Cliff Satherley

Satherley then made the Auckland A side for the first time in the season will he was pulled into the team as there were 5 Auckland players away with the New Zealand test team. The match was played at Eden Park which was described as a “quagmire” with a controversial 6-6 draw resulting. The journalists at the time said that the referee awarded a goal from a mark to Taranaki when the ball had clearly gone under the bar. Satherley was said to have “toiled hard” along with Arthur Knight, Angus Finlayson, and Swin Hadley, and they were “a lot in the limelight”. He was then chosen for the Auckland team to tour the North Island to play matches against Wanganui, Manawhenua, Wellington, Bush Districts, and Hawke's Bay. Auckland beat Wanganui 14 points to 8 with Satherley, Hadley, Knight, and Finlayson once again singled out as being the “pick of the pack”. Nevertheless the less Satherley found himself on the reserve bench for the match on August 20 against Manawhenua at Palmerston North. He also missed selection in their match with Wellington at Athletic Park on the 23rd. Wellington won 16 points to 15.

After his transfer Satherley joined the Frankton Railway rugby club. At their annual meeting in March he was chosen to be the coach and selector of their senior side. He was named in the team in a couple of matches in May but didn't ultimately play. He eventually took to the field on July 6 against Taupiri in a Stag Trophy match. Frankton won 12 to 3 with Satherley kicking 3 penalties. Following a game against Technical Old Boys on July 20 where he scored a try and kicked 3 conversions he was selected in the Waikato squad to train in preparation for a match against Bay of Plenty. The win over Technical Old Boys also secured the Stag Trophy competition for Frankton. He was then selected to play in the match with Bay Of Plenty at Tauranga Domain on July 27 and became the 298th player to represent the Waikato Rugby Union. Waikato won the match 17 to 6 with Satherley converting J. M. Taylor's try which had opened the scoring before a crowd of 1,700. He missed a couple of penalty attempts later in the match. It was said that he “impressed, particularly in line-out work”.

His widow Alma later went on to marry Gordon Donald Sutherland in 1950.

It is largely unknown what happened to Satherley beyond 1943 until his death on January 7, 1947. The electoral records of 1946 say that he was living at 63 Islington Street in Ponsonby with his occupation as 'soldier'.

On August 4, 1944 his father Charles Herbert Satherley died in Auckland aged 79 at Green Lane Hospital. The service was held at W.H. Tongue and Son's Chapel and he was buried at Waikumete Cemetery.

It is unclear if Satherley had returned to Auckland to live in 1943 however the Auckland Star on May 3 wrote that “two players, who gave good service to Richmond in past years have returned to assist their old team. They are W. Tittleton and C. Satherley…, Satherley is now in the veteran stage but is still a fine forward”. It appears however that the May 1 match with Newton Rangers may have been his only appearance as he was not mentioned in connection with the side again that season. In 1945 a “Satherley” was named to play in the side though it was more likely to be his younger brother Jack who had continued to play for Richmond seniors into the early 1940s.

In 1942 Satherley transferred to the Technical Old Boys Football Club. His debut for them likely came in a May 23 match against Air Force which they won 37 to 6. He kicked 2 conversions in the win. He played in approximately 9 matches for them in a severely weakened competition due to so many players having left to fight in the war. The opponents suggest the extent of the influence the war was having as he played matches against Waipa, Old Boys, Army, and Air Force. Satherley was now aged 35 which was much older than most players typically played in this era or any other at a first grade level. He was still playing good football however and after a match against Army on June 20 the Waikato Times reported that “the Technical Old Boys forwards, led by Satherley were faster in the loose and co-operated with their backs more than the service team's pack”. On July 14 he was named as an emergency player in the Waikato side to play New Zealand Army at Rugby Park in Hamilton on July 18. He was not required to play however. Then on August 15 he played in the final of the Clarke Cup against Old Boys. His side won 9 to 6 and he kicked a penalty in the win. His final known game of the season, and possibly rugby altogether came on August 22 in a match between Hamilton and Pukekohe for the Peace Cup at Bledisloe Park. Pukekohe won the match 14 to 3 with Hamilton's lone points coming from Satherley's boot.

In the "New Zealand Gazette" of 1942 it was recorded that Satherley was living at 5 Kea Street in Frankton and was still working as a shunter. In September of the same year his name was called out in the Seventeenth Ballot which meant he was eligible for overseas service. It appears that he may have been excused from duty however as he was never enlisted in the military. He may have returned to Auckland at some point around 1943 as he was mentioned as having played a match for his old Richmond Rovers rugby league side.

