Glebe Dirty Reds

Glebe

Club information
Full name	Glebe District Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Dirty Reds
Short name	Glebe
Founded	9 January 1908 (9 January 1908) as Glebe
Exited	1929 (1929)
Readmitted	2017 (2017)
details
Ground(s)	Wentworth Park (20,000)
Competition	NSWRFL (1908–1929) Ron Massey Cup (2017–present) Sydney Shield (2023–present)
Records
Premierships	1 2024
Runners-up	4 (1911, 1912, 1915, 1922)
Minor premierships	1 (1911)

The Glebe Dirty Reds are an Australian rugby league foundation club which played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League's Sydney premiership, the major competition for the sport in Sydney, from 1908 until their exit at the end of 1929. They were formed on 9 January 1908, with some sources suggesting that they may have been the first Sydney rugby league club to have been created. They were nicknamed and well known as the "Dirty Reds" due to the maroon colour of their playing jerseys.

Based in Glebe, New South Wales and playing most of their home matches out of the local Wentworth Oval, Glebe remained a highly competitive team for many years. Though they came close at times, the club was never able to secure a premiership title. After struggling towards the end of the 1920s the club was eventually voted out of the premiership. The club was revived in late 2015 and began to field teams in 2017 for the first time in 87 years. During their revival, they played their home games at Henson Park in Marrickville, sharing the ground with fellow foundation club, the Newtown Jets. In 2023, Glebe make their return to play home games permanently at Wentworth Oval for the first time since 1929.

History

Chart of yearly table positions for Glebe Dirty Reds First Grade NSWRL

At the turn of the 20th century, Glebe was a working-class suburb of Sydney, situated a few kilometres to the west of the city centre. A Glebe team had played in the Sydney second grade rugby competition for a number of years and due to its high popularity was promoted to a new first grade competition which started in 1900. Glebe immediately made a big impact on the district competition, winning all three grades in the inaugural season before taking out another three first grade titles over the next seven years.

When the push for the formation of a new professional rugby league competition began, Glebe was one of the areas considered for the formation of a new breakaway team. The Glebe District Rugby League Football Club was formed as a result on 8 January 1908, possibly the first rugby league club to be formed in Australia. There was much support from both players and locals for the new team and this was considered an achievement in itself for the New South Wales Rugby League. As with the local rugby team, the new rugby league club chose to play in maroon-coloured jerseys; a tradition that had been established by other sporting clubs in the Glebe area over many years. The club therefore often got nicknamed the "Dirty Reds" as a reference to the jersey colour, although this moniker had also been used previously to label other Glebe sporting identities well before the arrival of the rugby league team.

The club began their premiership campaign with an 8–5 victory over Newcastle on 20 April 1908. Throughout the season they either remained close to or on top of the ladder and with one round remaining were on equal points with South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs to lead the competition. In the last regular-season match, Glebe went down 10–5 to sixth-placed Balmain and ended up running third overall, although the match ended up having no impact on who they would play in the finals a week later. In their semi final, Glebe went down 16–3 to minor premiers South Sydney and were knocked out of the competition.

In 1909, the club again lost their final regular-season match against Balmain 10–5 and ended up missing out on a possible finals berth by virtue of the loss. In 1910, the club had a mediocre season and had little chance of ever taking the premiership out. The 1911 season was arguably the most successful in the club's history, taking out the minor premiership outright by two points and winning 11 of their 14 matches on the way. They also secured their first-ever victory over local rivals Balmain, winning 41–2 in the second last regular-season match of the season. However, they came up against an Eastern Suburbs side led by Dally Messenger who had won six matches straight. In the final in which Glebe had a chance to take away the premiership, Eastern Suburbs won 22–9, forcing the first-ever Grand Final to be played since the minor premiers had a "right to challenge" if they were to lose the final. In a match where Glebe were leading almost all the way, Eastern Suburbs fought back and took the lead within the final ten minutes to 11–8, giving them the premiership.

