Above Col proudly wearing his 1952 Wests Premiership winning blazer.
1929 – 2026.
Wests Player Number 490 (1952)
Col played for Wests in the 1952 and 1953 seasons.
36 games all in First Grade.
Col scored 15 tries during his time at Wests including three tries on debut.
In 1952 Col was a member of the Wests First Grade Premiership winning team.
Program from the 1952 Grand Final.
Col in his City jumper 1952.
Col in his Country jumper 1958.
Col had the rare distinction of playing for both City and Country Firsts.
Col being interviewed about 1952 Grand Final by Brian Cook at the 2022 reunion.
Col was a regular at the Pratten Park Magpies Reunions.
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A few words from good family friend and ex Wests player Brian Cook about Col.
COL RATCLIFF R.I.P.
Col was a great family man married to Fay for over 70 years – raising 3 boys and 2 girls who have given them 10 grandchildren and 15 Great- Grand Children all of whom have been his absolute pride and joy.
Outside of rugby league, Col turned his hand to many commercial interests. In his early days, he had a successful abattoir business and then moved into operating several butcher shops.
He then turned his hand to the hotel industry all in and around Southern NSW and Metro Sydney.
Col was a self-taught musician. He and his band particularly in the 60s accompanied and were billed with many of the star attractions of the era – including Col Joye and the Bee Gees; even appearing on Brian Henderson’s Bandstand.
Col retired from full-time entertainment gigs to concentrate on family and business but was renowned for getting family and friends around the piano on many social occasions.
Col was very generous to all communities in which he was involved over many years and all his ‘careers’.
He simply loved family and friends.
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To read our interview with Col that covers his completed life please click on link below.
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“Think where mans’ glory most begins and ends
And say my glory was I had such friends” – Yeats