The symbolic burning of a cloth badge and the passing of its ashes signified the start of the Norths Devils, which celebrates its 90th birthday today.
Northern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club was formed from a meeting held at the Windsor School of Arts on 23 February 1933.
During the toughest days of the Great Depression, 110 people attended the meeting as a response to the Brisbane Rugby League’s decision to introduce district football.
That meant that players had to live within the boundaries allocated to their club, sparking the parochial support that continues to this day.
The Devils were created from the Past Grammars club, featuring former Grammar school students, which lost its future when district football was introduced. While Brothers was allowed into the new competition as a club for former Catholic school students, Past Grammars was not included in the district rules.
The key members of Past Grammars were heavily involved in the formation of Norths.
They held a ceremony to burn a Grammars cloth badge with the ashes handed to a representative of the new club by Past Grammars dual grand final fullback Thomas Pedrazzini.
Notes from the meeting mark a stirring speech by Pedrazzini and a declaration from the Past Grammars chairman that: “We regret the passing of the Past Grammars club and trust the new club will uphold the tradition and standards it established.”
Pedrazzini would feature in the first Norths premiership team, starting at fullback in the 1934 grand final triumph over Wests at Davies Park.
The Devils would win a further 14 first grade premierships, including six consecutive titles from 1959 to 1964 and the back-to-back titles of 2021 and 2022.
“We celebrate this 90th anniversary as a club very grateful for all who have worked to keep Norths in Queensland’s top rugby league competition for so long,” Norths president Michael Crutcher said.
“We’re just as proud of the famous rugby league names who have represented our club as we are of the countless volunteers who have given their time to ensure this club gets passed from generation to generation.
“This club has always been powered by the support of our local community. That support was on display in the last two grand finals when we have seen the passion that northsiders have for the Devils.
“We’re reaching this anniversary in a period of growth for the club, welcoming our first women’s team to play in a statewide competition in 2023.
“Our women’s team and our men’s team will begin their new seasons on March 11 when we will formally mark our 90th anniversary.”
Norths paid an affiliation fee of two shillings and sixpence to guarantee the club’s place in the 1933 Brisbane Rugby League competition alongside northern rivals Valleys, Southern Suburbs, Eastern Suburbs, Western Suburbs, University and Past Brothers.
Norths secured a home ground alongside Nundah train station under an agreement signed with Toombul Cricket Club.
The Devils would remain at the ground for almost 40 years, dominating the competition throughout the 1960s, before moving to Bishop Park.
The district rules, meaning players had to live within defined club boundaries, remained in place until 1967.
Caption: Thomas Pedrazzini (left) hands over the ashes of a Past Grammars badge to recognise the start of Northern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club
