Ken McCaffery (27 September 1929 – 6 February 2021) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer, commentator and administrator. As a player, he was an Australian national and Queensland state representative back. He played his club football in Sydney, Toowoomba and Brisbane. After playing, McCaffery became a radio and television commentator for the game and later an administrator for the North Sydney Bears.
McCaffery started playing first grade rugby league with Sydney's Easts club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1948. After three seasons with them, he was persuaded to move to Toowoomba by legendary Queensland footballer Duncan Thompson. In his first year playing in Toowoomba, McCaffery was selected to represent Queensland. The following year, he was selected to play for the Kangaroos, appearing in his first test in 1953 and playing for Australia in the 1954 World Cup. He moved to the city to play in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership with the Fortitude Valley club in 1955. Having become Queensland captain, McCaffery returned to Sydney to play with Norths from 1957.[2] That year, he was part of the 1957 World Cup-winning Australian side. He lent his vast experience to the Norths club but suffered a shoulder injury and retired after two seasons.
Post-playing careeredit
Post-playing, McCaffery became a commentator with Channel 9, School's Liaison Officer for the NSWRFL and Assistant Secretary to the NSWRFL before being approached to take on the Club Secretary role at Canterbury after the 'coup' of 1969.[3] A decade later, he moved back to Norths as club secretary. Credited with bringing Mark Graham and Mitchell Cox to the club, he also battled to improve the image and financial position of the Bears. In 1982, McCaffery sacked successful coach Ron Willey and later appointed Greg Hawick, who had not coached in Sydney for almost 20 years. Hawick resigned in 1985 and McCaffery was voted out of office the following year. Ken later retired and became a publican in Lismore.
He died in February 2021 at the age of 91.[4] His son Paul also played for Norths in the 1980s.
Referencesedit
^Queensland Rugby League. . qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
^North Sydney Bears. . northsydneybears.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
^. yesterdayshero.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
mccaffery, september, 1929, february, 2021, australian, professional, rugby, league, footballer, commentator, administrator, player, australian, national, queensland, state, representative, back, played, club, football, sydney, toowoomba, brisbane, after, play. Ken McCaffery 27 September 1929 6 February 2021 was an Australian professional rugby league footballer commentator and administrator As a player he was an Australian national and Queensland state representative back He played his club football in Sydney Toowoomba and Brisbane After playing McCaffery became a radio and television commentator for the game and later an administrator for the North Sydney Bears Ken McCafferyPersonal informationBorn27 September 1929Died6 February 2021 aged 91 Playing informationHeight5 ft 10 in 178 cm PositionUtility BackClub Years Team Pld T G FG P 1948 50 Easts Sydney 50 12 9 0 54 1951 54 Souths Toowoomba 1955 56 Fortitude Valley 1957 59 North Sydney 30 10 2 0 34 Total 80 22 11 0 88 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1951 55 Queensland 1 16 7 0 0 21 1953 57 Australia 12 8 0 0 24 1953 American All Stars Contents 1 Playing career 2 Post playing career 3 References 4 External linksPlaying career editMcCaffery started playing first grade rugby league with Sydney s Easts club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1948 After three seasons with them he was persuaded to move to Toowoomba by legendary Queensland footballer Duncan Thompson In his first year playing in Toowoomba McCaffery was selected to represent Queensland The following year he was selected to play for the Kangaroos appearing in his first test in 1953 and playing for Australia in the 1954 World Cup He moved to the city to play in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership with the Fortitude Valley club in 1955 Having become Queensland captain McCaffery returned to Sydney to play with Norths from 1957 2 That year he was part of the 1957 World Cup winning Australian side He lent his vast experience to the Norths club but suffered a shoulder injury and retired after two seasons Post playing career editPost playing McCaffery became a commentator with Channel 9 School s Liaison Officer for the NSWRFL and Assistant Secretary to the NSWRFL before being approached to take on the Club Secretary role at Canterbury after the coup of 1969 3 A decade later he moved back to Norths as club secretary Credited with bringing Mark Graham and Mitchell Cox to the club he also battled to improve the image and financial position of the Bears In 1982 McCaffery sacked successful coach Ron Willey and later appointed Greg Hawick who had not coached in Sydney for almost 20 years Hawick resigned in 1985 and McCaffery was voted out of office the following year Ken later retired and became a publican in Lismore He died in February 2021 at the age of 91 4 His son Paul also played for Norths in the 1980s References edit Queensland Rugby League Queensland Representatives qrl com au Archived from the original on 20 July 2008 Retrieved 28 September 2008 North Sydney Bears Ken McCaffery northsydneybears com au Archived from the original on 23 July 2008 Retrieved 30 September 2008 Player Profile Ken McCaffery yesterdayshero com au Archived from the original on 22 August 2012 Retrieved 30 September 2008 VALE KEN MCCAFFERYExternal links editKen McCaffery at rugbyleagueproject com Ken McCaffery at nrlstats com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ken McCaffery amp oldid 1218149450, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