The 1941 season saw Satherley semi-retired from playing. He was still involved in the Frankton club but only played in 3 games in May and June. He kicked 2 penalties in a match with Technical Old Boys on May 10, and his last game of the season was against Raglan on June 28 where he kicked a lone penalty. Frankton struggled and came last in the championship.

In 1939 Satherley was elected on to the Papamoa club's committee at their annual meeting on April 6 and was also named as a selector for the senior side along with Mr. Pile. He played 6 matches for them during the season with the majority in the first few months of the season when the club competition was mostly run. On June 3 he played in a Te Puke trial match for the Possibles side. His side won 19 to 9 and he kicked a conversion in the victory in the match played at Jubilee Park. Satherley was then selected for the Te Puke side to play Morrinsville 2 days later. Te Puke won the match 10 points to 9 with Satherley converting both of Te Puke's first half tries. He was involved in the first try and also made a couple of open field runs in the second. It was said that he was one of Te Puke's best forwards along with Phillips. On June 10 he scored a “nice try for Papamoa and he also converted” in their match with Paengaroa at Jubilee Park which they lost 15 to 5.

The next that was heard of Satherley was in the Te Puke Times on May 3, 1938. The Te Puke Rugby Union had held a meeting where it was reported that Satherley was applying for reinstatement. “Satherley stated that during his connection with league he had received no remuneration whatsoever for his services. It was resolved to support the application and to communicate with the parent body at Whakatane, asking that union to forward the application to the New Zealand Rugby Union with a view to affecting a transfer”. Days later it was reported that he had been transferred to Te Puke to work at the railway station where his job was a shunter.

Satherley was working as a shunter on the railways and was based in Te Puke initially after moving south after being transferred from Auckland in 1938. He was living with his wife, daughter and father Charles in Railway housing at the time. He was transferred again late in 1939 to Frankton in Hamilton. At the Frankton Railway Shunters’ Council annual picnic held at the Cambridge racecourse in December Satherley's daughter Sylvia won a prize in the 3 year old “events” while Cliff won the “gang relay” with 2 team mates. In December 1940 the end of year picnic was held at Steele's farm in Te Pahu His entire family was all mentioned with it said that Cliff came second in the tiny tot's under 2 race, Sylvia was second in the 2 years to 4 years girls race, Cliff Satherley finished second in the “Shunters’ championship”, while his wife Alma won the “thread the needle”. Cliff also won the “gang relay” with J. Snelgar and S. Roberts, and was on the winning “tug-of-war” team. Their 3rd child Richard Anthony Satherley was born in 1945.

At the start of the 1937 season Satherley moved to the Mount Albert United club based at Fowld's Park in Mount Albert where he became the player-coach. It was Mount Albert's first season in the first grade competition and they went on to surprise followers by finishing runner up to Richmond. He debuted for them on April 17 in a match with Ponsonby United and scored a try and kicked 2 conversions and a penalty. Following a round 6 match against Marist Old Boys on June 5 Satherley was named as the forward emergency player for Auckland in their match against Taranaki, though he was not required to play. In a round 13 match with Manukau in which he kicked 4 goals in a 20-19 win he was forced to move into the first five eighth position when L Patterson went off with “head injuries”. It was said that Mount Albert had been struggling getting their passing going and “Satherley did not remedy the defect” when he took up the position. In total he played 16 matches for them scoring the lone try but kicking 35 goals for 73 points in total. The 62 he scored in competition matches was the 4th most by a senior player in Auckland. As it turned out this was to be his last game of rugby league for several years. In early April, 1938 the Papakura club was being admitted into the first grade competition and there was a suggestion in the Herald that he may play for them but it did not amount to anything.

Alma gave birth to a daughter (Sylvia Fay Iwan) at St. Kilda at 239 Great North Road on April 1, 1937. Then in 1939 when they he had moved to Te Puke they had a son though he was born at Nurse Woolley's in Herne Bay, Auckland.

