The Sandgate Hawks will celebrate its 70th anniversary on October 26.
At its first official training session in 1943, Sandgate Football club didn’t even have a football, having to use a basketball.
Seventy years on, the Hawks have become a fixture in Queensland footy, and are preparing to step up into the 2014 QAFL competition.
The Brisbane north side club, who is celebrating its 70th anniversary next weekend, has certainly come a long way since a South Australian ex-pat, Reg Buxton, kick-started the club’s initiation.
After a chance meeting with some local school children who played footy, Buxton held a meeting to throw out the idea of creating a football club.
With two teams in its first year of competition, 1944, around 50 Hawks players would travel to various parts of Brisbane.
While some of the younger players only had a slim chance of game time, they still joined the club for the ride.
It was these younger players, for which an E grade team was established, who nabbed the club’s first premiership, in 1945 – the first of a run of four straight.
This same team was the first to be entered into the local A Grade competition, in 1948.
One of the school children who triggered Buxton’s idea to start a footy club was Cyril Albury, who has become one of the club’s most well-known figures.
Both Cyril and brother, Ron, played in premierships for the red and green and in more recent times, their sons also donned the Hawks jumper.
Cyril, an artist, kept extensive diaries of the club’s early days, with guernseys sourced from an army warehouse and dyed navy blue with a yellow V sewn on the front.
To celebrate the club’s 70th anniversary, the Hawks will beholding a celebration on October 26 at 6pm at Lemke Rd. All past players, members and supporters are invited to attend. To purchase tickets, please contact Hawks Sporting Club at admin@sandgatehawks.com or Phone 3363 9666.
As well, the Hawks are putting together a book documenting the history of the club, and are looking for any information they can.
If anyone has any memorabilia such as team photos, other photos, newspaper clippings, Footy Records, Club Newsletters, etc. please contact: Betty Nicol (Phone: 3261 9878) or Janelle Forbes (0407 701 558).
