievement at a reunion in June.
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All former East Launceston players, supporters and officials, regardless of the year, are invited to attend the club reunion to mark the 50th anniversary of the Demons’ solitary premiership flag.
The reunion will be held at the South Launceston Football Club on Saturday, June 24, from 12.30pm, with the Bulldogs scheduled to play Scottsdale in an NTFA clash on the day.
“We are hoping to get as many people as possible to come along – anyone associated with the club in the 60s, 70s and 80s – it’s a full reunion of the whole club,” former East Launceston committee member Denis Alexander said.
East Launceston was formed out of the old Cornwall Football Club which joined the NTFA in 1948 with the name changed to East in 1958. The club existed in its own right until a merger with City-South in 1986 saw the two clubs combine to form the South Launceston Football Club.
“In 1986 we had three East Launceston teams playing in the NTFA and three South Launceston teams playing in the State League,” Alexander said. “And would you believe that we won all six games on the first day.
“Our 1967 premiership flag is missing in action so if anyone has it we would love to have it returned to us for the reunion.”
Former East Launceston premiership players remembered the strong family connection at the club with George Hudson a former president and his sons Chris and Max playing in the 1967 premiership team along with Peter Webb and his two brothers, Norm and Bob and many of the players’ sons and grandsons turning out for South.
The Demons defeated North Launceston by two points in the 1967 grand final at York Park under playing captain-coach Brian Lowe.
“We want all the old North Launceston players and people to come along to the reunion too and people like Kevin McLean and Bob Withers have indicated they want to come,” Alexander said. “We beat North in the second semi-final by four points that year after finishing second and they beat City in the preliminary final to meet us again in the grand final. “Johnny Artis was given a 15-yard penalty and that was enough for him to kick the last goal of the match to give us the premiership from where the old scoreboard was at the Northern end.”
Inquiries about the reunion can be directed to Max Hudson on 0408255540.