Almanac Book Reviews: Knuckles, The Don, and Ernie Sigley: Michael Sexton’s ‘Stories for Harry & Ray’

 

 

Fittingly, this collection opens with a Neil Kerley story.

 

It’s based around an interview which took place at Kerley’s Walker Flat property on the deck overlooking the Murray. Is he the single most important figure in the history of South Australian football? I’m unsure but he’s certainly in the conversation.

 

This book is comprised of short feature chapters by much loved Adelaide author Michael Sexton and is dedicated to his inspirational grandfathers. Such is its compelling nature that I read it, hungrily, in a couple sessions during which I was happily horizontal.

 

Every tale is instructive and engaging. Sexton is a rare author who writes effortless prose that’s at once conversational and meticulous. It’s endlessly captivating.

 

My first ever time at a league footy match was the 1976 SANFL grand final (thanks Dad) where I was witness to Sturt’s win and Rick Davies’ performance, so I was especially interested in this biographical sketch. As I expected it was funny, astonishing, and out-sized. I find ceaselessly astonishing the Jumbo Prince’s statistics on that day: 21 kicks, 21 hit outs, 21 handballs, 15 marks and one goal. Sitting on the boundary as part of the 66,000 crowd, I remember then running onto Footy Park after the siren to pat Davies on the back – I barely reached the number on his jumper. I imagine this would still be so.

 

One story features Archie Roach and Sir Doug Nicolls that takes us from Fitzroy to Government House in Adelaide. I’m grateful to have learnt more about both men and their contributes to their communities and nations.

 

Peter Darley was before my time, but I found the yarn about him insightful into an almost unknowable era. It reminded me of the type of tale Roy and HG routinely weave around unlikely celebrity pairings. As he had a local TV gig, Ernie Sigley was living in Adelaide and picked South Adelaide as his SANFL team because they looked like his beloved Carlton. Darley was a supremely talented footballer and not unlike legendary Australian Test cricketer Keith Miller with his matinee looks and rakish off-field exploits. About a significant afternoon Sigley’s words are telling and not a bit gob smacking-

 

‘Peter Darley is like a brother to me. A lovely man. An absolute freak. I took him to Elizabeth Oval one day when he was captain-coach, and we stopped on the way and had a bottle of red and a steak. He was best on ground.’

 

Apart from footballers there are stories of cricketers, soccer players and tennis players. The one about The Don and Thommo is amazing. Two men from opposite ends of just about every conceivable spectrum but bonded by Test cricket. The episode at the centre of this piece still makes me shake my head and prompted me to reevaluate my view of both.

 

One yarn which I’d never heard regarded the time Manchester United played South Australia. Part of this occurs in a bar in Elizabeth. Part of it features George Best. How these two connect gives us insight into a colourful and joyous past.

 

The blurb describes the likely readers as ‘fellow travellers’ and this is how I felt. I especially enjoyed Sexton’s terrific Chappell’s Last Stand and urge fans of sports writing to read Stories for Harry & Ray.

 

 

You can buy Stories for Harry & Roy Here

 

Read more from Mickey Randall HERE.

 

 

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