Manly Warringah history question.

[MulletMcNasty]

Hi all, I hope that you can help with this.
A good friend of mine and fellow Manly supporter sent me this message
"Kev do you know of any book or books on the history of the club? I read somewhere that it started in the 30's as a surf club playing other sides in the area became Manly Warringah and in 1947 was registered in the NSWRL and adopted the sea eagle logo"
I thought that I could find the answer here.
I hope this post is in the right forum, but I'm sure all the answers are here.
Thanks for your help.
Kevin.

 

[Woodsie]

The sea eagle has landed : the story of Manly-Warringah Rugby League Club / Robert Smith - Catalogue | National Library of Australia

catalogue.nla.gov.au

Try this Mullet ..

 

[MulletMcNasty]

Thanks for that.

 

[globaleagle]

"bump"

In case anyone else has some good info.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

And this is what it looks like. Published in 1991, covering Club history until the end of the 1990 season:

At the time, you had to order it directly from the Club.

 

[Shoe1]

This is accurate

History of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[castle eagle]

The sea eagle has landed : the story of Manly-Warringah Rugby League Club / Robert Smith - Catalogue | National Library of Australia

catalogue.nla.gov.au

Try this Mullet ..

its a good read

 

[Bearfax]

Its a good read. I have a copy.

 

[Brissie Kid]

Hi all, I hope that you can help with this.
A good friend of mine and fellow Manly supporter sent me this message
"Kev do you know of any book or books on the history of the club? I read somewhere that it started in the 30's as a surf club playing other sides in the area became Manly Warringah and in 1947 was registered in the NSWRL and adopted the sea eagle logo"
I thought that I could find the answer here.
I hope this post is in the right forum, but I'm sure all the answers are here.
Thanks for your help.
Kevin.

Manly entered the Presidents Cup in 1932 and adopted maroon jersey with white collar. These are the same colours as Freshwater SLSC, but that seems to just be coincidence. More likely it was choice made as the maroon colour was available as Glebe were kicked out in 1929 or because it was the Manly Juniors colours in the A Grade comp.

Rugby League finally came to Manly and the peninsula in 1932 when a Manly and Warringah Junior League was established under the senior district club - North Sydney. The initial A Grade teams were North Curl Curl, Harbord, Manly Juniors (maroon with white V), Brookvale (maroon and gold) and Narrabeen. Use of grounds of reasonable standard was difficult, especially as Manly Council denied the use of Manly Oval. The Council though had no issue with the Manly rugby union club's use of the ground. Meanwhile, Warringah Council with its very limited resources was bending over backwards to assist the new sport and provided the Junior League with an enclosed ground - Brookvale Showground.

The formation of the Manly-Warringah Junior League afforded the area with its first representative team in the NSWRL's Presidents Cup state knockout competition for U'18 players.

... 1947 ...
Manly immediately adopted the maroon and white colours they had used for their Presidents Cup team since its inception. They chose for an emblem the sea eagle - the native bird of prey of the Sydney coastline. The use of emblems on jerseys and as a marketing tool was way in the future, and a number of media writers simply referred to Manly as the "sea gulls". However, while they never raised an objection to being called sea gulls (emphasising how much of a non-issue emblems/marketing names were at the time) the club maintains that it has always officially been the Sea Eagles since their first day.

Manly Sea Eagles - RL1908.com

Rugby League - the official site of RL1908 providing Rugby League history and NRL history in Australia and New Zealand

web.archive.org

In the RL News in April 1948: The club has adopted the Red-Backed Sea Eagle as the design for their club emblem. It is hoped to have badges available for club supporters shortly.

Vol. 29 No. 4 (April 26, 1948)

nla.gov.au

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

Well it seems it is true that Manly Sea Eagles have never played in Manly, except for a picnic cricket match on Manly Oval about 15 years ago. The news stories below show Manly Sea Eagles officials trying really hard in the first few years of the club to get some games at Manly Oval. Surely it is time for Manly Sea Eagles to play a trial game next year in MANLY at Manly Oval.

