Sawtell Panthers History

When Bonville Rugby League Football Club dissolved in 1932, several people who had been connected with the club decided to do something about it.

They co-opted H. McLeod, Col Irvine and the Turnbull Brothers to help form the Sawtell Rugby League Club, but as the population of the district was not large enough during the early periods the club struggled to field Club football on Saturday and an Inter-Club competition on Wanderers, Coffs Blues and Sawtell.

Sawtell had mixed success in the earlier years, with the highlight being a premiership win in 1937. However with the outbreak of World War II the competition was suspended.

Col (PA) Adams
Past Player involved in both SNR & JNR league. The original president of the Old Boys
Alec Cullen (Man of Steel)
A Sawtell Junior player and First Grade Player
Kerry Hales
Past Commitee person
Rex Hardeker
The pioneer and back bone of SRLF
Larry Hart
Member of the succesful 1978 Clayton Cup winning side
Ian Hattersley (Rabbit)
Past player and Secretary
Allen McDonald
Past Player, Treasurer and President
Keith Mills
Past Player, Committe Person and strapper
Billy Perkins
Commitee member and strapper helped form the club in the 1970s
Steve Rattray (Rats)
Sawtell Stalwart actively involved in both JNR and SNR league
Ivan Richards (Rolly)
Past player and committee person.
Ray Robinson
A member of the 1978 Reserve Grade premiership side and Clayton Cup winnning side.

Back Row from left: Ken Andersen, Tim Cooper, Jim Anderson, Allan Toms, Allan Collins
Front Row: Goony McLeod, Archy Wisely, Harry Eggelton, Doc Sheperd
Sitting: Nugget Hobbs, Jim Moran