The 1936 season was a considerably quieter one for Satherley. He was not selected for any representative matches though this was most likely due to the injury he suffered in a round 2 match against Manukau on May 9 where he was concussed and taken to hospital. The newspaper reported that he was living at 235 Ponsonby Road and was aged 27 at the time, with it said that his condition was reportedly “satisfactory” that night. He missed several matches and did not return to the football field until July 18 against Marist. It was said after the match that he was “one of the best” forwards in the Richmond pack. In the meantime Auckland had played 2 matches and had a trial while the North Island match with the South Island had also taken place. As he was only returning to the field a week prior to the Auckland match with the touring England side he stood little chance of being considered for selection. His brother Jack however had moved into the hooker position at Richmond and was selected for the North Island side for the first time. Jack would go on to be selected for New Zealand in 1937 and 1938. In the meantime Cliff finished the season by playing 8 further games for Richmond who finished runner up in the championship to Manukau by a single point. They had revenge of sorts though with the final match of the season being a Stormont Shield final win over Manukau by 30 points to 9, with Satherley kicking a conversion and a penalty.

The 1935 season was to be the most notable of Satherley's career. In Auckland rugby league competition he played 16 games for Richmond, scoring 5 tries and kicking 39 goals for 93 points with 85 in club competitions. This was the most of any player in Auckland for the season. He also made 5 appearances for Auckland scoring a try and kicking 16 goals for 36 points which was the most of any Auckland representative player. Satherley also made his New Zealand debut when he appeared in all three test matches against Australia.

The 1934 season was a particularly busy one for Satherley in a Richmond jersey. He played 20 matches for them, scoring 7 tries and kicking 19 goals for 59 points. He scored 51 of these in first grade matches which placed him as the 3rd highest scorer in Auckland. Following a round 3 match against City Rovers in which he had scored 3 tries the New Zealand Herald said “there is no better forward in the code than C. Satherley, the former North Island rugby representative. By clever foot work Satherley scored a brilliant try against City, and his following-up and clean handling rewarded him with two more tries”.

Satherley was selected for Auckland to play Taranaki on June 30 and kicked 2 conversions in a 35-8 win at Carlaw Park. Satherley was “outstanding” along with Lawless. In August Richmond went on a 2 match tour of Taranaki and Hawke's Bay. On August 9 they took on Taranaki at Western Park in New Plymouth and lost narrowly by 23 points to 22 with Satherley kicking a conversion. They then travelled to Napier where they beat Hawke's Bay side 37 to 11 before returning to Auckland. Prior to their departure Richmond had secured their first ever Fox Memorial title when they won the 1934 first grade championship finishing with 11 wins and only 2 losses (22 points), comfortably ahead of Newton Rangers in second with 16 points. In late August Satherley was named by Thomas McClymont in the North Island side to play the South Island. It was reported that he was at the top of his form along with Lou Hutt and Alan Clarke. The North Island won the match before a crowd of 9,000 at Carlaw Park by 36 points to 18 with Satherley scoring one of Auckland's 8 tries. He scored after the ball rolled clear from a scrum and he “was across in a flash to touch down for a simple try” to give the North Island side a 16-13 lead. The Auckland Star reported that Satherley was “outstanding” though the Herald noted that he “at times tried to go too far before passing”.

At the start of the 1932 season Satherley transferred to the Technical Old Boys club in Auckland. In a pre-season match on April 16 for them against Eden at Gribblehurst Park he was admitted to Auckland Hospital after suffering a twisted knee. The Auckland Star reported just 4 days later that he had moved to the Hawke's Bay.

Clifford Satherley married Alma Florence Wilmot (1907-1953) on April 2, 1932. On the 1935 Electoral Roll his address was listed as 235 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby and his occupation was “porter”. His mother Ingress died on December 17, 1930 in Blenheim aged 50.

Prior to the start of the 1931 season Satherly transferred from Manukau to Ponsonby. The reason is unknown though was possibly due to moving address. His address through much of the 1930s was 235 Ponsonby Road. He went on to play 11 matches for them during the season and scored 1 try which just so happened to be in a May 16 match against his old Manukau team, though Manukau won the match 9 to 5.

In 1930 Satherley was captaining the Manukau side despite being only 23 years of age. He had moved to Putāruru but remarkably intended to make the trip to Auckland every weekend to play. He ultimately played 15 matches during the season which was once again punctuated by several representative games. He played 12 matches for Manukau before being selected for Auckland B to play South Auckland on July 12. He had been in very good form for Manukau and against the strong Ponsonby side on May 24 the Auckland Star reported “C. Satherley was a splendid example to his team, and it was his try in the first spell that gave them heart”. Against South Auckland at Pukekohe before a crowd of 700, Auckland B lost 12 points to 6. Satherley scored one of Auckland's two tries after Hira mis-fielded a kick and Satherley gained possession and crossed the line. It was said that he and Donald were “the only two forwards who worked really hard”. A week later Satherley again played for Auckland B, this time against King Country. The match was played at Eden Park and was a curtain-raiser to the match between Auckland and the touring British side. Satherley's B team thrashed King Country by 46 points to 13. He was involved in Auckland's first try after he made a break with Potter and they scored soon afterwards.