RUGBY LEAGUE AT MANLY.
(1939, October 25). The Sydney Morning Herald
The Manly Warringah Junior Rugby League, in a letter to the New South Wales Rugby League telling of a successful season said that it was the ambition of the Junior League to have a senior district club established. The letter stated that there had been 16 junior League teams as against six Rugby Union teams in the district this year. There was good reason to expect additional teams in the League, but the letter suggested that the head body should endeavour to make some arrangement with Rugby Union and the Manly Council, whereby the League Juniors could obtain some dates on Manly Oval. Brookvale Oval, which has been the headquarters of the junior league, Is now occupied by the military authorities. RUGBY LEAGUE AT MANLY. - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 25 Oct 1939

22 August 1946 'North's Won't Oppose Manly's Entry', The Daily Telegraph
"Rugby League is booming in Manly, and at a junior match at Brookvale Oval last Sunday, we had an attendance of 7000. "One of the committee's objects Is to secure Manly Oval for our home
ground. "Manly Oval is now used for Rugby Union. "We have planned to send a deputation to Manly Council, in an effort to secure Manly Oval. "We also are seeking Government
support to get this oval." North's Won't Oppose Manly's Entry - The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954) - 22 Aug 1946

12 December 1946 RUGBY LEAGUE officials are concerned about an advertisement appearing in local newspapers at Manly calling tenders for Manly Oval for the 1947, 1948, and 1949 football seasons. The advertisement called for offers "from Rugby Union clubs or an association of such clubs." They say the League seems to have been refused " the opportunity of tendering, despite the creation of a first-grade club in Manly-Warringah area. Talking of SPORT - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 12 Dec 1946

3 February 1947 MANLY RUGBY UNION CLUB is out to woo public support with night games this season. This is its answer to Rugby League competition in the "Village." The matches will be put on under floodlights on Manly Oval, of which the club has a three years' lease. Talking of SPORT - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 3 Feb 1947

2 March 1950 Manly Oval to Union By E. W. Kann
Manly Council has granted Manly Rugby Union a further three years lease of Manly Oval under the same terms and conditions as previously. Manly Rugby League had been making every effort to
secure some playing days at Manly Oval. Full control, however, will still be invested in the Manly
Rugby Union. Other football bodies desiring to use the oval will have to make application to Manly RU, which is certain to refuse the Rugby League use of the ground. Manly Oval to Union - The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954) - 2 Mar 1950

 

[BOZO]

And this is what it looks like. Published in 1991, covering Club history until the end of the 1990 season:
View attachment 18570

View attachment 18571
At the time, you had to order it directly from the Club.

Thank you feathered friend
The Manly Bible
One of my favorite verses By the Great Manly Apostle and Great Premiership Winning coach Cranky Franky Stanton
" They were never going to give in . I will take it to my grave
the vision of Terry Randall getting up for the last game
needing not one but seven pain killing injections
It was sheer mind over matter "

This is one of the many Triumphant Reasons I wanted to belong to Manly feathered friends

Busted but Never Ever Broken
Igor the 4 time Premiership Winning Eagle

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

I wonder if Manly Oval is up to NRL training standards anyway.

 

[Freddo]

I know Manly always say they were always the Sea Eagles but in the early 50's I think more people knew them as the Seagulls than Sea eagles in those days. Listen to the old song they used to play at the ground (you can find it on spotify search "Manly Warringah")
The first line is "Up the mighty seagulls goes the chant around the Ground".
I was also told in those early days that Tweed Heads Seagulls had claim to the Seagulls name so Manly had to change. TH seagulls is much older than MW. Probably urbans myths but I believed it for many years.

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

I know Manly always say they were always the Sea Eagles but in the early 50's I think more people knew them as the Seagulls than Sea eagles in those days. Listen to the old song they used to play at the ground (you can find it on spotify search "Manly Warringah")
The first line is "Up the mighty seagulls goes the chant around the Ground".
I was also told in those early days that Tweed Heads Seagulls had claim to the Seagulls name so Manly had to change. TH seagulls is much older than MW. Probably urbans myths but I believed it for many years.

(Manly Daily / May 02, 2014): ARKO SAID MANLY WERE NEVER THE SEAGULLS

"I would like a dollar for every person over the years who has asked me when Manly changed its emblem from the Seagulls to Sea Eagles.

