Little more than lanky teenagers, in 1967 a team of North Launceston under-19s ran out onto West Park against the roar of thousands of North Hobart supporters.
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Those supporters were waiting to cheer on the now-iconic State Premiership final that was finally declared a ‘no game’ after spectators removed the goalposts from the field.
But before that history-making match, for the under-19s, it was their turn.
Steven Spencer kicked five goals to lead the charge for a final score of 55, defeating Ulverstone by 12 points.
“Ulverstone had dropped four senior players back to play against us,” Spencer said.
“We were only little tackers, we were 17 or 18 years old, and we walked onto the ground … and two stands, we just shook, two stands were completely taken over by North Hobart supporters.”
Whatever Ulverstone tried, it didn’t work. The North Launceston under-19s won, sparking a heady run of premiership victories.
Fifty years on from winning that first glorious premiership, the North Launceston Football Club under-19s are calling for any players, friends or family to reunite in honour of their victory.
Spencer, along with that first premiership-winning team’s John Carpenter and Greg Murden, is hosting a reunion for members of their under-19s team – and their Ulverstone rivals, should they wish to join.
The reunion will be held at UTAS Stadium on Friday, July 21, from 7pm.
- For details, call 0408 445 927.
