I was living and working in Rotorua, playing for Kahukura and on Saturday, 6 June 1964 at 9:45pm the phone rang. My landlady answered it and said it is for you. I answered and the voice on the other end said “Ken Armstrong, Coach of Eastern Suburbs speaking”. I said “what do you want?” “I want you in Auckland next Saturday to play Mt Albert at Anderson Park.” He told me he wanted me to strengthen their mid-field. I said “I play inside forward and if I can’t play there I won’t come” and hung up.

Five minutes later he called back and said “I don’t lose very often, but you can play inside forward, so I will see you next Saturday, 1:45pm at Anderson Park”. Apart from Ken and Charlie Dempsey, nobody knew I was coming. Ken met me and took me into the changing sheds and introduced me to the team. You could have heard a pin drop when Ken handed me my strip. I had jersey 6 which I said is not inside forward. “I know” he said “but the programme has you wearing 6 but you are playing inside forward”. When we ran out on to the field you could hear the supporters saying “who is this skinny bast*rd. He will never last the game”. We won 4-1 and I had a very pleasing game setting John Wrathall up with two goals.

In the Clubrooms after the game, David Garrett said “what drugs do you run on?” I put my hand on my stomach and said “guts”. One game down, one win and welcome to The Lilywhites and a life in Auckland.

by Paul Rennell