Help Save Our Bears
By DAVID ROWLANDS
NORTH SHORE TIMES - 15/10/2004


Desperate for funds and clinging to survival by it’s ever- weakening claws, North Sydney Rugby League Club has opted to go cap-in-hand and beg for financial support from the North Shore community.

The Bears had their budget for 2005 slashed from $650,000 to just $350,000 by North Sydney Leagues Club last month, a move that placed the club’s future as a competitive organisation in peril. The club’s Premier League team finished last this season and faces a dismal future. In a desperate bid to remain viable, the Bears, one of Sydney’s 1908 foundation clubs, approached the NRL, ARL and NSWRL to top up their funding.

All three have refused.

Backed into a corner, the Bears have turned to the public for support. A public forum will be held in a similar strategy to that which South Sydney adopted in the early days of its rugby league exile (story right).

“I think there are a few people interested in not having us around,” Bears President Mike Gibbons said. “If you were a conspiracy theorist, you would think someone was trying to kill us off so the Bears weren’t around to annoy anyone anymore.

“It is now up to members and friends of the club to rally behind us and offer support.”

Gibbons described it as “probably the most important meeting in the club’s history”. “This is, by far, the greatest challenge our club has faced,” Gibbons said.

“We have exhausted all other avenues, so it has come back to us to do something about it.

“With the help of our members and friends, we will rebuild the club and make it strong again.

“This is the time for the people of North Sydney to make a stand.”

Gibbons told the Times the Bears will run all four teams next year “by hook, or by crook”.

The Premier League will be bolstered by the Bears’ new arrangement with the NRL’s Melbourne Storm. The Bears will be a feeder club for the Storm in 2005 giving them access to Melbourne players not selected in first grade.

“It’s not going to be easy but there’s no question it can be done,” Gibbons said.

“It’s going to take time and commitment — that’s what this meeting is all about. We will put everything out in the open and establish a strategy.

“Our major focus is still to get back into the NRL as the Central Coast Bears.” One of Gibbons’ prime aims is to triple Norths’ football membership of about 300.

Desperate Plea For Public Support

North Sydney Rugby League Club will hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, October 26, to plan a strategy for the future and invite the public to lend its support behind the organisation.

Supporters, sponsors and past and present players have been invited to North Sydney Oval at 6.3Opm for a forum which club president Mike Gibbons described as “probably the most important meeting in the club’s history”.

The club had its budget slashed by North Sydney Leagues Club for next season.

It will run on just $350,000 unless extra funds can be ac cumulated through sponsor ship or donations.

Details: 9466 8860.

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