Alan Fallah made his first grade debut for the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1984.
Tommy Raudonikis had hung up the boots a few years earlier, but he made sure that he turned up at player reunions, and that’s where Fallah first met the legendary halfback.
“He always had time for everyone, that was Tommy,’’ says Fallah on the eve of a massive tribute to the late Magpies great who passed away recently on the eve of his 71st birthday.
Fallah, (pictured above with the ball) who played hooker for the Magpies between 1984 and 1990, has organised a guard of honour of former Wests players at tomorrow’s NRL match between Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast Titans at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Magpies relocated to Campbelltown from Lidcombe in 1987, so Fallah played many games at Campbelltown Stadium, or Orana Park, as it was known then.
Tomorrow in that same venue, Tommy’s wife Trish and son Lincoln will carry the game ball as they walk past the guard of honour of around three dozen former players prior to kick off (5.35pm).
Fallah, who was recently elected to the Wests football club board, says the guard of honour will include players who were teammates of Tommy Raudonikis (pictured) or were coached by him in the 1990s.
They will include names like Joe “Cool’’ Dorahy, the McGuinness boys Kevin and Ken, Andrew Willis, Ciriaco Mescia, Leo Epifania and many others.
Wests Tigers have produced special black and white jerseys for the day and the eastern stand will be named after Tommy Raudonikis, although it was not made clear if this would be a permanent measure.
Wests Magpies will also have a merchandise stand which is expected to do a roaring trade, especially with a big black and white crowd expected.
“Everyone is looking forward to doing this for Tommy,’’ says Fallah, a retired teacher.
“They will have plenty of catching up to do afterwards, and indeed some of the boys are planning to stay the night in Campbelltown so have booked accommodation.
“One thing we all agree on is that it’s still hard to believe that a tough man like Tommy Raudonikis is actually gone.’’
