15 Facts About Sandy Pearce

Sandy Pearce is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

Sandy Pearce made his first national representative appearance in 1908.

Sandy Pearce was a member of the three Easts City Cup winning sides from 1914 to 1916.

Sandy Pearce was the first Eastern Suburbs player to register 100 matches with the club and the first in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership to play in 150 matches.

Sandy Pearce was a member of the side that played against the New Zealand 'All Golds' in 1908 helping to establish the code in Australia.

Sandy Pearce played in 30 other minor matches on that tour, he represented Australasia.

Sandy Pearce is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No 17.

Sandy Pearce's father Harry Pearce was a world champion sculler.

Sandy's brother Walter was an outstanding long distance cyclist, sister Lilly Pearce was a noted sculler and the first woman to ride an aquaplane on Sydney harbour.

Sandy's own son Joe Pearce followed in his footsteps playing rugby league for Eastern Suburbs and representing New South Wales and Australia in that sport.

Sandy Pearce was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914.

Sandy Pearce was buried at South Head Cemetery on 15 November 1930.

Sandy Pearce neither drank nor smoked to any extent, and seldom swore.

Sandy Pearce pulled a fishing skiff from Double Bay to Redhead on the South Coast, about 140 miles.

In February 2008, Sandy Pearce was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.