The 1929 season saw Satherley make the full Auckland team for the first time. He played 14 matches for Manukau and scored a try in a match against Marist on May 4, and a week later he kicked the first goals of his career which were both penalties in a match against Ponsonby. He did not take on regular goal kicking duties until a few years later. Against Marist it was said “Satherley was easily the pick of the forwards till he retired in the second quarter with a dislocated finger. His try was a beauty”. He had “bustled Walsh and scored beneath the posts”. Around this time his younger brother Jack was also being named in the senior side.

The 1928 season saw Satherley play 16 games and score 1 try for Manukau. His side had been promoted to the A Grade based on their previous years strong form and ultimately finished 3rd in the championship. He was mentioned as being one of the best forwards after a July 14 match against Ponsonby he was mentioned as being one of the best forwards on the field and the Auckland Star published a small photograph of him. His form was good enough to earn selection in the Auckland B team to play South Auckland (based in Waikato) on July 21 however he was a reserve and did not take the field. After the July 28 match with Grammar the Auckland Star reported “every man rose to the occasion, the best of them being that great toiler, C. Satherly (sic), who, being on his holidays, came up from Nelson to play in the game. Then in August he was named as a reserve for the Auckland B team to play Bay of Plenty however he was then named to play in the loose forwards. Auckland B won the match 19 to 14 at Eden Park in front of a crowd of 7000. Two weeks later he was chosen in the reserves for the Auckland B match against Thames at Thames but not take the field. The following week he made the starting line up for the Auckland B match to play South Auckland at Pukekohe. Auckland thrashed their opponents 46-11, though seven of the selected South Auckland side had not shown up so it was a makeshift team. Early in the match “Satherley sent Weir away” on a run

He began the 1927 season promoted to the senior side ‘full time’. Manukau were based in the senior B grade which was effectively the second division in Auckland rugby senior competition. After their opening game of the season against Newton on April 30 it was said that “Housham (their captain), Brimble and Slatherley were the pick”. His name was misspelled and over the years newspapers would often spell his surname incorrectly as ‘Satherly’ as well. In a May 21 match Brimble (a brother of future Kiwi internationals Ted Brimble, Wilfred Brimble, and Walter Brimble), and Satherley were again mentioned as being “seen to advantage in the forward rushes”. Manukau would eventually go on to finish runner up to City in the senior B grade. Following the conclusion of the championship competitions the Pollard Cup knockout tournament was commenced. Satherley's only try of the season came in their round 1 win over Grammar Old Boys 19 to 8 at Onehunga. Manukau went on an incredible run with Satherley playing in all matches, by beating Grafton, Patumahoe (in a friendly match), Otahuhu, University, Marist (by default), and Technical Old Boys in the final at the Showgrounds. This was the first time in the competition's history that a team from the B grade had won the Pollard Cup. Satherley ended up playing 18 senior matches for Manukau over the course of the season. On November 21 they held their annual prize giving at the Orpheum Hall in Onehunga and Satherley was presented with a medal for the most-improved player in the senior team. That was not the only thing Satherley was singled out for late in the year. On October 12 he was fined 10 shillings by the Police Court for failing to attend drill training along with several other men. Failing to attend had become so common that the judge said “we cannot fine all these people, and it would be better to have the old defaulters’ camp back again”.

