It’s not often a team goes unbeaten in three grand finals in just two seasons of footy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But that’s exactly what the Westbury Football Club did in 1980-81 over the course of three showdowns with bitter rivals Bracknell in the Esk Football Association.
The first instalment ended with scores tied, forcing the match to be rescheduled for the following week, while the second saw David Rybarczyk play a starring role in a two-point win, sealing the 1980 premiership.
Premiership player Les Watts said his side had been confident of securing a win despite the evenness of the competition that year.
“The team was very confident because everyone was equal and could do their bit, so we could go in pretty confident with the players that we had,” Watts said.
“We didn’t get on too well, it was a bit like Hagley - I think Bracknell might have been as bad if not worse.”
RELATED: Westbury to celebrate 1996
There was even more at stake when the two teams again met in the grand final the following year.
“On the second (grand final) the Bracknell coach went and put a thousand dollars behind the bar and said ‘match it’.
“So all the players put 50 bucks in each and matched it so that was a bit more incentive.”
The rest is history.
Coming home with the wind, Westbury overturned a four-goal deficit to again nab a two-point victory, ensuring the Tigers left the stadium with the premiership cup in one hand and $1000 in the other.
Well, almost.
“Most of (the money) went back in over the bar - it didn’t go home.”
Westbury Football Club, which folded in the late 90s and now lives on as the Meander Valley Suns, will hold its 1980-81 premiership reunion at Westbury Oval on August 12.
Suns president Leigh Watts encouraged anyone who has been involved with the club to attend.
“Some of these guys still come to the games and help us out know so they’re still about,” Watts said.
“It’s important for us to remember them and remember their history as well, as they’re part of what we’re trying to do and create out there.’
For more details contact Leigh Watts on 0417593466.