The Timekeeper's Bell: The Sound of South Sydney
In the rich tapestry of Australian Rugby League history, few artefacts carry the emotional and historical weight of the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Timekeeper's Bell, also known as the '1908 Foundation Bell'. First rung at the inaugural premiership match in 1908, this bell is more than a timekeeping relic. It has become a sacred symbol of South Sydney’s identity, resilience and deep connection to its community.
The Origin: A Witness to History
The Bell was first rung by the timekeeper to start play in the Rabbitohs' opening match against North Sydney at Birchgrove Oval in 1908. Its chime marked not just the beginning of a game, but the dawn of Rugby League in Australia. Long before electronic buzzers and digital screens, this bell signalled kick-off, half-time and full-time, setting the rhythm for what would become a century-long legacy.
Following his early playing days with South Sydney in the 1920s, Albert Clift became the official timekeeper of the Rabbitohs. He kept the Bell for decades and treasured it as a symbol of the Club’s heritage. A lifelong supporter and Life Member, Mr Clift dedicated 70 years to the Club as timekeeper, mascot and passionate custodian of memorabilia. His home became a shrine to South Sydney history, and the Bell was its crown jewel.
A Bell for the Fight: Auctioned to Save Souths
In 1999, facing exclusion from the NRL, South Sydney launched its now-famous Fightback campaign. The Bell, still in Albert Clift’s possession, was auctioned at the 'Save Our Souths' fundraising dinner. In a gesture that typified his selfless loyalty, Clift handed over the Bell without hesitation, telling club officials simply: “Take the lot.”
The highest bidder was Russell Crowe, who paid $42,000 for the Bell, outbidding Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs directors. Crowe later revealed he would have paid $100,000. At the time, he vowed the Bell would never ring again unless Souths were back in the competition. “Albert Clift will have the honour of ringing it,” he said.
The Grand Return: Reinstatement in 2002
The Bell went on to become a symbol of the Rabbitohs’ heritage and their many struggles for reinstatement. One of the most powerful moments in that fight was the ‘Save the Game’ march in November 2000, which played a key role in the Club’s return to the NRL ahead of the 2002 season.
A limited-edition souvenir bell was produced for the Rabbitohs’ official readmission to the NRL in 2002 to be used ahead of our first game back. The bell was engraved with the words “RETURN OF THE RABBITOHS” and featuring a red handle with a single green stripe. One of these original bells is now preserved at the Australian Sports Museum as part of the Clive Churchill Collection.
On the day the Rabbitohs returned to the NRL in round one, 2002, the original Foundation Bell rang once more. Russell Crowe and Clift stood side-by-side to mark the momentous occasion, echoing the very first chime from 1908. The Bell was no longer just a remnant of the past. It had become the sound of South Sydney’s survival and return.
Grand Final Glory: The Bell’s Most Celebrated Rings
In 2014, the Rabbitohs broke a 43-year premiership drought. In an emotional pre-match ceremony, Bob McCarthy, a Rabbitohs legend, rang the bell before kick-off alongside Canterbury-Bankstown legend, Les Johns. Fittingly, the Rabbitohs defeated the very team that once tried to buy the Bell — the Bulldogs — securing their 21st premiership in a moment steeped in poetic symmetry.
Then, in 2021, the Bell rang again before the Grand Final against Penrith. Chosen to represent every past Rabbitohs player, Issac Luke was given the honour by Mr Crowe to ring the Bell at Suncorp Stadium. It was a gesture that linked generations and acknowledged the many who had carried the Club forward, especially during the pandemic when many fans and former players were unable to attend.
Legacy and Future: The Heartbeat of a Club
Today, the Bell remains the only surviving physical object from that first game in 1908. It is rung only when South Sydney appear in a Grand Final, a sacred rule upheld by Mr Crowe.
As the club prepares to reproduce this historic bell, it offers every member of the Rabbitohs family a chance to connect with the past. For newer fans, it is a gateway to the origins of the red and green. For those who marched in the streets during the reinstatement campaign, it is a badge of honour. For the players who pull on the jersey, it is a reminder of the legacy they uphold.
More than just a symbol, the 1908 Foundation Bell is the echo of pride, struggle, triumph and tradition. Every ring tells a story. And as long as the Rabbitohs exist, its sound will continue to resonate through generations.
