[Article 10287]The Story of Sidney Gordon Daisley.

Sometimes the most obvious Wests stories are right in front of you.

While reading the “Clouds of Dust Buckets of Blood”  book (again) I noticed a small story on Sidney Gordon Daisley.

1925 photo of george

The story gave a brief history of Gordon and his time at Wests also unfortunately the fact that he had drowned in 1927

in tragic circumstances at Cattai on the outskirts of Sydney in the Hawkesbury River.

1927 newspaper story on georges death 1

He played under the name of Gordon Daisley, as was the custom of players to use their middle name,

although up until recently he was known as George Daisley in all Wests official records.

One good thing that has come out of this story is to give Gordon his correct name.

Gordon was a Wests junior who played for the Ashfield United club.

1921 ashfield united jnr team photo

Gordon was in the A Grade team that were the Undefeated Premiers for two seasons 1921 – 22

1922 aug Ashfield united won 2 comps 1922 and 1923

1922 part 2 of story ashfield united

In 1920 Gordon played in the Wests Reserve Grade team at the age of 19.

1920 gordon named in reserve grade game 2 tries

Wests 8 V Easts 21.

Gordon scored 2 tries in the losing side.

From all reports Gordon was a very good cricketer and played for many years for Burwood United CC.

1920 playing cricket for burwood united

From my research it appears Gordon mainly played A Grade for Ashfield United FC for the years 1920, 21 and 22.

Being called up occasionally to play Reserve Grade for Wests.

Gordon bypassed the Wests Presidents Cup team and went straight from A grade to play for Wests.

1922 aug 19 wests v uni rg scores 2 tries playing on the wing

1922 blow up of rg game v uni

1922 aug 20 scores 2 tries in rg

Gordons first game in Reserve Grade was against Uni in late 1922.

1924 cricket story

Not sure what Gordon was up to in the 1923 and 1924 Rugby League seasons but he had changed clubs in his cricket career.

1925.

1925 would turn out to be Gordons best season playing Rugby League.

A couple of reasons: Frank “Skinny” McMillan had moved from Wests to Balmain and Gordon played two games for NSW.

frank mc millan in aussie jumper.

Frank “Skinny” McMillan in his Australian jumper.

With Frank moving to Balmain it freed up the Fullback spot at Wests and Gordon took this opportunity with both hands.

In 1925 Gordon played 11 First Grade games at Wests and 2 games for NSW.

1925 program wests v stg

1925 photo of gorden kicking

* Thats Gordon kicking the ball V St George.

1925 wests v stgeorge story

1925 may testimonial match

1925 aug wests v norths program

1925 may good story about gordon

1925 may advert nsw v qld

Advert from the SMH about the interstate game at the SCG.

1925 nsw v qld program

Good win by NSW.

1925 june story nsw v qld

Game report about how the two Wests players went.

Gordon was 26 years of age.

1925 nsw v qld played in brisbane story and team list

NSW 18 V QLD 23.

The only report I could find on this game played in Brisbane.

1925 aug program wests v balmain

The BIG game was against Balmain and Skinny McMillan.

Frank McMillan.jpg

Frank “Skinny” McMillan.

1925 wests team photo

1925 aug wests v balmain story

In this report Gordon won this battle.

This time!!

1925 wests runners up team photo

Wests were runners – up in the 1925 Premiership.

Souths won by a country mile. They won all 12 games.

This was the start of the Famous Souths era. Souths won the next 5 Premierships before Wests won the 1930 Premiership.

1926.

 

1926 april skinny back gordon out

Franks back at Wests . Not good news for Gordon.

Gordon played only 5 games in 1926 all in Reserve Grade.

1927.

In 1927 Gordon only played 2 First Grade games.

This was only possible because Frank McMillan was away playing for NSW.

1927 may story on gordon v skinny

1927 may daisley shines story

Gordon gets some good reports from Reserve Grade.

1927 july program wests v newtown skinny in qld

1927 norths v wests last game in first grade program

Little did Gordon know that this would be his last First Grade game for Wests.

1927 reserve grade semi final program wests v saints

Gordons last game for Wests played at Earl Park.

1927 sept rg semi results gordon kicks goal

Sidney Gordon Daisley kicked a goal in his last game of Rugby League.

*

November of 1927.

Below are a few newspaper articles about Gordons drowning at Cattai.

1927 nov family death notice.

1927 newspaper story on gordons death

“Think where mans’ glory most begins and ends
And say my glory was I had such friends” – Yeats

1927 nov story on death

1927 newspaper story on georges death 1

  A very sad end to a young life.

*

 

*While writing this story I noticed that Gordons Wests Players Medal number 234 (1925) was still sitting in the Wests Archives.

With some research and a lot of luck I was able to contact Leigh McCarthy whose Grandmother Ilma was Gordons sister.

medal 1

Sidney Gordon Daisley with his Medal Number 234.

medal 2

Medal and Deed of Recognition.

Both have been posted to Leigh.



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