A memory of Rex. I did see him play - many times. He was a very good footballer, a demon defender and a creative ball player. We owe him a lot because of his TV work. Somebody remarked that he must have been a hard bastard, and he was that - in trumps! My late father had a theory that as top footballers got older and lost their speed they made up for it with not only guile, but with a subconscious desire to eliminate any possible rivals. A bit like a lone male lion, or a rogue bull elephant. Rex had got to that stage before he retired from playing and it became obvious in his later career that it wasn't wise to turn you back on him. This is not meant to be a 'sling off' at a great footballer - it's just the way that it was.
Move back to the Sixties and picture Manly versus the Bluebags on a sunny afternoon at the old Sportsground, which incidentally was a great place to watch football as you were very close to the play. It was right on halftime in a very close match. Newtown lock Kevin Allen has the ball, makes a nice little break and sends a support through the gap he's created. He pauses, big Rex rushes up behind him, picks him up and dumps him on his shoulder. The tackle was that late that it was postumous. Allen's shoulder is dislocated, he can take no further part in the game as there were no replacements in those days. I can't remember whether Rex was cautioned but he certainly wasn't sent off. The half time bell rings and the players troop off. Needless to say the Newtown crowd had gone beserk and were giving Rex the Razz, big time. Rex lost it, stormed across to the fence and offerred to take on his critics. Two blokes said "Right!", stripped off their coats and began to climb over the fence. Rex had to be led away by his team mates. That's how I recall it through Blue Eyes. Funny, isn't it, how things stick in your mind? I can't even remember who won the game.