Following Glebe's failure to convert their minor premiership into a premiership in 1911, the New South Wales Rugby Football League decided that no finals would be played from 1912 unless two teams were tied on equal points at the end of the season. In round four, Glebe faced Eastern Suburbs in front of a record crowd of 22,000 at the Royal Agricultural Society Grounds, going down 10–2. After 10 rounds, Glebe trailed Eastern Suburbs by just two points and were to face them the following week with four rounds to go. In a match in which Glebe almost certainly had to win to stay in premiership contention, Eastern Suburbs won a close match 6–4 in front of another record crowd of 25,000 at the Sydney Sports Ground and ended up taking away the premiership four points in front of Glebe at the end of the season.

1913 and 1914 proved to be mediocre seasons for Glebe and despite winning more games than they lost in each year, the club only managed to finish fourth and fifth respectively. In 1915, however, they came close to taking out the premiership. With four rounds remaining and equal with their local rivals, Glebe were to face the undefeated Balmain at the Sydney Sports Ground. Again, however, Glebe failed to win this crucial game, losing 12–2 in front of 20,000 people and allowed Balmain to take a one-match lead. With both teams winning their remaining games, Balmain ended up taking out the premiership. Overall in 1915, Glebe won 12 out of their 14 matches, a club best, losing twice to Balmain.

In 1917, Glebe was involved in a dispute with Annandale for fielding a player that did not reside in Glebe's district. As a result, former Newcastle player Dan Davies received a life ban from all rugby league. The entire Glebe 1st grade squad disagreed and went on strike. All Glebe 1st grade players were suspended. Three of the Burge brothers, including Frank Burge, were banned till the start of the 1919 season (an eighteen-month suspension), however many of these suspensions were subsequently overturned or shortened. Further implications came into the Newcastle Rugby League, where the competition was split until 1920.

Glebe finished out the decade continuing to win more games than they lost each season and regularly finished within the top four, but without a finals system in place they were unable to capitalise on this relatively strong position. In 1922, they finally gained another shot at the premiership when they and North Sydney finished on equal points at the end of the season. In the ensuing final, North Sydney easily accounted for Glebe 35–3, again denying Glebe the elusive premiership title.

From 1923 onwards, the club's form started to decline and for the first time since 1910, Glebe lost more games than they won. In 1926, they were given another shot at the premiership when the finals series was reinstated. Finishing second to runaway leaders South Sydney, Glebe were to face off against fourth-placed University for a place in the final. However, they lost this decisive match 29–3 and were sent out of the finals.

Glebe first grade team,1926

In their final three seasons, Glebe struggled at the bottom of the premiership after the departure of their long-time player Frank Burge. Out of nine teams they finished eighth in 1927, seventh in 1928 and eighth in 1929. At the end of the 1929 season at the insistence of South Sydney, the New South Wales Rugby Football League General Committee voted 13–12 to expel Glebe from the competition. One theory is that Balmain made a deal with South Sydney to remove Glebe as a means of consolidating both of their local territories. However, others suggest that the local area was changing in such a way that the club was probably on a road to its demise anyway. Glebe never played another match.

2017

After 87 years of non-existence, Glebe emerged from the ashes to play Rugby League again. Earlier in the year after a series of negotiations, The Concord-Burwood United side agreed to merge with Glebe to form the Concord-Burwood-Glebe Wolves. Part of the deal was that for a few games a year Glebe would wear the old jersey which has not been worn on the field since 1929. The main aim of the future was for Glebe to have their own stand alone team in the Ron Massey Cup and the Sydney Shield. One of the main people responsible for Glebe's rebirth was club spokesman Darren Flynn. The club would continue to play home matches at Goddard Park located in Concord, Sydney.

2018

On 5 January 2018, it was announced that Glebe would be returning to play preseason games at Wentworth Park which would be the first time that rugby league has been played there in 90 years. The matches also featured the Newtown Jets and the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.

For the 2018 Ron Massey Cup season, The Concord-Burwood-Glebe Wolves changed their name to the Glebe-Burwood Wolves.

On 11 February, Glebe played alongside fellow foundation club Newtown at Wentworth Park in two pre-season trial matches. It was the first time in 90 years that a professional game of rugby league had been played at the ground.

2019

On 17 February Glebe returned to Wentworth Park and played in a pre-season trial against North Sydney which finished with Glebe running out winners 24–12. This was the first time Glebe had played against North Sydney in 90 years with their last meeting being in 1929. At the end of the 2019 Ron Massey Cup season, Glebe finished in second last position on the table only 2 points above last placed Brothers Penrith.

