IT HAS been a long time since Chris Gabriel and Barry Emblem last donned a Londonderry Greys jersey, and they want to see everyone who used to do the same before the club folded in the 1980s.
The club is hosting a reunion on July 24 at its home ground, and wants anyone who has had a past association with the club to join them.
The pair said they could not wait to catch up with some of their old mates from the Greys.
Gabriel said he started playing for the team in the early 1960s.
Unlike today, where councils usually maintain grounds, Gabriel said there was an unusual pre-match routine the team had to go through.
“When we first started in 1963-64, we had to go to The Driftway to a bloke's farm and to clean the paddock up,” he said.
“We had to pick up cow patties so we could play football, and we had old trees for goal posts and it took us about an hour and a half to do our field and our parents always helped.”
Gabriel said he was 13 when he first played for the club, and was stoked when he found out it was being resurrected.
“It has been years since we've been together and hopefully we can get a few old players out here to have a good time with us at the reunion,” he said.
“I was excited when I found out the club was starting back up. I've just been doing my best to help out and I try to make it to every game I can.
“It has been tremendous to see how the town has got behind us.”
Emblem said a united Londonderry was what he remembered most about the only season he played for the club before it folded.
“Bringing the township together was the main thing for me and the friends I made from the footy,” he said.
“It has been getting excitement back into the town. It gets the kids off the street. On Sundays you can't get a parking spot here on Sundays.
“I haven't seen a lot of the in the 30 odd years since we finished up. Getting to see all the old boys back and have a yarn and a drink will be good.”
Former NRL player Buck Rogers, who restored the club after the passing of his daughter Leanne, said he had organised for some of his former NRL team mates to join the Greys, including former Canberra Raiders legend David Furner among others.
