Weston Pagans Rugby League Club 

WESTON PAGANS - C GRADE PREMIERS 1912

Weston NSW: Weston Pagans, C. Grade Premiers 1912. Names mentioned: G. Richardson (Manager), A.J. Norris (Delegate & Treasurer), A. Burns (President), H. Gollan (Supporter), W. Dixon (trainer), W. Yates, J. Anderson, E. Dodd, J. Ritchie, J. Casos, H. Devon, W. McNabb (trainer), A. Hales, W. Williams (Hon. Secretary), H. Mitcheson, L. Dodd (Captain), G. Turnbull and T. Jenkins.

    ~ Coalfields Heritage Group   

The Weston Pagans Rugby League team was established very early in the life of the town. Needless to say, the name 'Pagans' could not help but have a legend attached!  The late Andrew James 'Mick' Frame O.A.M. (1911-2004), born in Weston and a former Deputy Mayor and Freeman of the City of Cessnock, passed on a story to his niece Julie in 2002, about how the Pagans football field and the local league team, got the name:

Mick Frame said that some of the young lads in town who worked in the coal mines mines ‘borrowed’ gelignite from the pit to blow out tree stumps and clear the field for football matches. He said that the local Catholic priest, Father Cullen, an Irishman, used to drive by that way when visiting his parishioners. The young lads would run alongside Father Cullen’s horse and buggy, sometimes swinging off the back to torment him. It is said that Father Cullen would wave his fist at them shouting, ‘you’re a lot o’ pagans…you’re just a lot o’ pagans!’

Newspaper clipping of how the Pagans team got their name from Father Cullen who is mentioned in a 1935 edition of the Cessnock Eagle newspaper 20 Sep 1935. ~ TROVE:

Above: Mick Frame's recollection of the legend of Father Cullen was supported by this clipping in a 1935 edition of the Cessnock Eagle newspaper.

~ TROVE: Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder 

(1913-1954)

Publication: Friday 20 Sep 1935, p.5

THE PAGANS CAFE

Weston NSW: The Pagans Cafe - Fourth Street Weston NSW. At the time the photograph was taken Mr Ross Miller was the proprietor.

The Pagans Cafe in Fourth St., Weston c.1956

At this time the shop was run by Mr Ross Miller

~ Coalfields Heritage Group

Andrew and Eliza Frame of Fourth St., Weston, once owned this shop/cafe on the corner of Kline Street and Fourth Streets Weston. At that time it was named 'the Pagan's Cafe.'  Known proprietors of these premises over the years have included: Frame, Tweddle, Sidebottom, Drinkwater, Haywood, Gibson, Lynch, Austin, Bristow and Harrison.

1935: Weston Pagans won the Cunningham Shield.

PAGANS PICNIC AT NELSON BAY c.1944

Weston NSW: Pagans picnic at Nelson Bay NSW c.1944. Back row: Alex Frame, Kenny Rouse, Ron Wallace, Les Rouse, Jack Lumsden, Bill Shrimpton. Front rơ: Jim Robson, Keith Paul, Joan Close and Tommy Dodds. ~ Alex Frame

~ Alex Frame 

FIRST PAGANS TEAM FOLLOWING WWII

Weston NSW: First Pagans Team following WWII (1946) Back L-R: -- ?; Billy Stanbridge; Jack Lumsden; Les Rouse; Joe Falk; Jim Crossley; Jim Robson; Bill Brown; Alex Frame Front L-R: Harry Matthews; Keith Paul; Tom Dodds ~ Alex Frame

Above:   First Pagans Team following WWII  (1946)

Back L-R:  -- ?;  Billy Stanbridge; Jack Lumsden; Les Rouse;  Joe Falk;  Jim Crossley; Jim Robson; Bill Brown; Alex Frame

Front L-R: Harry Matthews; Keith Paul; Tom Dodds

~ Alex Frame

1948 - 1950:

PAGANS - RUGBY LEAGUE PREMIERS

Weston NSW: Pagans Weston Rugby League Premiers 1948. Back Row (L to R) B. Foster, T. Roberts, H. Mathews, A. Barker, J. Wallace, W. Liddle, R. Thomas, 2nd Row: R. Lloyd, A. Browning R. Hindmarsh, L. Dodd, R. Atkinson, R. Rae, T. Nugent. 3rd Row: R. Taylor, R. Wallace, R. Cook, R. Hamilton (Captain), T. Sullivan (V. Captain), J. Lumsden, W. George. Bottom Row: T. Dodds, T. Saxton, B. Foster (Mascot), G. Stanbridge, P. Ryan. ~ Model Studios
Weston NSW: Pagans Weston Rugby League Premiers 1948-1950. Back Row (L. to R.)-K. Kennedy, B. Wallace (Pres.), A. Lumsden, L. Hawkins (Sec.), W. Skelton, W. Pugh, R. Henderson (Trainer). Second Row.- J. Reay, J. Hall. W. Reay, W. Waller, A. Barker. H. Matthews, L. Smith, P. Ryan. Third Row. J. Miller, T. Sullivan (Vice-Captain), R. Hamilton (Captain), G. Difford, A. Knott. Front. G. Stanbridere. A. Hincheliffe. (Inset)-R. McGoldrick.

~Coalfields Heritage Group

1953:

WESTON RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB

Weston NSW: Weston Rugby League Club . BACK ROW: G. DIFFORD, J. TAIT, R. LUMSDEN, A. BARKER, D. BROWNING, J. RAEY, W. STANBRIDGE. SECOND ROW: G. STANBRIDGE, J. MILLER, A. HARROD, S. O’NEIL, H. MATHEWS, A. KNOTT, J. KIDD, W. WESTOE, G. BAILEY THIRD ROW: A. DIFFORD (Treas.), R. THOMAS, E. DUNLOP (Coach), R. HAMILTON (Capt.), L. SMITH, R. HENDERSON, A. LUMSDEN (Vice-Pres.) BOTTOM ROW: E. SMITH (Mascot), L. HAWKINS (Secretary), W. HAMILTON (Mascot).

WESTON RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB 1953

~Coalfields Heritage Group