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JOHN MOWBRAY
As a young fan of West's I had my favorite players and one
was Johnny Mowbray, Mowy to his mates. He was a winger, very
quick, and looked like he enjoyed playing for the Magpies.
I met Mowy at the Pratten Park Magpies reunion 3 years ago
and I had the pleasure of sitting at his table, where he made
me feel more than welcome. I had the idea of a web site in
those days and I said to myself that one day I would interview
Mowy and post it on Kelly's Kids. Three years later I sat
down with Mowy at his home at Cessnock and spent two black
and white hours with him, talking about the great players
he played with and against, the highs the lows and of course
the 1963 Grand Final. Well Mowy here goes.....
John Mowbray tackling Norm Provan - SCG
John Robert Mowbray was born in the year of 1940. He played
most of his junior football for Guildford in the Parramatta
district. While at school Mowy toured with the first schoolboys
team to leave these shores. The tour was to New Zealand...the
year 1953. His position in the team was fullback. Mowy even
as a young player showed plenty of natural ability he scored
over 300 points for Guildford in the years 1957 and 1958.
He also represented Southern Districts both in football and
sprinting.
In 1959 Mowy went along to trial with Balmain and was told
by the late Norm ' Latchem ' Robinson, "Son come back next
year your'e too small !!".
So Mowy went to a trial match between West's and Parramatta
at the old Cumberland Oval and had a blinder and West's graded
him. His first grade game with West's was at Pratten Park
in 1959. Mowy was to play second grade that day but because
Ian Moir was out with the flu he played first grade.
West’s played Manly that day and Mowy scored two tries
in West’s win. He also won the Sun Herald 'Man of the
Match', as well as 'Man of the Match' in the two other Sunday
papers. I quote from the Sun Herald paper.."Gave most attractive
wing display. Scored try that proved turning point of the
game" For the record the score was West's 24 Manly 13.
What a dream start for a long and colourful career. On a sad
note Mowy broke his collarbone with only a few minutes to
go and was out of football for some weeks..
John Mowbray playing for City Seconds -1962
Mowy was very quick and was once recorded at 9.45 seconds
over 100 yards......that's quick!!
He played against some of the best wingers of all time players
such as Ken Irvine, Johnny King, Michael Cleary, Bobby Landers
and Eddie Lumsden to name a few.
So I asked Mowy who was the best....his answer surprised me..."Bob
Mara who played for Balmain was the most difficult player
that I faced “ said John “he was quick and hard
to read.."
I next asked, "Well Mowy, who was the best player at West’s
during your 10 seasons with the Magpies?" Mowy thought for
a while and said Dick Poole the Newtown and Australian centre.
“He was great to play outside of. He had a great pass
straight into your chest every time”.
How about the best player during the Kelly Kids era?... "Easy",
said Mowy. "Noel Kelly. He was a great player and a very good
coach”.
Mowy named a few more players that deserve a mention. John
Hayes, Dennis Pittard, Kel O`Shea and one of the toughest
players that Mowy played with, Jack Gibson.
John Mowbray and Billy Smith at the SCG - 1966
We talked about the 1963 Grand Final and how West’s
were robbed. Mowy told me he was there when Don Parish tackled
Johnny King, heard the ref call tackled then saw King regain
his feet and score the winning try. Heart breaking stuff.
A lot has been said about this game and how Jack Gibson came
into the dressing room before the game and said that West’s
had no chance because the ref had backed Saints! Well Mowy
told me that its all true. How does he know? Simple! Because
he was there! My view is easy I just quote the penalty count
18-7 against West’s.
It's now 1968 and Mowy decides it's going to be his last year
at Wests. He asks Billy Owens, the reserve grade coach, if
he can play closer to the action. This move would make him
more attractive to a country rugby league club. Bill agrees,
so he gets a few games as five–eighth and captain of
reserve grade and that’s how Mowy finished his football
career at Wests.
Reserve Grade team - 1968 (photo courtesy of Bill Owens)
Mowy is offered a captain-coach job in 1969 at Wollongong
where he looked after all 4 grades for the princely sum of
3 thousand dollars per year. Mowy left Wollongong in 1970
and guess who the new coach was? Another old magpie….
Noel Kelly. After leaving Wollongong Mowy captain-coached
Corrimal, also on the South Coast. He played and coached at
Corrimal until 1974.
The only reason that Mowy retired from football was a broken
jaw. It was broken in 3 places thanks to Hal Brown the ex-
Balmain player.
John Mowbray with that broken jaw
Mowy has done many things since then; he became involved with
the Surf Life Saving movement on the south coast. Owned a
farm at Berry where his love of trotting began.
He moved to Cessnock about 8 years ago and has become very
involved with the local trotting people. Mowy lost one of
his legs 3 years ago but this has not stopped him from getting
around. Mowy is a regular at the Pratten Park Magpies Reunion
and can still carry beers back from the bar.
He is a life member of Western Suburbs Football Club and was
nominated for the West’s Tigers team of the century.
John Mowbray with that broken jaw
Mowy played 10 seasons with West’s starting in 1959
when they were the millionaire club through to 1968. He played
in 85 first grade games scored 40 tries and also played many
lower grade games. Mowy was unlucky not to be picked in the
1963 Kangaroo Tour and when you think that his playing weight
was only 9 stone he always played well above his weight.
I would like to thank John for his time and the loan of his
scrap book and photos. It has made my job a real pleasure.
Over 40 years ago I was a big fan of Mowy but now that I know
the man I am an even bigger fan. Mowy thanks for the
memories...Tony
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