Tim Ghys continues his series on the career of Henry ‘Ivo’ Crapp as Crapp takes his first steps in what was to become a long career in umpiring.
Almanac Footy History – The Crapp Chronicles Part 2: Three Cheers for Crapp’s first year
October 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Almanac Rugby League – RITV: Kangaroo Tour Memories – The 1982 Invincibles
October 16, 2025 by 5 Comments
In the lead-up to the 2025 rugby league Ashes Tour, RITV casts his mind back to 1982 and ‘The Invincible’ Tour by the team ‘that changed rugby league forever’.
Almanac Rugby League (History) – Henry (Harold) Frank Bichel
September 25, 2025 by 2 Comments
Ian Hauser remembers his Uncle Harold Bichel who played his one and only game for the Australian Kangaroos exactly ninety years ago today.
Almanac Rugby League – The 26th Annual Tom Brock Lecture: Stories of PNG Rugby League
September 4, 2025 by 1 Comment
Patrick Skene had his first rugby league story published on The Footy Almanac in 2014. This week he presented the 26th Annual Tom Brock Lecture in Sydney, speaking about the history of rugby league in Papua New Guinea and their entry into the NRL in 2028.
Almanac Rugby League: A league lamb no longer lost
April 1, 2025 by 4 Comments
Although a firm AFL follower Andrew ‘Dougie’ Fraser admits he is also a fellow NRL traveller and recalls his attraction to the game and the Canberra Raiders.
Almanac Rugby League (Book Review) – ‘The Power and the Passion: Rugby League in the 1980s’
November 7, 2024 by 4 Comments
Russel Hansen revisits rugby league in the 1980s via his review of ‘The Power and the Passion: Rugby League in the 1980s’ by Alan Whiticker and Ian Collis.
Almanac Rugby League (Publications): Bob Bax and Roy Francis
November 7, 2024 by 2 Comments
Dr Greg Mallory is, among other things, a rugby league historian and an academic. He brings to our attention two new publications for diehard fans of ‘the greatest game of all’.
Almanac Rugby League: The vexed question of expansion
August 29, 2024 by 2 Comments
Our rugby league editor Ian Hauser outlines some of the proposals for the 18th, 19th and 20th licences in an expanded NRL.
Almanac Rugby League: Henson Park
July 4, 2024 by 5 Comments
John Campbell takes us back to the glory days of Newtown playing at Henson Park and shows us that sport is much more than sport. Yet another of his distinctive artworks adorns this piece. [Beautiful piece – JTH]
Almanac Rugby League – Book Release: ‘Rugby League in New Zealand: a people’s history
August 23, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Glen Dwyer from the Newtown Jets brings to our attention a new book about rugby league win New Zealand, ‘Rugby League in New Zealand: a people’s history’ by Ryan Bodman.
Almanac (New) Books: ‘The Immortals of State of Origin’ by Liam Hauser
May 31, 2023 by 4 Comments
Journalist and sports historian Liam Hauser has a new book on the shelves, ‘The Immortals of State of Origin’. We invited Liam to share the background of the new release.
Almanac Rugby League – Vale John Sattler: One of South Sydney’s greatest
March 22, 2023 by 5 Comments
Rugby league icon John Sattler was immortalised in an image from the 1970 Grand Final. Russel Hansen pays a moving tribute to the South Sydney legend who passed away yesterday.
Almanac Rugby League: My love affair with the Bunnies
September 1, 2022 by 3 Comments
John Campbell goes back to another era he regards as Australia’s ‘daggy period’ when Bob Menzies, conservatism and the St George Dragons ruled the roost. But change was a’coming.
Almanac Rugby League: The life and death of the NSWRL’s City v Country match
May 26, 2022 by Leave a Comment
City v Country was an iconic feature of the NSWRL representative calendar for decades. Here’s a look back over the history of the annual clash which provided the start of a career pathway for many players, courtesy of the ABC’s Nick Campton.
Wantok Almanac: PNG Footy and the Zimmie, Ace & Thyra show
March 29, 2022 by 7 Comments
Jarrod Landells and David Bridie’s Wantok Almanac highlight the love of footy in all its codes in found in PNG, with focus on some names of the future.
Memorial: Olsen Filipaina (includes link to live stream)
February 21, 2022 by Leave a Comment
A service in memory of Olsen ‘Big O’ Filipaina will be held today in Sydney – for those unable to attend, there is a remote option available to pay your respects to a life that inspired many.
Almanac Rugby League: Vale Olsen Filipaina, trailblazer
February 10, 2022 by Leave a Comment
The sadness in the rugby league community continues with the news today of the death of Kiwi legend Olsen Filipaina. The Footy Almanac pays tribute to a universally admired and respected player who was a trailblazer for Polynesian footballers seeking to play in the bigger leagues of New Zealand and Australia.
Almanac Rugby League: Vale Johnny ‘Chook’ Raper
February 10, 2022 by 3 Comments
Johnny Raper, chosen as one of the original Immortals of rugby league, has passed away at the age of 82 after a long illness. Ian Hauser pays tribute to a player who revolutionised the position of lock forward.
Buckley v Tutty: Fifty years on from the most important case in the history of Australian Sport
December 13, 2021 by 6 Comments
Today is a day to remember (and perhaps thank if you are a professional athlete) Dennis Tutty, a now long retired Balmain Tigers player who in 1971 took on the sporting establishment and won in the High Court.
Recent Comments