Earl
Park - a godsend for the Saints - St. George had no permanent home ground
when they entered the Sydney first grade competition in 1921. The local councils
procrastinated and the Saints' first team was nomadic. After playing some games
at Hurstville from 1921-24, Saints moved to Arncliffe
in 1925. Ian Heads in the March Of The Dragons wrote,
"Alderman Lancelot Lewis 'Daddy' Earl made available his property opposite Arncliffe Station as Saints' home ground and headquarters. The NSWRL signed a ten year lease with Earl, a formidable character with sprouting whiskers and paid him 1500 pounds. He spent the same amount to make the ground and build the grandstand. The ground stood on what was once a flourishing Chinese market garden. Oldtimers remember sheep grazing there. According to a report at the time, it measured 175 yards by 150 yards, with a pavillion to seat 1,100 spectators and accomodation all over for 10,000. The dressing rooms were the largest in Sydney, replete with lockers, showers and every facility. The Saints were delighted - especially when a gala day in March realised 710 pounds, 18 shillings and 5 pence. 'A great ground to watch the game from' said Glynn Price.' You were right on the touchline, very close to play. People used to sit on the railway bank.' Earl Park later was offered to St.George and/or the NSWRL for 5000 pounds. Neither was in a position to buy it and in the early 1940s the ground ultimately went to Cooks Caramels who constructed a factory on the site."
The St. George Team of 1925 - Left to Right: T. Burns,
A. Justice, G. Carstairs,
W. Stockley, T. Peters, N. Shadlow, F. Hume, P. Gabbe, A. Kelly, T. Kirby, C.
Tye,
W. Hardman, A. Traynor (capt.)
THE EARL PARK RIOT
The memory of Earl Park is assured because of the riot that took place
there on August the 11th, 1928. 
St.
George defeated Balmain 21-3 in a spiteful match. The referee, Brannaghan, lost
control of the match in the 2nd half. Brannaghan sent off St. George forward Harry
Flower but took no decisive action against the thuggery of the Balmain players.
George Carstairs was booted in the face whilst playing the ball and five minutes
from the end was kicked in the head and knocked unconscious by Balmain forward
Tony Russell. Brannaghan only cautioned Russell and this infuriated the Earl Park
crowd. In the midst of the incident, St. George coach Frank Burge and secretary
Reg Fusedale entered the arena to speak to Brannaghan. The actions of Balmain
player George Bishop at full-time were the final straw for the Earl Park crowd.
Bishop began chasing Saints' Arnold Traynor. Hundreds of furious St. George supporters
invaded the field and ripped off fence palings to assault the Balmain players.
Alex
Mackie remembers one man running around behind the grandstand with an axe. The
police attempted to restore order but this didn't prevent Russell from being badly
beaten by the crowd. Russell suffered leg and head injuries and ended up in the
same ambulance as Carstairs. When Russell lunged at Carstairs the ambulancemen
had to intervene. Order was eventually restored an a NSWRL investigation a week
later blamed the crowd instead of the players.
View more images of Earl Park in the Gallery.