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| The Shield that captured the imaginations of Rugby League players and supporters for almost half a century was named after Arch Foley, a likeable dedicated man whose family saw fit to honour his memory with what is now one of Australia's best known sporting trophies. Richard Archibald Foley was born in Townsville, one of eleven children of Thomas and Elizabeth Foley. His father was the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Townsville from 1909 - 1920. He first played Rugby Union, but was one of the first Rugby League players in Townsville, the game he was associated with until his death, aged 59, in 1947. Throughout his career, Arch Foley played in winning premiership sides in the Townsville competition, represented North Queensland many times, and played in the maroon for Queensland. His football career began with Souths Rugby Union Club in 1911, from where he was chosen to represent Townsville at the Rugby Union Country Week in Charters Towers. | In 1914, he became involved with the fledgling Rugby League when his beloved Souths switched from Rugby Union. Throughout his career he never left the Souths club. Foley was a fine halfback and during the 1914 season he was selected to play in the historic North Queensland touring side which provided nine players, including Foley, for the Queensland team to tour to Sydney. Souths' premiership winning sides of 1917, 1918 and 1919 were all captained by Arch Foley. He also captained the touring North Queensland side of 1920. In 1921, he captained the victorious Townsville team against the touring Toowoomba side, defeating the visitors twice. He retired as a player in 1922, but that was far from the end of his association with Rugby League. He was a respected coach and was at the helm of Souths when they won the 1922 premiership. He also led the club to its first clean sweep of all three grades in the 1923 Townsville competition as non- playing coach. At the same time, he had taken over as South's club president, starting an illustrious career as an administrator. |
