Sport
6 May, 2025
Old chooks mark 50 years
THE Atherton Senior Roosters will celebrate another club milestone this year with the 50-year reunion of the 1975 back-to-back premiers.
The side claimed the title over Malanda in 1974 and then defeated Mossman 25-14 in the 1975 Eacham senior competition grand final.
Captain-coach Graham Bevan led the Roosters in both consecutive premierships before joining Cairns Brothers in 1976.
Fullback for the premiership sides Len “Pop” Standen reminisced on the glory days and was grateful to have won the grand final twice in a row.
“It was 50 years ago, and I barely remember what happened five days ago,” he laughed.
“All I remember is that my mate got a depressed cheekbone from one of our own players, I think that was in the Mossman game.
“I believe one of our centres took a tackle and his knee swung around and hit him in the cheek.
“And I was yelling at him to get up because they were pressing our line, and he turned around and half his right eyeball was hanging out!
“It was hard going back in those days. Our coach was Graham Bevan, and he was a hard taskmaster, you wanted to play for him more than anything, I suppose.
“He was a very good coach. I learnt a lot of stuff from him that took me a good step for the rest of my life.
“It was a great celebration. We held the key to the city for both years, which was good. The party was always good in Atherton.
“It’ll be good to catch up with all the old fellas. Atherton was a very important part of my upbringing.
“I just happened to be fortunate enough to be one of the 15 players to win it twice.”
The club is now inviting all players and connections of the premiership side to the reunion to be held in early June.
They are also extending invitations to past 70s players from the former senior Millaa Millaa, Malanda, Mareeba Easts and Mareeba Wests clubs to attend.
The reunion will be held on 6 and 7 June and will include a meet and greet and an acknowledgement before the 2025 Roosters take on the Mossman Sharks.
The meet and greet will be held at the Roosters clubhouse from 6pm on Friday 6 June and all players from the 1975 era will be acknowledged before the FNQRL game the following day from 2pm.
The Senior Roosters are also “honoured” to have former players from the 1975 Mossman side attending.
Established in 1918, the Atherton Senior Roosters play season 107 in 2025.
For more information, contact Darryl Day on 0427 735 367.