2020

On 16 February, Glebe played in a pre-season trial match against fellow foundation side Newtown at Wentworth Park. It was the first time in 91 years that the two clubs had played against each other in a game. Newtown would run out comfortable 20-0 winners.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield competitions were cancelled along with the Canterbury Cup NSW. As a result, Glebe entered into the temporary Presidents Cup competition. Glebe would go on to reach the grand final against the Maitland Pickers but were defeated 17-16 at Bankwest Stadium.

2021

For the second year running, the Ron Massey Cup competition, along with all NSWRL competitions, were halted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and were subsequently, cancelled.

2022

In the 2022 Ron Massey Cup season, Glebe reached the grand final against Hills District but were defeated 18-12 at Kogarah Oval.

2023

In 2023, Glebe formed a partnership with the Sydney Roosters, ending a five-year partnership with Newtown. Glebe also introduced a Sydney Shield team, and will be playing all their home games from Wentworth Park in Glebe, alongside the Sydney Roosters Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg teams.

Seasons

NOTE: P=Premiers, R=Runners-Ups, M=Minor Premierships, F=Finals Appearance, W=Wooden Spoons (Brackets Represent Finals Games)

Competition	Games Played (FINALS)	Games Won (FINALS)	Games Drawn (FINALS)	Games Lost (FINALS)	Ladder Position	City Cup	P	R	M	F	W	Coach	Captain	Notes
1908 NSWRFL season	9(1)	7	0	2(1)	3/9	–				X		–	Alex Burdon, Peter Moir
1909 NSWRFL season	10	4	0	6	5/8	–						–	Alex Burdon
1910 NSWRFL season	14	6	0	8	5/8	–						–
1911 NSWRFL season	14(2)	11	0	3(2)	1/8	–		X	X	X		–	Chris McKivat	Sign Frank Burge, Minor Premiers, Runners Up
1912 NSWRFL season	14	11	0	3	2/8	Runners Up		X				–		Runners Up
1913 NSWRFL season	14	8	0	6	4/8	Winners						–		City Cup Winners
1914 NSWRFL season	14	7	1	6	5/8	Semi Finals						–
1915 NSWRFL season	14	12	0	2	2/8	Runners Up		X				–	Alex Bolewski	Runners Up
1916 NSWRFL season	14	10	1	3	3/8	Runners Up						–	Frank Burge
1917 NSWRFL season	14	8	0	6	6/8	Round 1						–	Tom Leggo
1918 NSWRFL season	14	9	0	5	3/8	Semi Finals						–	Frank Burge
1919 NSWRFL season	14	9	0	5	3/8	Runners Up						–
1920 NSWRFL season	13	8	0	5	2/9	Round 1						–
1921 NSWRFL season	8	6	0	2	3/9	Semi Finals						–
1922 NSWRFL season	16(1)	12	0	4(1)	2/9	Semi Finals		X		X		–	Bill Benson	Runners Up
1923 NSWRFL season	16	6	0	10	6/9	Runners Up						–
1924 NSWRFL season	8	4	0	4	4/9	Round 1						John Hickey
1925 NSWRFL season	12	5	0	7	6/9	Runners Up						–	Tom McGrath
1926 NSWRFL season	16(1)	9	1	6(1)	2/9	–				X		–
1927 NSWRFL season	16	4	0	12	8/9	–						–	Tom McGrath, Jack McMahon
1928 NSWRFL season	12	4	0	8	7/9	–						–	Jack Toohey
1929 NSWRFL season	16	3	3	10	8/9	–						–	Jack McMahon

Statistics and records

As an individual, Frank Burge holds all of Glebe's records. His eight try tally in a match against University on 19 June 1920 is not only a club record, but also the standing Australian premiership record for most tries in a game. It was in that same game that he managed to claim the club record for most points in a game, kicking four goals in addition to his eight tries for a total of 32 points. A month earlier he scored eight goals in a match against Annandale, a club record later equalled by Jack Hickey in 1927.

