Solveigh Gusse, Luka Smith, Hannah McCallum, Emerson Lees, Bronet Anscombe and Lili Farragher out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyBrad King and Lita Nurianah out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyPeter Sleap revs up the crowd. Picture by Peter Lorimer
Emilia Hunt, Eloise Hunter, Arhcie Hunt, Sadie Hunt and Matt Hunt out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyScenes from South Newcastle's charitable match day 'Sleapy's Day' at Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Peter LorimerJoe Barber scores for Maitland against South Newcastle at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter LorimerScenes from South Newcastle's charitable match day 'Sleapy's Day' at Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Peter LorimerScenes from South Newcastle's charitable match day 'Sleapy's Day' at Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Peter LorimerEva Croker, Rosa Black and two-year-old Sienna Micallef out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyOlivia Higgins, Yasmin Clydsdale, Caitlan Johnson and Sheridan Gallagher out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyMatthew Janson and Matthew Cox out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyJames Thorley, Declan Keegan and Ross Haidle out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyTia Downing and Denise Romano out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyKellie Raines and Nell Dark-Jones out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyJohn Debono and Jack Bartsch out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyJack Bartsch, Jacqui Wrightson, John Debono (front) Alister Fairlie and Madeline Winter out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyTyler McLean, Emma-Joyce Croker and Jacinda Black out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyAaron McIlwrath and Brent Martin out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyKacee Macphail and Mishca Ridley out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyJulie Carroll, Nicholas Dan, Bindi Flook and Jacdelyn Flook out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyMark Paterson, Jay Gibson, Brendon Hayes and Natalie Crane out and about at South Newcastle rugby league's bumper Sleapy's Day charitable match day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Simon McCarthyConnor O'Beirne scores for Maitland against South Newcastle at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter LorimerClub legend Peter Sleap walks the event trophy onto the field. Picture by Peter LorimerConnor O'Beirne scores for Maitland against South Newcastle at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter LorimerConnor O'Beirne scores for Maitland against South Newcastle at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter LorimerScenes from South Newcastle's charitable match day 'Sleapy's Day' at Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Peter LorimerScenes from South Newcastle's charitable match day 'Sleapy's Day' at Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Peter LorimerJoe Barber scores for Maitland against South Newcastle at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter LorimerJoe Barber scores for Maitland against South Newcastle at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter LorimerJoe Barber scores for Maitland against South Newcastle at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter LorimerScenes from South Newcastle's charitable match day 'Sleapy's Day' at Merewether on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Picture by Peter LorimerJoe Barber scores for Maitland against South Newcastle at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter LorimerSouths captain Ryan Glanville crunched at Sleapy's Day in Merewether on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter Lorimer
It was standing room only in The View, under the shade of the grandstands at Mitchell Park on Saturday afternoon as a fathomless crowd mingled around the boundaries for South Newcastle's charitable match day named for club legend Peter Sleap.
As the marching band took the field and struck up a tune ahead of the game, the throng, estimated to be one of the biggest the event has seen, settled in for an afternoon of football raising funds for Sleapy's Foundation, the legend's charity established to help those battling a variety of serious illnesses.
There was no official crowd figure collected, but Mr Sleap estimated earlier in the week that ticket sales had the event in line to surpass even last year's bumper crowd of about 5000. At this rate, he told the Newcastle Herald on Friday that the fan-favourite match day might have to find a higher ground.
Sales for the event, which saw Souths take their first crack at Maitland since last year's grand final loss at the weekend, were the best the club had seen, Mr Sleap said on Friday, after a late rush for tickets as the weather made a favourable turn.
South Newcastle club legend Peter Sleap revs up the crowd on Saturday, August 10. Picture by Peter Lorimer
This event was to be a standalone set of games between Souths and Maitland this weekend, but three other first-grade matches are being played elsewhere, including Lakes' hosting Central as part of their own charitable day supporting Emma's Warriors.
The fundraiser was launched in 2010 after Mr Sleap was diagnosed with throat cancer and has since broadened to support the club stalwart's charitable foundations. Both teams donated their game day jerseys for auction to support the cause, and the Foundation is also planning an inaugural 'Sleap Walk' fundraiser in November, where participants will don pyjamas for a walk through Newcastle.
"If I got a bad name as a kid, I may as well use it to my advantage," Sleap said.
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