Fact is Manly have been the Sea Eagles since the club first competed in the then NSW Rugby League competition on Saturday, April 12, 1947 at Brookvale Oval against Western Suburbs.

The club’s President’s Cup side won the premiership in 1946 and included some household names in the late great Roy Bull, a halfback called Ken Arthurson and Syd Fisher the Sydney to Hobart champion skipper and sailor.

They played in the maroon and white colours of Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club.

Manly adopted the colours and still play in them today.

In the 1950’s Manly’s jersey featured a big white bird on the front — it was supposed to be a Sea Eagle but many took it to look more like a Seagull so hence the confusion.

It wasn’t helped by the fact that a column in the weekly official program was featured under the banner Manly Seagulls.

It took a concerted effort from the club secretary Ken Arthurson in the early 60’s to have the club referred to correctly as the Sea Eagles.

I hope someone tells Commission Chairman John Grant.

Maybe Arko can tell him and give him a few tips on how to front the media at the same time."

[Resurrected] Thread 'SEAGULLS MYTH BROKEN'

May 3, 2014

ARKO SAID MANLY WERE NEVER THE SEAGULLS (and Arko would know as he was around even before Manly was accepted into NSWRL).

Peter Peters' article (Manly Daily / May 02, 2014):

"I would like a dollar for every person over the years who has asked me when Manly changed its emblem from the Seagulls to Sea Eagles.

Fact is Manly have been the Sea Eagles since the club first competed in the then NSW Rugby League competition on Saturday, April 12, 1947 at Brookvale Oval against Western Suburbs.

The club’s President’s Cup side won the premiership in 1946 and included some household...

• Ramrod

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[Once Was Brissie Kid]

On April 26th 1948 edition of Rugby League News (became Big League).

"The club has adopted the Red-Backed Sea Eagle as the design for their club emblem. It is hoped to have badges available for club supporters shortly."

Vol. 29 No. 4 (April 26, 1948)

nla.gov.au

The tale behind the Sea Eagles colours and emblem
Wayne Cousins
“Up until the fifties clubs didn’t worry about symbols, but I think it was a journalist of that time, Jim Mathers, who called us the Seagulls, which I suppose was understandable as we came from the beaches…and we weren’t like an eagle in those days, we weren’t very competitive.
“But nobody questioned it and they just went along with the Seagull tag, but the Sea Eagle has always officially been the emblem.”

The tale behind the Sea Eagles colours and emblem

Like any business starting out fresh, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles had very little to begin with in their debut season of 1947.

www.seaeagles.com.au

The brahminy kite (Haliastur indus), also known as the red-backed sea-eagle in Australia. It is found across the northern coast of Australia and on the east coast as far south as Sydney. Brahminy kite - Wikipedia

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

On April 26th 1948 edition of Rugby League News (became Big League).

"The club has adopted the Red-Backed Sea Eagle as the design for their club emblem. It is hoped to have badges available for club supporters shortly."

Vol. 29 No. 4 (April 26, 1948)

nla.gov.au

The tale behind the Sea Eagles colours and emblem

Gotta love a fact supported by evidence, especially in these largely fact-free times. Thank you!

 

[The Wheel]

Gotta love a fact supported by evidence, especially in these largely fact-free times. Thank you!

There is an old saying that ‘facts spoil a good story’

 

[Freddo]

I had seen all the evidence presented as others have said, I don't doubt it is all true. But what is the explanation for the song they used to play at Brookie games.Listen to it yourself. Maybe a rogue staff member or my hearing was bad. All the kids I knew sang Seagulls at that time. 🙂🦅

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I had seen all the evidence presented as others have said, I don't doubt it is all true. But what is the explanation for the song they used to play at Brookie games.Listen to it yourself. Maybe a rogue staff member or my hearing was bad. All the kids I knew sang Seagulls at that time. 🙂🦅

If you say or sing Sea Eagles fast it sounds like Seagles 🙂

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

I had seen all the evidence presented as others have said, I don't doubt it is all true. But what is the explanation for the song they used to play at Brookie games.Listen to it yourself. Maybe a rogue staff member or my hearing was bad. All the kids I knew sang Seagulls at that time. 🙂🦅

This one’s for you, Frederick Mondegreen: