In the second of a three-part special, we say goodbye to Penrith Park as we know it ahead of a major refurbishment, and Venues NSW taking control. In this article, we look back at the individuals who’ve made a huge impact on our beloved stadium…
You could argue that a stadium is nothing more than concrete, grass and plastic seats.
But we all know it is more than that. It is a place where memories are made, where special moments happen, where people forge parts of their identity.
Over the years, Penrith Park has been a second home to countless people – from fans and players to officials, ground announcers, employees and vendors.
The Cartwright legacy
Merv Cartwright and Roger Cowan were the biggest names in Penrith football in the 1960s.
Cowan had ensured the Panthers’ licenced club was a profitable force in the mid-60s, helping club secretary Cartwright’s push for Penrith to be admitted to the first grade competition in 1967.
The Cartwright name will forever be linked to the old Penrith Park.
Merv himself doubled as groundsman in the early days, while son Clifford was the first ball boy at Penrith Park – working the sidelines in that inaugural 1967 season.
“Getting into first grade was a big thing for Penrith,” Clifford told the Weekender.
“I was the ball boy from 1966 to 1971.
“Penrith Park has been a second home. Dad was also the groundsman and I used to help him do the lawns, and mum used to work in the canteen.
“The original western grandstand is still under there under the current grandstand which is incredible.”
All four of Merv’s sons played for Penrith.
Clifford played one first grade match for the club, a 33-14 loss to Parramatta in 1977. And where was the game played? His beloved Penrith Park.
Michael Cartwright also played one first grade game for Penrith in 1994, at Parramatta Stadium.
David Cartwright played 15 games for the club, while John Cartwright would of course become a Panthers hero, winning the competition in 1991 and clocking up 188 first grade games with the club.
David’s son Bryce Cartwright and John’s son Jed Cartwright both also graced the Penrith Park surface.
“It’s going to be a beautiful new venue but there’s a lot of history there,” Clifford said.
The final Cartwright to play at Penrith Park will go down as Bryce Cartwright. He played for the Eels in their 26-18 loss to Penrith in Round 2 of the 2024 season.
A fan’s home away from home
Neil Alchin walked through the gates of Penrith Park for the first time on Sunday, April 23 in 1967 – there in time for the 3pm kick-off to watch an all-star Dragons take on the Panthers at the official opening of the venue.
“Everyone went to the game to watch the Dragons and the Panthers beat them,” Alchin said.
“It was incredible day for Penrith.”
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Alchin was nine-years-old that year, and he’s been going to Penrith Park ever since. He is among an elite group of fans who have been going to the venue since that inaugural first grade season.
“I used to go in those days with Mum, then as I got older I went with my mates. I went to school at Colyton High and we used to get the train from Penrith to St Marys and walk up to the ground,” he said.
“We used to go to all the games but in the 80s, when they built the eastern stand, I became a season ticket holder.”
Alchin now sits in the western grandstand, where a community of long-time Penrith fans has formed.
“Our sons go to the games with me every week. They’re almost 40 and 35 now but that’s our thing we do together,” he said.
“It’s about who you go with and the people around you. Some people I don’t even know their name but you know them from sitting near them at the ground.
“It’s like a community to get there and see the people.
“The new stadium will be great, but it will just be different. It’s changed a lot over the years but this will be the most drastic change.”
There are many like Alchin.
Phil Storey was there in 1967 too, and the memories have never faded.
“Sometimes the thrashings were as much fun as the occasional wins in the early days,” he said.
“I helped with the scoreboard (situated then on the eastern hill) in the early 70s and earned a couple of dollars keeping the tough kids down off a great vantage point.
“I can still remember my brother and myself after the match picking out a car to follow at the corner of Station Street and High Street and as the congestion (particularly heading east) was a nightmare we would arrive at Kingswood Pub corner (while walking) before the chosen vehicle.”
Many fans have had their ashes spread at Penrith Park, albeit unofficially. The club is well aware that it is a done thing among the families of loyal fans, either after games or through unauthorised access. It’s impossible to know just how many people may credit Penrith Park as their final resting place.
Say cheese… toastie style
Blake Blackburn won a Premiership with Penrith’s Jersey Flegg team in 2006, while his wife Leah was a Pantherette some two decades ago – including in the 2003 Premiership season.
But they’ve become more known for an off-field venture: The Cheese Toastees. Their toastie van has been a mainstay at Penrith Park for the last decade.
“We have sold thousands of toastees over the years, we are so grateful for all of our regular footy fans who line up each and every week,” Leah said.
“We are sad to see the old stadium go and hope there is a future for The Cheesee Toastees in the new one, it’s yet to be confirmed if we will part of it. It ain’t easy being Cheesee!”
The toastie van has garnered something of a cult following, spearheaded by popular commentator Andrew Voss.
“We have been so lucky with the amount of support we have been shown from the whole rugby league community. Vossy is an absolute legend and has supported us from day dot,” Leah said.
“We also can’t forget the love from Mark Geyer, Lara Pitt, Mark Carroll and all the FOX team, Luke Lewis, Ray Hadley, Nathan Hindmarsh, Lou Zivanovic just to name a few who all regularly visit us and give us a shout out on TV, radio, books, Instagram and Facebook.
“It’s been a great experience to see the whole community get behind the Penrith Panthers, the excitement inside the stadium and around town makes it such a fun and enjoyable experience even when we are working! We have loved being part of it.”
During the 1990s, one of the most famous food options at Penrith Park was the BBQ, with steak and sausage sandwiches offered behind both the eastern and western grandstand.
Voice of the stadium
Penrith Park has had many ground announcers over the years, all playing their role in the stadium’s history.
But Scott McRae’s 22-year reign as ground announcer from 1998 to 2019 certainly makes him the most iconic voice of the Panthers.
“Even when we weren’t winning games being part of the fabric at Penrith Stadium is full of memories I will hold dearly forever,” McRae told the Weekender.
“It’s not so much the concrete and steel of the structure that I will hold close, it’s the fans of the team, the lifelong friends I have made and the passion that emanated from the faithful fans that will stay with me.
“To everyone that I came into contact with during those 22 years, be it game day, behind the scenes, a multitude of rising stars and legends of the game, I will be ever thankful to you for allowing me to have a slice of life spent hanging out and having fun with you all at Penny Park!”
And McRae has one final message for loyal Penrith fans.
“If you enjoyed your time at the stadium as much as I did… GIVE ME A HELL YEAH!”
The role of ground announcer wasn’t all that substantive until the mid-1990s, when veteran radio announcer Pete Graham was hired for the job. He was around until the end of 1996, with Rodney O taking over for the 1997 Super League season, ahead of McRae’s appointment in 1998.
Our eyes and ears
Many famous broadcasters have graced the Penrith Park broadcast box over the years – from Ray Warren to Ray Hadley, Andrew Voss, Warren Smith, David Morrow and so many more.
Among the most iconic is Frank Ley.
Ley was among the principal broadcasters on 2KA, calling Penrith Panthers games from the mid-1970s through to 1989.
He became the voice of the Panthers during their emerging years, and in the era before pay television, he was often the eyes and ears of fans who couldn’t make it to the game.
Frank Ley passed away in 1995.
Brian Sanders took over from Frank Ley in 1990 on 2KA, calling games for many years after that. Sanders actually returned for a few brief fill-in stints as ground announcer during the Scott McRae era.
Scoreboard with a bit of Razzle Dazzle
Darryl Rossetto was paid $8 a game to run the manual scoreboard at Penrith Park in the 1970s.
“I ran the scoreboard from 1972 until 1976 on the eastern hill,” he told the Weekender.
“It was an old scoreboard where you put everything up by hand.”
While Rossetto’s pay rose to $16 a game by the time his time in the job finished, it was never about the money.
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“The best part was I got into the game for nothing,” he joked.
“It was a great era seeing people like Mike Stephenson and Bill Ashurst playing for Penrith.
“I was there and doing the scoreboard the day that Peter Langmack scored five tries, and Penrith beat St George 22-21. The crowd was going nuts.”
The famous electronic Panther scoreboard became part of the stadium in 1978, and the manual scoreboard was banished to history.
“Electronic boards were in their infancy but I had seen a few scoreboards in the U.S. that were quite spectacular,” former Club Secretary and promotions boss Ian Maurice told the Weekender.
“I made some inquiries about the possibility of getting one but they were completely out of our budget. I worked with the late Roger Cowan about just what we could afford and I thought we could utilise what was then a new Penrith logo. i.e. the leaping Panther.
“We found a company that could build it with electronic lighting to display the score. We even had a sound effect of a Panther roaring every time we scored. It didn’t get much use in those days!”
Ian Maurice tells a remarkable story when you consider the facilities available to players today. In the late 1970s, he installed a spa bath in the Penrith change room for players to get over their aches and pains. It was removed due to Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
Cheering for the Panthers
The Pantherettes have been part of the game day experience at Penrith Park since 1978, when they were introduced by then promotions boss, Ian Maurice.
A number of officials had visited America in 1976, sparking a range of ideas for game day – the Pantherettes among them.
Penrith has had a cheer squad ever since – adding to the game day experience.
Amanda Flynn, now Amanda Gower, won Big League’s Cheerleader of the Year competition during her time at the club.
“The Cheerleader of the Year was a big deal at the time,” Gower told the Weekender.
“Big league and Contiki were the major sponsors. I remember being up against some amazing girls so when I got the call to say I had won the title and trip to Europe I felt so proud to be representing Penrith and our squad in such a positive light. It was such a memorable time and opened so many doors for me professionally.”
Gower, who is married to Penrith 2003 Grand Final-winning captain Craig Gower, said being a Pantherette was a fantastic experience.
“We were a team of professional dancers, we worked hard to make the squad, hundreds of girls would audition and only 20 or 30 were chosen. So we took the job very seriously,” she said.
“It was the cheerleaders role to get the crowd involved and entertain. For the four years that I was part of the squad, the football team were doing well, so it was always a real buzz to be there on game day. The Penrith supporters are some of the most passionate I have ever met and they were always so friendly, supportive and appreciative of what we were there to do.”
Jessica Gilarte would become Penrith’s second Big League Cheerleader of the Year winner in 2015.
Field the envy of all
Penrith Park’s field is often considered the best in the NRL, and for the past 13 years the man responsible for that has been Stadium Grounds Manager, Luke Scerri.
“We take a lot of pride in what we do and have a bit of time to work on it,” Scerri told the Weekender.
“We stay loyal to who we get all our products from, we’re a small team and we take pride in what we do and always try to stay on top of it.”
Game day preparation is always a fine art.
“We try to get as many cuts in during the week. We mark the field two days before a game so everything is there for the captain’s run. We’ll cut it again after the captain’s run to get ready for game day,” he said.
There’s an obvious challenge that confronts Scerri every season.
“You can’t control the weather,” he said.
“You might have 10 games and all of them could be during rain. In winter you don’t get that recovery so you’re always hoping you get a good season of weather.”
Scerri will remain at the club next season. There’s plenty of work to do – especially at the Panthers Academy, which also falls into his responsibilities.
And of course, the players
All of the greats have played on Penrith Park. Alexander, Simmons, Geyer, Gower, Girdler, Cleary. The list is long, their accomplishments often longer.
And with those players have come a host of memorable games and records.
There’s the day in 1999 Brandy played his final home game, a stunning win over the Raiders.
The day in 1974 when Peter Langmack scored five tries – still a club record.
Or what about when Luke Walsh landed 11 goals against the Warriors in 2013 – again, still a club record.
Talking of records, Neil Baker one day kicked three field goals in the one game at Penrith Park back in 1988 – again, a club record.
Spectacular tries, match-winning moments, heartbreaking finishes, devastating injuries. They’re all on the list.
But even those who played one game for the club will forever remember Penrith Park in their lives, and the impact it had.
Just like us, as fans.
Unless there is a dramatic result in the final rounds of 2024, Penrith’s biggest ever win at Penrith Park will go down as a 72-12 thrashing of Manly on August 7, 2004. Their biggest loss at the venue is also ironically against Manly, a 70-7 loss on July 29, 1973.
Next week: Penrith Park as you’ve never seen it before, as we go behind the scenes of our beloved footy stadium for an all-access behind the scenes tour.
Companion Podcast: Make sure you listen to our Panthers podcast, Tension’s Running High, for a special retrospective on the stadium. Search Western Weekender wherever you listen to podcasts or visit https://www.westernweekender.com.au/podcast.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.