In 1918, Frank Burge scored a club-record 24 tries in a season and in 1920, broke the club record for most points in a season with 110. Overall, he scored 137 tries and 49 goals for the club in a career spanning 16 seasons and 138 games, which were also club records. As a forward, his record tally of 146 tries (including nine later scored with St. George in 1927) remained unbroken until Steve Menzies managed to do so in 2004, almost 80 seasons after Burge had retired.

The team's biggest victory was a 59–3 victory over North Sydney at Wentworth Oval on 17 July 1915. Its biggest ever loss was against Eastern Suburbs when they went down 36–0. Overall, Glebe are also statistically one of the most successful clubs to have played in the premiership. Out of the 33 teams who have made an appearance over the years, Glebe has the fifth-best winning percentage. From 297 games played, 163 were won, six drawn and 128 lost for a winning percentage of 55.89%.

Past players

NSWRFL (1908–1929)

Name	First Yr	Last Yr	Apps	Tries	Goals	FG	Pts
Leo Abberton	1925	1925	1	-	-	-	-
George Algie	1929	1929	3	-	-	-	-
Roy Algie	1910	1914	55	24	28	3	134
John Alleyne	1929	1929	3	-	-	-	-
Henry Andrews	1926	1926	1	-	-	-	-
Harold Angus	1916	1919	15	-	-	-	-
S. Atkinson	1929	1929	1	-	-	-	-
George Bain	1921	1921	7	1	-	-	3
Jack Bartley	1914	1914	11	-	-	-	-
Leslie Bateman	1909	1909	1	-	-	-	-
J. Beckett	1927	1927	1	-	-	-	-
Bill Benson	1916	1924	94	19	-	-	57
Alby Black	1928	1929	18	3	-	-	9
William Black	1928	1929	21	1	-	-	3
Alex Bolewski	1914	1919	53	7	96	-	213
Henry Bolewski	1912	1921	41	8	26	-	76
Harry Brighton	1911	1912	30	-	-	-	-
Dave Brolly	1917	1920	39	7	-	-	21
Eddie Brolly	1917	1917	1	-	-	-	-
Jack Brolly	1923	1923	1	-	-	-	-
Michael Brown	1914	1914	1	-	-	-	-
Anthony Burden	1927	1929	7	2	-	-	6
Alex Burdon	1908	1910	19	6	-	-	18
Dick Burdon	1908	1909	4	-	-	-	-
Albert Burge	1911	1919	59	10	88	-	206
Frank Burge	1911	1926	138	139	49	-	515
Laidley Burge	1916	1922	64	9	11	-	49
Peter Burge	1911	1914	15	1	-	-	3
S. Burton	1927	1927	4	-	-	-	-
Arthur Butler	1916	1917	21	1	-	-	3
M. Callanan	1918	1918	1	-	-	-	-
George Carruthers	1910	1910	2	-	-	-	-
Syd Christensen	1928	1929	8	3	8	-	25
W. Christie	1927	1927	11	1	-	-	3
John Cleary	1910	1910	1	1	-	-	3
William Cockburn	1923	1924	5	3	-	-	9
Ed Colbrain	1927	1929	25	6	-	-	18
Patrick Coll	1921	1925	27	2	-	-	6
Denis Comerford	1916	1917	3	-	-	-	-
Conlon	1917	1917	1	-	-	-	-
Albert Conlon	1908	1910	10	2	17	1	42
E. Cox	1923	1927	7	-	-	-	-
Charles Cubitt	1911	1912	21	3	1	-	11
Les Cubitt	1911	1911	16	9	4	1	37
Eddie Cummins	1923	1926	44	1	5	-	13
J. Cusack	1910	1910	1	-	-	-	-
Billy Dalton	1914	1914	1	-	-	-	-
J. Darley	1927	1927	2	-	-	-	-
Joe Davidson	1910	1910	6	2	-	-	6
Dan Davies	1917	1917	1	1	1	-	5
Herbert Davies	1909	1909	1	-	-	-	-
Charles Davis	1908	1910	10	1	-	-	3
