Tom Melville RIP

The Newtown RLFC regrets to advise that the club has received notification of the passing of Tom Melville.

Tom was a product of the St Peters JRLFC and played with the Newtown RLFC from 1967 to 1970 and from 1972 to 1974.

He also had a year as captain-coach of the Gundagai Tigers in Group 9 in 1971.

He was a member of the Newtown RLFC reserve grade premiership teams in both 1970 and 1974.

Tom was a member of the Wills Pre-Season Cup winning team in 1973 and was a regular first grader in the club’s famous NSWRL Club Championship (Flowers Memorial Pennant) winning group also in 1973.

His career at Newtown was best summed up by Terry Williams on page 102 of “Through Blue Eyes – A Pictorial History of Newtown RLFC”:

“Few players have typified the battling spirit, no-frills approach and tenacious work ethic of Newtown as well as Tom Melville who worked his backside off for the club in 142 games for nearly a decade at the club. Although he never attracted the attention of representative selectors, the granite-hard tradesman gave 100% every time he took the field, and Newtown supporters identified with his grit, reliability and commitment”.

Vale Tom Melville, a loyal and respected top-class player with the Newtown RLFC.

The Newtown RLFC extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Tom Melville.