St Helens reunion gives timely boost as Knights look to future success

As they heartily sang When The Saints Go Marching In, a loyal group of football stalwarts knew what it was like to be successful. See why their latest reunion was so welcome.

Past St Helens players, officials and supporters reunited for the final Ipswich Knights match of the Football Queensland Premier League 1 season. Picture: David Lems

As they heartily sang When The Saints Go Marching In, this group of football stalwarts knew what it was like to be successful.

Wearing proud green St Helens shirts on a special afternoon, they had shared in one of Ipswich football’s most successful eras in the 1970s and 1980s.

That included premiership and grand final successes in 1982, 1984 and 1985.

St Helens/Ipswich United amalgamated with Coalstars in 1997 to form the current Ipswich Knights club for the 1998 season.

MEMORABLE SUCCESSES

The latest reunion of past St Helens players, coaches and supporters came as the Knights completed their final game of the Football Queensland Premier League 1 season at Bundamba.

Although the end result had no bearing on this year’s final series, the St Helens cheer squad provided a welcome addition, singing their age-old club song when the Knights players entered the field.

The Knights wrapped up fifth spot in the rainy conditions with a 2-0 victory over the Sunshine Coast.

After Coalstars had held a number of previous reunions on match days, the St Helens group today temporarily broke away from their spiritual drinking base at the Racehorse Hotel across the road.

Former Reserve Grade coach and club character Russell “Truck’’ Turner was among the more than 50 strong contingent lending their support to the Knights.

Long-time St Helens coach and supporter Russell “Truck’’ Turner (sitting).

Some regular former Saints players like Brett Kitching, Nev O’Sullivan and Peter Vogler were unable to attend due to border restrictions, coaching duty or a family engagement.

However, Turner was delighted to catch up with other loyal club mates from decades ago, maintaining the tradition of past reunions at the Racehorse Hotel on the last Saturday in November.

“These guys taught me a lot about socialising and things like that mate,’’ Turner said with a huge smile.

“We tell a lot of stories and tell a lot of lies.’’

But the reunions are always with a sense of team spirit, humour and camaraderie.

The Ipswich Knights senior men's team wore a retro St Helens strip in their final game of the season, cheered on by some long-time Saints supporters.

The Knights players also wore a retro strip for their final game of the year.

“The Knights are great support,’’ popular clubman Turner said, with a familiar beer in hand.

“I don’t know how many of these guys agreed to get amalgamated or what but it doesn’t matter. This is the future.’’

The St Helens club was formerly based further up Brisbane Road at Ebbw Vale. Coalstars was situated at the current Bundamba venue.

Turner said that history and the great Ipswich players of the past made the city famous for its footballing feats.

Among the people who coached Turner when he started in under 9s at Coalstars was former international Bob Lawrie.

“I never thought about it until recent years. How special was that?’’ Turner said. “And that’s what it was in those days - we were just taught by the best.’’

Ipswich Knights life member Ross Hallett with a special emblem memorabilia board commemorating the history of the soccer club.

Former Coalstars club president, player and Ipswich football historian Ross Hallett welcomed the St Helens supporters at today’s game, building new friendships under the Knights banner.

“And they’ve got their shirts now, which I think is fantastic,’’ Hallett said, remembering the days when St Helens and Coalstars were fierce on-field rivals.

“We are all mates now.’’

Hallett said even though the clubs had some tremendous all-Ipswich battles in past decades, the respect was mutual.

“I can remember when we (Coalstars) played them (St Helens) for the Ampol Cup in 1967,’’ Hallett said.

“They beat us 4-2. (Former international player) Collie Kitching made a difference but Collie got injured, broke a couple of ribs, and ended up in hospital.

“But at the end of the game, we came back to the Tin Shed (famous Coalstars clubhouse) and we had our drinks and we knew they (St Helens) were down at Collie’s.

“So a whole bunch of us went down to Collie’s to see if he was all right and I remember he was in the bedroom and (his wife) Joy was strapping him up.

“We all just got in and had a drink together.’’

BE INSPIRED

In this weekend’s earlier final round FQPL1 match, Western Pride fielded one of its youngest men’s sides in its latest 2-0 loss to unbeaten competition leaders Brisbane City.

The home side scored a goal in each half on Saturday night.

The teams will meet again in the first v fourth playoff.

Pride was captained by defender Mark Ingerson with teenage goalkeeper Ashton Bonsall back guarding the net having displayed lots of maturity in earlier senior matches.

The men wrapped up their regular season after Western Pride women were outgunned 7-1 by National Premier Leagues champions Lions in Friday night’s Kappa Cup grand final in Brisbane.

A hat-trick by Shea Connors set up another Lions victory.

However, the Pride women can reflect positively on making their first knockout competition grand final before resuming their quest to gain a spot in next year’s NPLW competition.

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