Jim Davis	1913	1913	12	1	3	-	9
Jim Deeley	1929	1929	9	2	-	-	6
Max Doerner	1915	1916	19	1	1	-	5
Billy Doyle	1927	1927	10	2	-	-	6
T. Dwyer	1917	1917	1	-	-	-	-
Lloyd Edwards	1908	1908	9	1	-	-	3
George Eves	1921	1921	1	-	-	-	-
Mal Fallon	1929	1929	1	-	-	-	-
Jim Farrelly	1909	1912	16	-	-	-	-
Tom Faunce	1910	1910	2	-	3	-	6
L. Ferrow	1928	1928	1	-	-	-	-
John Flahey	1909	1910	2	-	-	-	-
J. Flanagan	1914	1917	3	-	-	-	-
Billy Fullham	1927	1927	5	2	-	-	6
Eddie Gallagher	1916	1919	31	3	1	-	11
Dave Garlick	1911	1914	38	20	-	-	60
C. Geelan	1924	1924	1	-	-	-	-
Arthur George	1909	1909	1	-	-	-	-
Tom Gleeson	1911	1923	29	17	-	-	51
Ned Goddard	1923	1929	82	29	-	-	87
Bill Gough	1928	1928	2	-	-	-	-
Arthur Gray	1917	1927	58	12	15	-	66
Bert Gray	1912	1926	102	33	1	-	101
Frank Gray	1926	1927	13	4	-	-	12
Sam Griffiths	1910	1913	40	-	-	-	-
Walter Haddock	1921	1923	34	2	-	-	6
Arthur Halloway	1908	1908	8	3	-	-	9
J. Hansen	1924	1924	1	-	-	-	-
Bill Hardcastle	1909	1910	13	6	1	-	20
Vic Harris	1908	1909	12	4	-	-	12
T. Harrison	1926	1929	41	5	-	-	15
Charlie Hedley	1908	1908	6	-	-	-	-
William Hendry	1908	1908	1	-	-	-	-
Clarrie Hickey	1927	1927	10	-	18	-	36
Dave Hickey	1928	1929	20	-	11	-	22
F. Hickey	1927	1927	2	-	-	-	-
Jack Hickey	1925	1929	53	7	40	-	101
J. "Jack" Hickey	1910	1915	55	14	29	-	100
Tom Holder	1925	1926	22	2	1	-	8
Dick Hyland	1910	1910	1	-	-	-	-
Edward Ireland	1923	1923	1	-	-	-	-
Bill Ives	1920	1920	11	3	-	-	9
C. Jacques	1925	1925	2	-	-	-	-
Tommy James	1920	1928	66	17	-	-	51
N. Johnson	1919	1919	1	-	-	-	-
A. Johnston	1929	1929	16	2	-	-	6
Alec Johnston	1916	1921	29	3	-	-	9
A. Jones	1909	1910	6	-	-	-	-
Wally Jones	1928	1929	11	-	-	-	-
Jenkin Joseph	1929	1929	15	7	-	-	21
Jim Keating	1913	1913	2	-	-	-	-
Bill Kelleway	1926	1928	23	3	-	-	9
Dan Kelly	1911	1915	43	3	-	-	9
P. Kelly	1928	1928	3	-	1	-	2
Stan King	1923	1923	6	-	-	-	-
Jack Knight	1914	1920	56	-	-	-	-
Frank Ladner	1910	1910	4	1	-	-	3
W. Larken	1925	1925	2	-	-	-	-
E. Larter	1929	1929	11	1	-	-	3
Tom Leggo	1913	1919	87	41	18	-	159
J. Lennon	1909	1909	1	-	-	-	-
T. Lewins	1920	1920	4	-	-	-	-
Roy Liston	1923	1923	14	1	2	-	7
Billy Lloyd	1926	1929	29	9	-	-	27
Jack Lodge	1923	1924	16	4	-	-	12
Horrie Logan	1912	1912	10	2	-	-	6
Bill Lucas	1923	1925	29	-	-	-	-
B. Lupton	1927	1927	3	-	-	-	-
Stephen Lynch	1908	1910	16	1	-	-	3
Tom McCabe	1908	1908	9	3	-	-	9
John McGovern	1909	1910	2	2	-	-	6
Maurice McGrane	1917	1917	1	-	-	-	-
J. McGrath	1917	1917	1	-	-	-	-
Tom McGrath	1917	1927	79	13	-	-	39
Dugald McGregor	1912	1914	37	2	7	-	20
Ted McGuinness	1912	1912	1	-	-	-	-
Chris McKivat	1910	1914	54	5	-	-	15
J. McMahon	1926	1929	45	2	1	-	8
Jack McMahon	1923	1929	62	15	-	-	45
Ewart McMillan	1923	1923	7	-	-	-	-
Alexander McPherson	1921	1921	2	-	2	-	4
Tom Maher	1911	1911	6	-	5	-	10
Alex Main	1923	1923	1	-	-	-	-
