By Dr Mark Fenech
30th anniversary of a remarkable premiership win
The winter sports season of 1993 was a dark one for St Joseph鈥檚 College football. Following great success in the inaugural year of GPS football in 1988, when the College won both the First and Second XI premierships, we remained undefeated in the First XI until the middle of 1991, an amazing 23 straight games, with 17 wins and six draws. But in 1993, we failed to win a game in both the First and Second XI competitions. One draw in the Firsts and two in the Seconds was the best we would muster.
In 1994, nine players from those who played in the beaten teams of 鈥�93 were selected in the First XI 鈥� five from the 鈥�93 Firsts and four from the Seconds. The goalkeeper, Matthew Wilkinson, was only in his second season of ever playing soccer. Were we in for much of the same punishment as 1993?
It seemed so, when in Round 1 of GPS competition the First XI lost to Saint Ignatius鈥� College Riverview at home 0鈥�1. The following week away to Newington College, we found ourselves 0鈥�2 down at half-time. Sydney Boys High School (High), who had inflicted our biggest ever loss in 1993 (0鈥�8), were coming to Hunters Hill in Round 3. Then something miraculous happened. We clawed back to win 3鈥�2 against Newington and then beat High the following week, coming at a huge cost with Ben Gordon, one of our best players, breaking his leg. The team won against Sydney Grammar School and Shore School but dropped points with a draw to The King鈥檚 School (King鈥檚). We were two points behind High going into the last round and it seemed to be a bridge too far.
There was a lot going on off the pitch. In the week of the second last round, my father died after struggling throughout the year with cancer, and my son, Jesse* was born six days later. The First XI had to defeat The Scots College at home and hope King鈥檚 could take the points against High. Nil all at half-time. Midway through the second half, Daniel Smith, a replacement, struck the ball from 22 metres into the Scots net and news came through from Gowan Brae that King鈥檚 had beaten High, delivering our second GPS First XI football premiership.
The coaches in 1994 were Mark Fenech and Tony Green. In 1994, we were also runners-up in the NSW Independent Schools Cup. A great achievement in itself. Six players won GPS representative shirts, four in the First XI and two in the Thirds.
GPS representatives with Dr M Fenech (left) and Mr T Green (right): Justin Smith (3rd XI), John Romanous (1st XI), Callum Bramah (1st XI), Robert Lynch (1st XI), Garth Searl (1st XI), John Seeto (3rd XI).
At the 1994 Winter Sports Rally, the College celebrated premiership wins for the First XV and Second XV Rugby and the First XI Football. The footballers, who had been usually welcomed to the stage with the cheer Oh When the Saints, were celebrated with Courage, a cheer that had stuck until recently, when it was replaced by Walk On.
Callum Bramah, captain of the 1994 First XI, and Dr Mark Fenech with 国产探花 boys who are the sons of members of the 1994 premiership team (left to right): Christian Harris (Y8), Anthony Romanous (Y10), Callum Bramah (1994), Dr Fenech, Reid Searl (Y12), Ethan Wilkinson (Y7).
*Jesse Fenech went on to be a member of the 2012 First XI team to win the College鈥檚 fourth GPS football premiership.
