1922

From Sid Grant History of Coalfields Soccer

A clever young centre, "Crabbie" McCroarey joined the Home­stead squad in 1922 along with Penman, Jock Martin, Geo. Avis, Richardson, Bates and Adams. Jack Avis missed many games through injury. The club's chief achievement was to qualify for Kerr Cup final v Wallsend, which they won rather easily by 5 to 1. Weston's XI was - R. Cockburn, T. Oliver, J. Penman, G. Avis. J. Martin, J. Bates, H. Adams, C. Richardson, J. McCroarey, J. Gilmour, J. Mather. Their life in the Gardiner Cup was brief - out in 1st round to Wallsend by 1 to 0. Scorers were Gilmour (17), McCroarey (15).

From Bill Walker's statistics

1921 senior semi final		Bob Austin, Penman, Barker, R. Austin, W. Lambert (1), Derricott, Bates, McCroarey, T. Oliver, J .Avis, Mathers	Lost 3-1 to Cessnock (from HH)
1922	Weston XI	McCroarey, J. Penman, J. Martin, Geo, G. Avis, C. Richardson, J. Bates, H. Adams, R. Cockburn, T. Oliver, J. McCroarey, J. Gilmour, J. Mather, R. Austen, A. Liddle.
1922 Kerr Cup final		R. Cockburn, Tommy Oliver, J. Penman, Jack Avis, J. Martin, J. Bates, J. Adams, W. Richardson, J. McCroarey, Jack Gilmour, J. Mather	Beat Wallsend 5-1 (from HH)
22 July 1922	South Maitland	1922 At Kurri Kurri 20/7/1922 South Maitland v Australia	v. Australia (From HH)

South Maitland team:

Back Row: G. Endean (Lines), A. Henderson, J. Martin (Capt), J . Strang , P. Coppock (Weston),  J. Bates (Manager) 
Middle Row: T. Crawford (Referee), J. Avis (Weston), T. Oliver (Weston), P. Lennard, J. Gilmore (Weston), L. Brown
Front Row: G. Williams, Bob Austin (Weston), D. Leese (Weston)

Walker confirms and/or improves Grant's notes and adds the material on Weston's contribution to the South Maitland team that beat Australia at Kurri Kurri.

From Philip Mosely Soccer in New South Wales, p. 42

"In 1922 Tamlyn did arrange more home matches for Cessnock, Kurri Kurri and Weston, as required by a directive from the NSW Soccer FA. However, the weekly spectacle of the ‘big match’ remained and was reinforced by Cup ties, finals and representative games."

Because the Tramway ground at Hamilton had become such a money spinner, the strong Coalfields clubs had been forced to play there and lose home ground advantages. While the NSWSFA directed the Northern Association to desist, the tension remained, probably sowing the seeds of what was to come in the form of the State League. IS