EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH SYDNEY CLUB

On February 7,1908, the North Sydney Rugby League Football Club was formed. When Mr. H. Glanville moved that the Club be formed and affiliated with the New South Wales Rugby League, (seconded by Mr. D. Murray), North Sydney became the first Sydney club to officially affiliate with that body.

Although Newtown had been the first club to form, Norths were the official recipient of the number one receipt from the New Souths Wales Rugby League. Officials elected at that first meeting were Patron: Mr.G.Clark, M.L.A., President: Mr. J. Fennelly, Vice- Presidents: Messers E. Blue, R. Friend, W. Dunne, C. Ford, and Dr. McKinnon. Secretary: Mr. W. Hedge, Treasurer: Mr. H. Glanville, Committee: J. Abercrombie, J. Devereaux, W. Hunt, S. Deane and A. Odbert.

With the North Sydney Junior Rugby League formed, Messers D. Lutge and A. Odbert were elected as the Club's first delegates to the New South Wales Rugby League. At the same meeting, Mr. Charles Ford was nominated for the position of Vice-President of the N.S.W.R.L. and was duly elected.

North Sydney Oval was secured as the Club's home venue at a cost of one shilling per month per member. In order not to burden the Club's finances any further, the players paid the cost themselves. Sid Deane, who in 1914 went on to be the first Norths' player to Captain Australia, was the first to receive compensation due to loss of wages through injury. He received one pound - a modest amount to pay when considering the question of compensation had been the catalyst for the birth of Rugby League back in 1895.