FOR the first time in 87 years, the crimson jerseys of the Glebe Dirty Reds will be donned as the iconic rugby league club makes a triumphant return.

On Saturday, May 13 the Dirty Reds, playing in 2017 as a joint venture with Concord-Burwood Wolves, will run out at their home ground of Leichhardt Oval wearing their traditional colours.

Shut down in 1929 after its relationship with the governing body of the NSW RL soured, the foundation club will be seen on field again after a four-year effort to resurrect the Dirty Reds from the hearts and minds of the inner city community and plant them firmly onto the playing field.

media_camera Harry O'Toole, Jackson Garlick and Zeb Luisi in the Glebe Dirty Reds jerseys

Club president Darren Flynn said the return of the club to the Ron Massey Cup competition was as much about “reclaiming the game of rugby league in its former heartland” as it was about the legacy of the club.

“When the club was shut down, many locals turned their backs on the game. Some followed South Sydney but many didn’t continue,” Mr Flynn said.

Thanks in a large part to the efforts of local historian Max Solling, who spent 30 years speaking with past players and recording the history of the club, the Dirty Reds never really left Glebe, Mr Flynn said.

After extensive community consultation and support, and a new sponsor in 99 on York, the team was reborn.

media_camera Gray brothers, Bert, Tom, Paddy and Frank — one of two famous footballing dynasties to play for the Glebe Dirty Reds (the other being the Burge brothers).

Following the success of fellow foundation team the Newtown Jets, Mr Flynn said he hoped the Reds would become part of the “fabric of the community”, and particularly provide an accessible sport for the growing Asian population in the inner city.

Don Gray, whose father Tom — along with brothers Paddy, Bert and Frank — formed the first football dynasty to play for the club, said the resurrection tapped into “a feature of Glebe which binds us together ... a revival of one part of its history, a reinforcement that (the working class ethos of diversity and social justice) haven’t disappeared from Glebe,” Mr Bray said.

media_camera On Saturday, May 13 the Dirty Reds, playing in 2017 as a joint venture with Concord-Burwood Wolves, will run out at their home ground of Leichhardt Oval wearing their traditional colours.

A revival launch will also be held this Saturday, at 99 on York, to induct past players into the team’s Hall of Fame and reveal of the team song penned by Denis Carnahan.

When the Dirty Reds head out with the team colours next weekend, there’s sure to be some nerves among the players, Mr Flynn said.

“When they put on those jerseys for the first time they’ll be feeling it — they’ll be making history,” Mr Flynn said.

NewsLocal Newsletter