South Sydney Rabbitohs’ John Riordan’s daughter pays tribute
The daughter of former South Sydney Rabbitohs president John Riordan, who died on Thursday, has encouraged people to wear some red and green to his funeral.
The daughter of former South Sydney Rabbitohs president John Riordan, who died on Thursday, has encouraged people to wear some red and green to his funeral.
The Rabbitohs community is mourning the loss of the man who was club president from 1974 to 1976, and served in roles including ground announcer at Redfern Oval during the 1970s and 1980s.
The former solicitor died on Thursday from complications arising from a stroke and pneumonia. He was 86.
Mr Riordan was one of the committee members who helped revive the club after the Leagues Club on Chalmers Street at Redfern was temporarily closed in 1973 due to financial difficulties.
It might have been his greatest achievement at the club, according to his daughter Michelle.
“He was very proud of the fact he was involved in getting the club reopened,” she said.
Mr Riordan’s skills saw him later become vice president of the New South Wales Rugby League. He and sat on the general committee of the Country Rugby League.
“He was very fair. He didn’t play favourites. He was straight up and down. He gave everyone a fair go and made the best decision he could,” Ms Riordan said.
The Maroubra man had thoroughly enjoyed Souths’ last premiership in 2014.
“That was one of his happiest days when they won the grand final. It was a very happy night for him,” Ms Riordan said.
Mr Riordan never played the game but his friend Richard Walsh said he was a keen observer.
“John was a true student of the game, a great authority on rugby league,” he said.
“It was always great to talk to John about a football game because he’d always picked up on something others had not.”
The funeral will be held at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Randwick on Wednesday at 2pm.
The Rabbitohs will wear black armbands against the Wests Tigers on Saturday night at Olympic Park and both teams will have a moment’s silence before kick-off.
Mr Riordan is survived by his wife Margaret and their four children.
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