Maggies fly home
Fiona Brady
05Jun08
Mini Magpie fan can't wait for Sunday when his football team returns to its spiritual home. Picture: Brad Hunter
MINI Magpies fan Jonas Cook can't wait for Sunday when his football team returns to its spiritual home.
While Jonas, 3, (pictured) is looking forward to the jumping castles, his dad Simon Cook, a Magpies fan, knows the historical significance of the return to Pratten Park in Ashfield.
The Western Suburbs Rugby League Club was formed at the Ashfield town hall on February 4, 1908.
Since then the foundation club has endured many ups and downs, including winning four first-grade premierships, numerous wooden spoons, moves to new areas and finally, in 1999, merging with Balmain to form Wests Tigers.
But Pratten Park was their home ground through their glory days.
On Sunday it will be a hub of activity as the community come together to celebrate the centenary of rugby league and a centenary of the Western Suburbs Magpies.
The action will include a golden oldies game at 11.50am and jumping castles and face painting for the little ones.
Many former players are expected to join in the celebrations, including Wests legend Noel Kelly.
At 1.30pm, the NRL Centenary plaque will be unveiled.
The main game of the day will be the NSW Cup clash between Wests Magpies and Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers at 2.30pm.
The gates open at 10.30am.