Satherley was chosen in the team to play Bush District and scored a try in a 27-7 win at Pahiatua on the 27th of August. Following the match the players went to a boxing tournament held by the Pahiatua Boxing Club at the Foresters’ Hall. Satherley in fact stepped in the ring and fought his team mate Watty Jones. They weighed 12.7st and 13st respectively with the Manawatu Standard stating “neither had any knowledge of the fistic art other than an instinctive desire to punch, and fists were flying in the air and descending from all directions. Satherley got home with the greater proportion, Jones's windmill swings, which would have felled an ox, luckily sailing over his opponents head. They set to like a couple of champions in the last round, Jones emerging from a hectic session with a bleeding nose and a grin and Satherley with the verdict and a bigger grin”. Following this fight other team mates Jock Barnes and Arnold Berridge also fought with Barnes winning by knockout and then Arthur Knight and Angus Finlayson fought a wrestling match. The final game of the tour was against Hawke's Bay at McLean Park in Napier. Auckland won by 8 points to 6 in front of 5,000 spectators. Several players left the field injured including Satherley who went off late in the match. After the Auckland side returned to Auckland Satherley was chosen in the reserves for their match against Wairarapa. His final two matches of the season came in championship matches against University and Technical Old Boys.

When Satherley moved to Auckland he joined the Manukau Rovers club which at that time was based in the Onehunga area. He made his senior debut for them in the Pollard Cup on September 25, 1926 at the age of 19. The Pollard Cup was played for near the end of the season and was often seen as an opportunity to try out junior grade players prior to the following season. He played against Grammar Old Boys in a 9-8 loss which eliminated them from the competition.

He was picked in the Auckland training squad to play against Waikato on June 3. The match was played at Rugby Park in Hamilton with Auckland winning 22-11 after trailing 0-11 at one point. Satherley scored 4th try out on the left wing which had pushed the score out to 18-11. After 5 more matches for Ponsonby he was chosen in the side to travel to Napier to take on Hawke's Bay in an earthquake benefit match. Auckland lost 19-8 in front of 6,000 spectators at McLean Park. It was said that Anderson, Walter Batty, Knight, and Satherley “were the most prominent of the visitors’ forwards”. While the New Zealand herald said Satherley was “prominent for his persistent following up”. The team returned to Auckland and Satherley was named in the team to play Southland at Eden Park. Auckland won 6 points to 5 on a heavy ground He then travelled with the Auckland side to New Plymouth for their match against Taranaki. Auckland lost 11 to 9 on a “well cut up” ground. Satherley scored a try which put Auckland into the lead 9-5 after taking a pass from Milliken who “threw infield to Satherley, who shook off a high tackle and scored”. The Herald said that he was “always prominent” and “splendid in the loose”.

In the early to mid 1920s Satherley was living in Wellington and a player at the Boys’ Institute Club. The Boys Institute was a boarding school for young boys that was founded in 1883 and became located on Tasman Street in 1914. He was a member of the fourth grade side and played as a five eighth before moving to the wing forward position. He also played lower grade rugby for the Oriental Club before moving to Auckland.

Clifford Allan Martin Satherley (4 June 1907 – 7 January 1947) was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in three test matches against Australia in 1935. In the process he became the 232nd player to represent New Zealand. Satherley also played for the North Island representative side along with Auckland. He played his club rugby league for Richmond Rovers and Mount Albert United. He also played representative rugby union for Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato. His rugby union clubs were Manukau Rovers, Ponsonby, Marist Brothers Old Boys (Hawke's Bay), Papamoa (BOP), Frankton Railway (Hamilton), and Technical Old Boys (Hamilton). He also played representative matches for the Te Puke and Hamilton sub-union representative sides.

Clifford Allan Martin Satherley was born on June 4, 1907, in Blenheim. His parents were Ingress Cecilia Manson, and Charles Herbert Satherley. His mother had been married previously to Soren Hansen however she petitioned for divorce in February 1904. They had two children together, Sorine Elvine Hansen (b.1897) and William Claus Hansen (b.1900). The Star (Christchurch) newspaper reported from the proceedings that "when fifteen years of age, in 1897, she married [Hansen] at Wellington, with her parents' consent, her father being present at the marriage. Respondent was alleged to have led a drunken life. Two years after the marriage her husband came home and said he "had had enough of her, and was off". Since then she had seen nothing of him. He was reported to be in Dannevirke, but inquiries failed to find him. She was ill after his desertion, and her baby [Sorine] 14 months old, died. Justice Cooper remarked upon "criminal conduct of parents in consenting to such early marriages"; a girl didn't know her own mind at fifteen, and she was not fit to bear children. Petitioner had not, at the time of her marriage, even reached the maximum school age”.

She remarried Charles Herbert Satherley in 1905. They had three children, Clifford, Phyllis Ida (1909-1986), and Leslie Charles John Manson (1911-1994). Leslie was more commonly known as 'Jack', and he also represented New Zealand at rugby league in 1937 and 1938.