Les Donnelly Field

Football in the Brunswick Valley

Les’ association with the club began in 1952, when he played in what was known as the United team – a combined team of players from Brunswick Heads and Billinudgel. Les left United to play with the Billinudgel team in 1953 and stayed there until retiring from football in 1959.

In the 1950s there were six teams in the Brunswick Valley competition: Brunswick Heads, Billinudgel, Byron Bay, Mooball, Bangalow and a combined Bangalow/Byron team. Games were originally played at the Recreation Ground near the High School and at the Mullumbimby Showground.

Wet fields and the “2 bob pub raffles”

When the competition moved to the fields at Pine Avenue, wet weather became a constant problem. The fields were council-owned, so players and spectators were often frustrated by closures and by not being able to play all of the planned games in a season. A decision was made to buy land and create fields owned by the club itself.

And so began the enthusiastic fund-raising effort known as the “2 bob pub raffles”. Players and committee members sold 20 cent tickets in meat tray raffles every Friday night at the Middle Pub and the Chincogan Tavern (known at the time as the Top Pub).

Buying the land

In 1977 Les negotiated for a parcel of 28 acres to be purchased by the club from Noel Porter. It cost $18,000. After placing a deposit on the land, documents were prepared to gain approval to build the main road into the ground. That approval was granted in 1978 by both the Department of Main Roads and Byron Shire Council.

Clearing and draining the fields

After the purchase, Les and a band of enthusiastic club members and volunteers started the arduous task of creating their own fields and clubhouse. The land was heavily wooded, so a fellow by the name of John Ward made his dozer available to knock down trees and clear the area.

The land was also very wet and had to be extremely well drained if the fields were going to be used to their full potential. Two large drainage pipes were placed the full length of the field, and twelve ag lines were placed across the field from one end up to the 25m line. Les recalled measuring out the field and double-checking it to be sure it was to specification. Soil removed for the drainage pipes was carefully spread across the field to improve the playing surface.

It is this meticulous planning that has proved a huge success, as the main field is now recognised as one of the best playing surfaces in regional NSW.

President, Ladies Auxiliary and a liquor licence

Les was Club President for a total of 12 years, stretching from the early 1970s to 1985, and worked hard to make the club’s vision of owning its own fields a reality. He had help from a number of people, including his wife, Mary.

The clubhouse opens

Building the clubhouse was an incredible achievement for a band of committed volunteers. The foundations and the entire lower storey were built by volunteers working after hours and on weekends. As the club became more financially secure, funds were used to pay tradesmen to complete the upper storey and the roof.

Les reported that it took only 18 months to complete the clubhouse and prepare the field for matches. In 1985 the first competition game was played on the new field and the clubhouse was officially opened.