Tragedy

Much has been said about the great tragedies of Weston. Sid Grant in his History of Coalfields Soccer, penned this moving piece called 'Sad Days at Weston'. I will supplement it with more stories, especially around the players lost fighting with the AIF

Since the Weston Club was founded over 70 years ago, it has had many joys - but in stark contrast, it has had many moments of sorrow. Its glorious cavalcade of triumphs has been punctuated with tragic occurrences which have struck at intervals to bring the club to its knees. But with traditional pluck, it has weathered these crises. Probably, the blow which hit the club with its greatest grief was the loss of its stalwart skipper, Bill Lambert, when he was at the height of his playing career. Gloom and anxiety like black clouds hovered over the town when the news leaked out that Lambert had been critically injured by a fall of coal in Hebburn No. l. That was on Tuesday, 22nd November, 1921. Production ceased and all hands turned towards rescuing Lambert, who was taken to nearby Kurri hospital. 

Despite all medical skills and sympathetic nursing, Lambert, after a valiant effort to survive, passed away. 

A pall of sadness spread right across the soccer firmament. 

The funeral cortege was one of the biggest seen in the North since Les Darcy died and was buried at East Maitland. 

Thousands invaded the town and a panorama of sadness, bowed heads and dampened eyes · followed to the Kurri Cemetery. 

Here an eloquent tribute was paid by Rev. D. Wetherall, Metho­dist Clergyman form the Kuni Kurri Circuit. 

Mr. Wetherall said, "We have all congregated here in deep sorrow to honour a worthy citizen, a footballer of high rank, a leader of men - on and off the field, whose career has been cut off by this tragic occurrence. Let me tell you that for four days, Lambert battled manfully to live on but in the end he heard the referee's final whistle.

"His passing leaves a lesson to us all - be prepared at all times to play the game for the game's sake. 'Be modest in victory and generous in defeat' was his motto. As poet Byron once wrote, 'I must sleep now'. Vale Bill Lambert - the Pride of Weston." 

Bill Hicks, a regular fullback in the war years, wore the Albion colours with distinction. A master of positional play, he pinned his opponents into positions where his goal was safe. 

One can still hear his vocal appeal, "Wa ball!" when claiming a throw-in. 

When he retired, Hicks proved a keen trainer, but his untimely death following a fatal fall from a horse added sorrow before the 1922 season had ended. 

George Kennedy, who followed Hicks as trainer, was fatally in­jured in a mine accident. George played his senior football with Abermain and twice won interdistrict honours. A great optimist, George was liked by all. 

A Weston supporter, old Jack Winning, who lived in nearby Kurri, never missed a game at the Homestead. After a thrilling en­counter against Wallsend, when three players were ordered off, Jack collapsed on his way home. Jack played in the very first soccer game in the North at Lambton Park in 1883. He was the first goal­keeper for the once famous Minmi Rangers, 1883-1890. 

Then Mr. George Mather, Under Manager at Hebburn Colliery, collapsed and died after a keen and exciting match at the Homestead between Weston and Merewether. He had served the club faithfully as president, this was in 1924 [1914, Grant is out by a decade]. 

However, two years previously, lightning struck a galvanised dressing shed at the Homestead late in September, 1922. Two were killed - Peter Coppock, a former English player who was ready to win the code's highest honours, and a junior, Gordon Hatfield, aged 16 years. Four others were injured and rushed to hospital. 

In 1938 another blow when centre forward Rex Stevenson was accidently killed while on a shooting excursion. Stevenson was secured from Cessnock in 1935 and in 84 appearances in the "Black and White" stripe, Stevenson scored 66 goals - an excellent consistent form for such a youthful player. 

In 1970 another tragic blow when Tom Brown, a former Scot professional winger who joined Weston in 1968, was drowned whilst on a holiday at Surfers' Paradise. 

Brown proved a very penetrative type of winger who made 50 first grade appearances with the "Bears". 

These and other such events can be found at this link.