How a “Half” inspired the “Whole”
(The story
of the origin of the SJC 1st Rugby Team“Half” Jersey)
Over 30 Years ago….
Coming
from a very humble upbringing in the city of Germiston, I was honoured to have
attended St John’s College. I really enjoyed my time at St John’s, made
lifelong friends and had the most fantastic teachers and coaches.I was also
attending the school my grandfather went to.
Rugby Ruled!
One
of my of most enjoyable experiences was playing rugby. In 1984 I was in Upper IV
and was chosen to play Number Seven for the first team, that year playing in
the first ever Saints week and winning all three games. Then, in 1985, moving
into Lower Five I was again chosen to play for the first side as Number Eight
and I was made captain. 1986 was my third year of playing for the Blues and my
second as captain. Being my third year I wanted to find a way of
differentiating what we did as a First Team.
A serendipitous discovery
One
Friday evening I was waiting outside David Quad to go home for the weekend when
one of our resident priests, Father McLeod, asked me if I would like to see the
collecting room for memorabilia to later be placed up on display around the
school and in the OJ club. He led me to the armory downstairs behind the
guard’s room at the main gate (where the current museum is). It was dark and
when he switched the lights on, I saw the room was filled with boxes, clothes
and old sports equipment.
I
asked if I could dig around and with his permission I gleefully started
rummaging. There was so much clutter that I knocked a box off the shelf (my
fault!) which landed at my feet. Inside I saw a mass of old rugby jerseys: maroon,
blue and some old first team jerseys. One caught my eye and when I took it out
it was a tiny “Blues” first team jersey that must have been a sample or reject.
I wanted it; I didn’t know what I was going to do with it but I asked the good
Father if I could take it. He laughed and said it was fine but was sure to tell
me that he didn’t think it would fit me!
So,
I took it home and presented to my mother, who laughed saying it was “half the
size of a normal jersey”. And there it was, the seed was sown, the number “Half!”
So, the next day I was tasked to outline the “1/2”on golden material with chalk
so I could cut it out. That weekend my mother stitched it on, with me hovering
about with a tape measure driving her mad as I wanted to make sure it was not
put on skew.
The “Half” is born!
On
Sunday I returned to College for chapel (Evensong) and a new week. I presented
the idea to the team who were unanimous in their support.We also decided that
the smallest boy in Remove would wear it and be our ball and sand bucket (there
were no kicking tees!) carrier. The “Half” was born!
Saturday
was our first fixture against Parktown, and our new chosen team member Winston Radebe
came into the Nash Common Room which we used as our change room. He was
presented with his jersey and now took part with great pride as one of the team
members going everywhere we went and looking after our kit needs, the bag of
(leather!) ballsand the ubiquitous bucket of sand. When we ran out on the field
a huge roar went up when the school saw him lead us out for the first time. It
was clear that the little “Half” would provide inspiration not only for the
team, but the whole College as well.
The tradition continues …
That
was back in 1986. Live streaming allowed me to watch this year’s Saints derby from
Vietnam and was I brought to tears to see the little man running around proudly
in his half jersey and carrying on a tradition which began in 1986.The boys of ‘86
are in regular contact via WhatsApp and many commented how very proud we are of
this. My mother who is eighty had a little lump in her throat.
I
thank all the teams after us, who have taken this on as their own and have
carried on this wonderful tradition. We as the 1986 class watch this with
pride, joy and lots of wonderful memories. May the “Half” continue to inspire
the “Whole”.
“C'mon
you Blues!”.
Bruce Chalmers (Clayton 1986)
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