Clarrie Fahy Explained

Clarence Wilfred 'Clarrie' Fahy (1898–1963) was an Australian rugby league administrator in the pioneer days of the St. George District Rugby league Football Club and later with the NSWRFL.

Administrative career and war service

Clarrie Fahy was born in Sydney on 23 March 1898 and he went on to become St. George's third Hon. Secretary, a hard and effective worker, that held a great feeling for the club. His involvement in Australian rugby league pre-dated St. George. He played with the Banksia Waratahs before World War One, he then served in the great War[1] and linked with Saints in 1922.

Fahy became the Third Grade Secretary in 1926, then took over from Reg Fusedale as Club Secretary in 1938.[2] He stayed as Club Secretary until 1944 then he was elected a Vice-president of the NSWRFL in the same year during his service in World War Two.

He went on to become a member of the ARL Board Of Control, and was later named team-manager of the 1956–1957 Kangaroo touring team for England and France.[3]

Accolades

Clarrie Fahy was awarded Life membership of the St. George Dragons in 1952. He was also a Life Member of the NSWRL in 1949 and a Life Member of Kogarah R.S.L Club[4] [5]

Death

His death in April 1963 was widely mourned. "Clarrie Fahy will be long remembered for his fair thinking on all football matters," said then NSWRFL President Bill Buckley in a ringing tribute.[6] Clarrie Fahy passed away at Rockdale, New South Wales on 17 April 1963.[7]

Notes and References

  1. AIF Project C. Fahy https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=93885
  2. The St.George Call (Kogarah) Photo of Clarrie Fahy, the new district Secretary 4 March 1938 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/232231578?searchTerm=%22clarrie%20fahy%22&searchLimits=l-state=New+South+Wales
  3. The March of the Dragons by Ian Heads (1989) (page 41)
  4. Web site: St George Illawarra Dragons - Jubilee Avenue.
  5. Rugby League News Vol 37 No. 22 (4 Aug 1956) "Clarrie Fahy's Fine Record" https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-758557612/view?sectionId=nla.obj-760107845&partId=nla.obj-758585396#page/n11/mode/1up
  6. Ian Heads
  7. Sydney Morning Herald (Death Notice) 18 April 1963