Oscar Manwaring	1910	1910	4	-	-	-	-
S. Martin	1929	1929	8	2	-	-	6
Lionel Matchett	1929	1929	11	-	-	-	-
William May	1913	1917	5	1	-	-	3
William Meadows	1925	1925	7	1	-	-	3
Bill Melville	1926	1927	26	4	-	-	12
Jim Moir	1908	1908	1	-	-	-	-
Peter Moir	1908	1909	10	3	1	-	11
Peter Moko	1909	1909	2	1	1	-	5
Dick Moroney	1909	1910	23	8	9	-	42
John Moroney	1908	1910	15	1	-	-	3
Mick Muggivan	1910	1912	21	13	-	-	39
F. Murphy	1927	1927	2	-	-	-	-
Joe Murphy	1922	1923	14	1	-	1	5
William Neill	1914	1914	2	-	-	-	-
Fred Nelson	1912	1912	1	-	-	-	-
Fred Noakes	1927	1928	8	1	-	-	3
Roy Norman	1913	1914	17	11	-	-	33
George Norris	1909	1909	2	-	-	-	-
Claud O'Donnell	1915	1917	39	-	1	-	2
Wally Ogaard	1908	1909	13	2	-	-	6
Charlie Ogle	1917	1922	57	40	3	-	126
Edward O'Keefe	1908	1910	10	1	2	-	7
Sid Palmer	1929	1929	5	1	4	-	11
J. Parkinson	1927	1928	5	-	-	-	-
Arthur Pearce	1908	1908	7	1	-	-	3
H. Pearce	1909	1909	1	-	-	-	-
Harry Pendergast	1908	1909	18	1	-	-	3
Sid Pert	1908	1919	115	28	-	-	84
Henry Pidcock	1923	1924	2	-	-	-	-
Fred Prendergast	1908	1908	2	-	-	-	-
Prince	1915	1915	1	-	-	-	-
Norm Proctor	1916	1921	66	4	1	-	14
J. Pye	1919	1919	12	-	-	-	-
Frank Quigley	1923	1925	14	-	14	-	28
George Quigley	1917	1917	2	-	-	-	-
Sam Quigley	1919	1924	19	2	34	-	74
Jack Redmond	1911	1923	67	11	45	-	123
Phil Regan	1911	1922	59	7	1	-	23
N. Reid	1908	1908	5	-	-	-	-
George Reynolds	1918	1919	14	3	-	-	9
W. Reynolds	1919	1919	3	-	-	-	-
Charlie Ricketts	1922	1928	37	3	7	-	23
W. Rochford	1917	1917	2	-	-	-	-
John Ryan	1908	1909	17	1	-	-	3
R. Ryan	1909	1909	2	-	-	-	-
Fred Saunders	1913	1915	16	-	2	-	4
John Scannell	1914	1914	1	-	-	-	-
Mick Scannell	1914	1920	76	19	2	-	61
W. Seccombe	1927	1927	5	1	-	-	3
Andy See	1925	1925	12	4	-	-	12
Bill Shankland	1927	1928	13	2	6	-	18
Austin Sherry	1923	1927	17	2	9	-	24
E. Smith	1917	1917	2	-	-	-	-
Frank Smith	1925	1928	22	2	-	-	6
W. Smith	1908	1909	2	-	-	-	-
Billy Splatt	1917	1921	4	-	-	-	-
Charles Splatt	1910	1910	3	-	1	-	2
Ron Stapleton	1918	1922	19	2	-	-	6
A. Stewart	1909	1909	3	-	-	-	-
Billy Stirton	1919	1923	12	1	-	-	3
Charles Stuart	1922	1925	17	1	-	-	3
Mick Sullivan	1908	1910	14	-	-	-	-
Ed Summers	1914	1923	46	10	-	-	30
Ted Swinson	1908	1920	108	6	-	-	18
Bill Telford	1928	1928	6	1	-	-	3
Fritz Thiering	1911	1920	29	7	18	-	57
Alfie Thompson	1923	1929	34	10	-	-	30
Cecil Thompson	1919	1919	1	-	-	-	-
Hash Thompson	1919	1920	2	1	-	-	3
Jack Toohey	1917	1928	69	31	42	-	177
Jack Tracey	1927	1927	7	1	-	-	3
James Travers	1910	1910	1	-	-	-	-
Billy Trewin	1912	1912	1	-	-	-	-
Augustus Veness	1908	1908	5	1	-	-	3
H. Watling	1927	1927	1	-	-	-	-
Vic Webber	1926	1926	1	-	-	-	-
Arthur Weymark	1908	1908	1	-	-	-	-
Eddie White	1911	1911	1	-	-	-	-
Austin Williams	1910	1910	1	-	-	-	-
R. Williams	1908	1908	1	1	-	-	3
Albert Wright	1908	1918	51	8	4	-	32
Bill Young	1923	1926	20	3	-	-	9

