Ray McDERMOTT Wests Player Number 573 (1959)

Easts Player number 528 (1963) died on the 7th October 2021

Ray also played Presidents Cup in 1952 and lower grades for Newtown between 1953 and 1957

Ray played First Grade for Newtown in the 1954 Final against Saints

(Newtown 27 beat Saints 13)

1933 – 2021

Ray was 88 years of age.

Ray playing for Wests in 1959

The NEWTOWN Years

1952 – 1957

The NEWTOWN YEARS

Ray also played in a game for the NSW Combined Public Service and Western Australia.

Note : the fullback for NSW is Wests player Wally Tebbutt

In 1954 Ray played in the Final against St George.

The WESTS YEARS 1959 and 1960

Ray scored a try in this game against Easts.

Rays 1st FIRST GRADE game at Wests.

Souths 19 beat Wests 18

Wests 24 beat Manly 13

Below are a few newspaper clipping about Ray and Wests in the lead up to the Final against Manly

Not sure what happened but Ray was printed as Ron in all his FIRST GRADE games at Wests

but I was able to change it to the correct first name for the Final against Manly

Manly 14 beat Wests 13

Rex meets Ray in the 1959 Final at the SCG

After dropping out of the Premiership Wests played Norths in the City Cup Competition

In 1960 Ray played most of the season in THIRD GRADE with Wests making the semi and then Final

In 1960 all of Wests grades made the Semis and Wests won the

Club Championship aka the Flowers Memorial Pennant

This was a huge honour for Wests and all the players from all three grades

The program finally got Rays name correct

Manly 13 beat Wests 7

The EASTS Year 1963

Ray 1st FIRST GRADE game at Easts

Balmain 13 beat Easts 5

A very strong Parramatta side

Parra 23 beat Easts 2

Ray Captain of the Easts RESERVE GRADE team

A famous Magpie playing hooker for Easts.

* Ray and Ken Stonestreet

‘Ray was a really top fella and my Sergeant at Central Police Traffic Branch

Always greeted you with a smile…RIP Champion’

Geoff Foster

*

Vale below was written by Men Of League Life Member Ken Vessey

VALE — RAYMOND WALLACE McDERMOTT

11.10.1933 – 07.10.2021

Ray aged 87 yrs passed away peacefully on the 07.10.2021 surrounded by his Family after a long battle with dementia.

He was renowned as rugged uncompromising rugby league forward who played 1st grade for Western Suburbs Magpies and Eastern Sydney during 1959 and 1963

And lower grades with Newtown “Bluebags”

A highlight of his career was playing for Wests, alongside Australian Representatives Ian Moir, Dick Poole, Harry Wells, Keith Holman and Peter Dimond, against Manly in the 1st grade 1959 Final won by Manly 14-13.

During his working career, he achieved a highly successful career with the NSW Police Force retiring as a Chief Inspector

Ray was also actively involved as a Member of Garie and North Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Clubs and was highly regarded throughout the local community.

The Men of League extend their deepest condolences to his wife Kay (married 65 yrs) , his son’s Michael,Peter, Tim and Anthony plus their Partners and 9 Grandchildren .

[Article 13327]Vale Ray McDERMOTT