Norths Devils

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Norths Devils
Image:Norths-Devils LOGO.PNG
Full name Northern Suburbs Rugby League Football Club
Emblem Devil
Colours Sky Blue, Navy Blue, Gold
Founded 1927
Sport Rugby league
League Queensland Wizard Cup
Ground Albert Bishop Park
Capacity
CEO Mark Murray
Captain Anthony Boyd
Coach Wayne Treleaven
2005 2nd out of 11
Premierships 1934, 1938, 1940, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1980, 1998
Runners-Up 1931, 1932, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1967, 1970, 1990
Minor Premierships
Wooden Spoons
Biggest win 92-2 v Logan at Bishop Park, 2002
Worst defeat 60-10 v Burleigh at Bishop Park, 2005

The Northern Suburbs Devils are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and through their predecessors are one of the oldest clubs in the country.

Contents

[edit] History

The first incarnation of Northern Suburbs was the Past Grammars Rugby Union club, which was formed in 1887 as an Old Boys club for Brisbane Grammar School [1]. The club was quite successful in its early years, winning premierships in 1892, 1898 and 1899, as well as 1914 [2].

Following the disbandoning of club rugby union in Brisbane at towards the end of the First World War, Past Grammars, along with Christian Brothers and University, joined Rugby League in 1920 [3]

Past Grammars, also known as Grammar Norths, won their first premiership in 1927, before becoming Northern Districts, and later Northern Suburbs, following the introduction of District Football by the Brisbane Rugby League in 1933.

For many years Norths played out of Oxenham Park in Nundah, but they moved to their current homeground, Albert Bishop Park, in 1969. Commonly referred to simply as 'Bishop Park', it borders the Schulz Canal in Nundah, and is named after club stalwart Albert Bishop(MBE). Norths has a licenced Leagues Club, Norths Leagues, at Bishop Park, as well as a second licensed Club at Anzac Avenue, Kallangur, further north of Brisbane.

In the 1990s, along with many other Queensland clubs, Norths suffered heavily financially. Eventually it came to the stage that in 1998 they became a feeder club with National Rugby League newcomers, the Melbourne Storm, which attracted much needed finance, as well as some quality players, as well as securing the Devils' future. Also in 1998, the club won its first First Grade premiership since 1980 [4], beating Wests in the Grand Final.

In the 2006 NRL Grand Final Melbourne's 17 man team had 13 players who had played with Norths in past years, including Matt Geyer who won a Premiership with the Devils in 1998 and Melbourne in 1999. On top of that in the 2006 Tri Nations series 4 Norths players graduated to the Australian Kangaroo's squad and 2 players representing New Zealand Kiwi's via Melbourne Storm . Many North's players have played both Representative State and State of Origin Rugby League for Queensland Maroons and the NSW Blues over the years. The pathway to success in NRL, State of Origin and Internation Rugby League has worked for many Norths footballers.

Norths have won 13 A Grade, 17 Reserve Grade and 14 Colts/Third Grade Premierships. They hold the record for most consecutive A Grade BRL premierships, winning six in a row between 1959 and 1964. The Devils are one of the most successful Brisbane Rugby League clubs ever and are currently producing some of the most talented young players in Australia and New Zealand. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold.

2008 marks 75 years since the Northern Suburbs Rugby League Club came into existence. New alliences have begun with the Brisbane Broncos and Asply Devils. It is the Centenary of Rugby League in Australia combined with the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the Norths Devils we can expect another fantastic year of Rugby League in the Northern Suburbs of Brisbane.

Famous players

[edit] Results

  • 1996 - 9th
  • 1997 - 7th
  • 1998 - Premiers
  • 1999 - Preliminary Finalists
  • 2000 - Preliminary Semi-Finalists
  • 2001 - Preliminary Semi-Finalists
  • 2002 - Preliminary Finalists
  • 2003 - 8th
  • 2004 - Semi-Finalists
  • 2005 - Semi-Finalists
  • 2006 - 7th

[edit] References

  1. ^ Brief History of GPS
  2. ^ Brief History of GPS
  3. ^ Howell, Max and Reet. The Greatest Game Under The Sun: The History of Rugby League in Queensland (p47)
  4. ^ Queensland Rugby League

[edit] External links