1960 Premiership Players Re-Union
Tower Hotel
Saturday 9th September 2000.

Convenors:
Albert Vickery; Don Malcolm; John Ewenson

The following short history was written for the momento that was presented to each player on the night.

The year was 1957 when Albert Vickery contacted Don Malcolm and asked him to join him on the St Mary's committee and to take on the role of Secretary. Albert and Don had known each other for a long time at St Mary's having been team members back in 1946 when the Club re-formed after the second world war. They had also played cricket together at various times.

Together these two sports lovers decided to work hard to ensure that St Mary's would progress both on and off the field. The main aim was to get St Mary's up into A Grade of the ESCFA.

As a role model, St Mary's was to develop along the lines of neighbouring club, Trinity Presbyterians who were at that time the best performing club in the league.

Club and Player Rules were devised, Committee Members were selected from people who were prepared to work hard and give their time to reach the same goals as set by Albert and Don.

St Mary's, in an endeavour to improve their facilities came to an agreement with Trinity to share the Howard Dawson Reserve for the senior team, with Trinity and St Mary's Reserves sharing Ferndale Park. St Mary's retained Ferndale Park for all training.

Don, seeing the need to ensure permanency of tenancy and the need for improvement at Ferndale took on the role of Park Secretary. Moves were then made with the Camberwell Councill to enlarge Ferndale Park which, after much negotiation, the Council agreed to. Then in 1974 the new pavilion, up on the hill, was opened. Sheer luxury. (In 1990, Social Rooms were added and later named by Council the "Malcolm Family Room" recognising the families' involvement since 1932).

St Mary's was under way, a more serious approach was made to training and matches. Football gear was maintained in better conditions and social club activities became great events with a lot of help from the Lady members and mothers. Looking back to 1957 there were players like Les Moss, Geoff Goullet, Russell Carter, John Mason, Geoff Dobbin and Barry Townsend fast becoming the nucleus of the club.

Unfortunately a Premiership still eluded us but perseverance rewarded us in 1960. The Saints put together a great season and added to our list of players and officials with the likes of John Ewenson, Ross Hallam, Keith Blandethorne, David Chesterman, Peter Culley, Roy Uwins, Ian Chessell, Rick St John, Brian Goullet, Neville Pilven, Neil Charity, Alan Skinner, Jim Francis, Barrie Griffiths, Marty Lowe, Ian Stuart, Peter Leman (as mascot), John Ross, and Ray Leman, Graeme Preston and Jim Hill on the Committee.

The saints had succeeded.

Albert and Don and the Committee were ecstatic that the No 1 goal had been reachedand St Mary's had made A Grade.