From the president who once told coaching staff to go and get some of those pumpkin pickers from the farms, to the train carriages lined with the same vegetable by supporters travelling to grand finals in Newcastle.

From the recovery efforts of the 1955 flood and the ensuing hat-trick of titles, to the packed-out afternoons at Maitland Sportsground, where kids and cars would fill the hill.

And from the High Street shopfronts decked out in black and white, to the 40 metre field goal kicked into a howling southerly at No.1 Sportsground to win the club’s most recent premiership. 

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The Pickers have provided a sense of pride, a sense of place and a sense of passion for those in Maitland and for those who have followed them for the best part of the last century.

Now, the Pickers will celebrate their own and highlight the best of the best by naming a top 20 players of all time.

Maitland Leagues Club general manager Glen Whaler came up with the idea and assembled a knowledgeable crew to exchange thoughts and ultimately come up with the final ­product.

It has been a tough assignment, not so much creating the short list, but working out how to whittle it down.

There have been many outstanding players produced in Maitland who have gone on to higher representative honours – some in green and gold – and to experience grand final glory with the Pickers.

And even with strict criteria in place and point scales to limit any subject­ivity, debate among the punters will be sure to linger.