The South Sydney Rabbitohs are mourning the passing of Life Member and former director in Ray Furse, who passed away on Saturday night in hospital from cancer.
Raymond Thomas Furse was director of the South Sydney Football Club from August 1990 to July 1999, when he unselfishly stood down along with Mervyn Neave, Stan Brown and Bernard O'Neil, to make way for 'Group14' to take over and promote the club. 'Group 14' was a collection of successful and high-profile businesspeople, politicians and celebrities who took a greater role on the Board of Directors in the lead up to the fightback when our club was kicked out from the NRL competition, which were featured heavily in our Tales of Reinstatement.
Mr Furse also served the club in the following roles: Private Members' Reviewing Committee in 1991-98, Finance & Retention Committee in 1993-98, Coaching Panel in 1993-95 and Marketing Committee (as Chairman) in 1995-98.
Mr Furse and the other three directors were inducted as a Life Members of the South Sydney Football Club at the 12th Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Member Co. at Redfern Town Hall on 10th March 2019. When they were awarded their life membership Rabbitohs Chairman Nicholas Pappas made the following comments: “The Rabbitohs have always been at our strongest and most resolute when the interests of the Club are put before the individual. In 1999, in some of the darkest times the Club has experienced, Mervyn, Ray, Stan and Bernard put the Club’s interests well before their own, and allowed 'Group 14' to orchestrate the fight to ensure the Club could re-enter the NRL competition."
On behalf of everyone connected to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, we offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ray Furse at this difficult time.
