The Feds are back

Written By Cahn D. Cotter

For Danny Khoury, a traditionalist and Club President of the Enfield Federals, is just one season off from producing what could well be the greatest club fight back in the history of junior Rugby League.

A once Federal with Brother Paul in their teens for twelve years; Danny knows what it means to be a FED.

In 2010, he resurrected the club from no-where and with the help of Strathfield Mayor Tony Maroon, helped the oldest club in Australia wipe debt free and find its feet again.

The Enfield Federals have a long history, a story to enthral all who listen. They had times when even mythical titans could not have struck them down. And then the worst of times came when the club was forced to fold.

But as that era ended, Danny created a new one where the passion, traditions and blood run thick, keeping them alive in the 21st century. This new lease of life for Enfield has seen the club grow in a short period, with Grand fathers, fathers and mothers returning their children to play for ‘Ye Ole Faithful’.

The Enfield Federals are back.

An era begins, and then ends…

The Enfield Federals took the field at Cooke Park, Belfield in 1912 wearing the now traditional Magpie coloured Guernsey. The badge of honour, a simple E.F sign placed inside a shield.

From this day, the Enfield Federals would be a team remembered for long traditions, champion players and a long history of success. However, with this long history came its ‘ups and downs’.

Enfield took a break through World War One to help the efforts of the soldiers on the Western Front.

After returning from a four-year stint on the sidelines, the Feds returned to play for another twenty-two years, until 1936 where legend has it that the whole team were disqualified for fighting on the field against local derby side, Burwood.
What made this legend famous though, was that the ‘Fisty Cuffs’ continued all afternoon and all night before finishing up in a local Pub, the Crossways.

After World War Two, the Enfield Diggers emerged as the prominent side leaving the Federal name behind.
However, the club went through another growth period, and as the juniors began to expand the club, the name again changed to the Enfield Waratahs.

Prior to 1959, the Enfield Waratahs were absorbed and became South Strathfield J.R.L. However club President at the time, John Hehir fought and claimed back the original name, the Enfield Federals.

From this time forward, the Feds were unstoppable, histories honour boards show that these sides could play Rugby League.

‘F’ grade went undefeated in three seasons, scoring 482 points for and only 4 against – not having their try line crossed.
Later in 1969, Enfield ‘E’ Grade almost equalled that record in one season with 478 for and 22 against.

Then the unimaginable; Enfield in 1996 where forced to fold and the long history looked doomed until Danny Khoury decided to fight again for what was right.

And now; thanks to Danny Khoury and his passions for the junior game, junior club and community adds another chapter to this successive, traditional folklore story that is the Enfield Federals.

Successes

In all, the Enfield Federals have won 76 premierships since 1959.

The Enfield Federals had a lot of success with hookers. From 1912 – present there has been six professional League hookers produced by Enfield, the most recent one Robbie Farah.

The most note-able of players though to succeed through the FED ranks was Jim Sedaris. Jim’s long history began in the U/11’s for Enfield where he won the best and fairest award six years in a row.

John Purcell was another hooker that played 10 seasons for Wests in the Tommy Raudonikis era.

Then there was a talented centre, fullback and winger who played all of his junior football with the FEDS before getting the opportunity with Wests in 1976 where his sizzling acceleration, side-step and backing up made him a constant danger to the opposition. He is no other than Wayne Smith. Wayne later in his career transferred to Cronulla from Wests and finished playing with Gosford.

Hazem El Masri also grew up playing for the FEDS before his boot, speed and agility took him all the way to the top with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, where he became the greatest ever point scorer in the history of the NRL.

Anthony Mundine also strapped his boots for a season with the Federals.


First Grade Players

Tim Pickup Robert Smith John Kearns
Dennis Pittard Tony Ford Sid Walsh
John Armstrong Rod Smith Peter Chapman
Bruce Beer Michael McLean Bill Keato
Jeff Nielson Frank Tagg John Clark
Ken Hay John Purcell Nev Sinclair
Wayne Smith Peter Woodword Jim Croucher
Mick Evans John Crow Phillip Graham
Scott Gale Brett Davidson Brett Gale
Geoff Spotswood P. Fitzwalter Jim Sedaris
Hazem El Masri Robbie Farah Paul Khoury


Danny Khoury talks 2010 for the Enfield Federals

When Danny Khoury walked into Strathfield Councils Offices with his unique story, Mayor Tony Maroon decided to help the Enfield Federals causes.

Tony was more than happy to help after hearing Danny’s ideas of helping the Rugby League Community and bringing the traditional Enfield Federals back into the game.

Tony Maroon wiped $12,000 debt from the Enfield club and was in full support of them returning.

Danny is adamant that juniors who get the opportunity or want to play with Enfield Federals will be a part of a tight community with long traditions.

“It is non-for-profit organisation. It’s all for the kids and is always going to be for the kids,” Danny continued.

“We will help them out with their uniforms and help them be a part of a team who is very supportive to getting juniors playing Rugby League.”

The Enfield Guernsey remains the same colours, the black and white, however Danny chose to modernise it with a new coat of arms.

“There have been three emblems in total throughout our history which are the E.F symbol inside a shield, the old coat of arms and now the new coat of arms,” Danny said.

“We are the only club with the coat of arms as a logo, and we are proud to wear it and have it.”

Enfield Federals have always had successful eras’ and this new one is no doubt going to be the same.

Since 1912 the club has always averaged between 19-20 teams, but now there are only 5. The U/15’s which Danny coaches are the highest graded team and they have already moved up in the ranks in 2010 because of the quality of players involved.

Further to that all the Enfield teams won in the first round of 2010, a clean sweep.

Danny is looking for more players; new players, old players and players that have had family background involved to come to the Enfield Federals and make a once dominant club in the past, an impressive club in the future.

“At the moment it’s not about premierships, it’s about getting the Federals name out there and building up the community, developing and primarily helping the juniors in the sport of Rugby League.”

“Premierships are a bonus and will hopefully come later.”

You can join the Federals reunion at Belfield RSL, Friday 23rd July 2010 at 7pm. You can contact President of Enfield Federals, Danny Khoury 0433 690 677.