Maitland Showground is a fitting venue for the Blacks’ 140th anniversary dinner this Saturday night.
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Not only is it the only venue capable of hosting such a large gathering, the Blacks played at the Showground for many years before moving to Lorn Park in 1948 and Marcellin Park in 1997.
The Blacks have won 12 first grade titles overall since entering the Newcastle competition in 1911.
Their first title came in 1916 during the early years of World War 1. The competition was suspended from 1917-1919 as a result of the war.
Between 1927 and 1937 the Blacks appeared in eight grand finals and won two, defeating East Newcastle 11-5 to win the 1927 premiership and Merewether Carlton 6-3 to salute in 1937.
The Newcastle competition was suspended after the 1939 season due to World War II and did not resume until 1948.
The anniversary dinner also celebrates the Maitland Blacks Junior Rugby Club's 50th anniversary.
The juniors were established by the Maitland Marist Brothers in 1967 and were originally known as the Marcellin Juniors with teams in the under-16 and under-18 Newcastle competition.
The junior club has provided the core player base of Maitland's nine first grade premierships from that period on – 1969, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1991, 1994, 1998 and 1999.
The Blacks have had numerous players represent at state and NSW Country level.
Their first NSW player was Richard Blaxland in 1886 and most recently prop Jeremy Tilse represented the Waratahs.
Former player Charles White played for Australia in the inaugural international against England in 1899 and in 1903 played in the first Trans-Tasman Test against New Zealand.
More recently Luke Burgess and Nic White have donned the green and gold.
White is currently plying his trade in Europe and is unable to attend the dinner this Saturday, but Burgess and Tilse will headline a long line of past and present players in attendance.