Greatest players

Chris McKivat

During their 22-year presence in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership, the club managed to produce 12 internationals. Those twelve players were Alex Burdon, Frank Burge, who was probably the best player they ever had, Peter Burge, Albert Conlon, Bert Gray, Arthur Halloway, Charlie Hedley, Harold Angus, Tom Gleeson, Jack Hickey, Tom McCabe, Chris McKivat, Peter Moir and Les Cubitt. A third Burge brother, former Wallaby tourist Albert Burge was also a Dirty Red. Alex Burdon and Chris McKivat had the honour of captaining their country, from 1908–09 and 1911–12 respectively and Les Cubitt captained an Australasian side in 1921.

In 2008, to celebrate the Centenary of Rugby League in Australia, a panel commissioned by the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League voted four Glebe players into a group of "Rugby League's 100 Greatest Players". These players were Frank Burge, Les Cubitt, Arthur Halloway, and Chris McKivat.

The side that played in the 1911 New South Wales Rugby Football League Grand Final is shown below.

Glebe RLC 1911 McKivat (centre with ball), flanked by R Algie left F Burge right

No. Position Player 1 Roy Algie – FB 2 Mick Muggivan – WG 3 Dave Garlick – CE 4 Tom Gleeson – CE 5 Charlie Cubitt – WG 6 Les Cubitt – FE 7 Fritz Thiering – HB

No. Position Player 8 Sid Pert – PR 9 Tony Redmond – HK 10 Sam Griffiths – PR 11 Albert Burge – SR (c) 12 Frank Burge – SR 13 Harry Brighton – LK 14 J Farrelly – positions

The side that played in the 1922 New South Wales Rugby Football League Grand Final is shown below.

No. Position Player 1 R Stapleton – FB 2 Charlie Ogle – WG 3 Ed Summers – CE 4 Tommy James – CE 5 Jack Toohey – WG 6 William Stirton – FE 7 Bill Benson – HB (c)

No. Position Player 8 Frank Burge – PR 9 Bert Gray – HK 10 Laidley Burge – PR 11 Tony Redmond – SR 12 Walter Haddock – SR 13 Tom McGrath – LK

Notable Supporters

• Billy Hughes, former Prime Minister of Australia

Honours

• New South Wales Rugby Football League First Grade runners-up: 4

1911, 1912, 1915, 1922

• New South Wales Rugby Football League minor premierships: 1

1911

• City Cup: 1

1913

• City Cup runners-up: 6

1912, 1915, 1916, 1919, 1923, 1925

• Reserve Grade: 5

1912, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921

• Third Grade: 1

1927

• Ron Massey Cup: 1

2024

• NSW Challenge Cup: 1

2020

External links

• Official website
• Glebe Dirty Reds on Facebook
• Rugby League History - RL1908.com - Glebe RLFC