Noel Field has lived in Lismore for almost 65 years and that measure alone ‘almost’ satisfies the high benchmark to be considered a local? Fieldsy, is well known in sporting circles, most notably soccer, in addition to golf and cricket and his affable manner endears him to a countless number of people, as being a true Lismore identity.

Rarely short of a word and even more rarely seen wearing long pants, the most obvious things about Fieldsy include that he is both a jovial character and a great bloke. This is a snippet of the Noel John Field story;

EARLY LIFE

Noel Field was born in Lismore Base Hospital on the 16th of October 1959, and his connection with Lismore has remained firmly entrenched ever since. Noel (senior) and Joan Field raised young Noel, his older sister Cathy and younger sibling Sue, from the family home in Union Street South Lismore, with the Field family being like most in this community in the sixties, where money was not plentiful.

Noel (senior) worked at Jason Steelworks and Joan found work at various places, including iconic South Lismore business, Bowen Pies.

Mr and Mrs Field were working class people from a staunchly proud part of the relatively small community of South Lismore and this is where the sound foundations for life were set to raise their family. Noel (senior) passed away in 2010 after enjoying a well-earned retirement for 14 years and he is remembered with great fondness. Joan is now 91 years young and is said to be in good health and sharp of mind.

SCHOOL DAYS

Primary school for Noel was spent at Our Lady Help of Christians, South Lismore (of course) and Noel’s memories are not from classroom pursuits, but consumed by the many thousands of hours spent kicking a soccer ball around the playground.

Being in a classroom did not resonate with Noel and he often says that there are few things that he has learned in his life that were ‘read’ from a book? He recalls a teacher (Sister Miriam) from those days expressing some frustration about efforts to prompt young Noel to concentrate on anything remotely aligned to reading, writing or arithmetic.

Noel did however have an extraordinary memory and the day that he recited a complex numerical puzzle, Sister Miriam expressed interest (even hope) that young Noel was not a complete lost cause as a student?

High School saw Noel head to Richmond River, but academic goals did not rate on Noel’s bucket list, so it was inevitable that he would leave school when he finished Year 10 (called Fourth Form back then).

Learning can of course be delivered in many ways and for Noel, the school of life would prove to be his almanac. Meeting Jenny Frater, who also attended Richmond River High, would surpass most High School romances, and 43 years of marriage later, Jenny and Noel have survived and prospered, through the good times and bad, like true Southies do.

(13-year-old Noel Field playing with Rovers)

(19-year-old Noel playing with South Lismore)

EMPLOYMENT

Noel’s first job was as a rigger, at Jason Fabrications (formerly Jason Steelworks), joining his father at the same employer.

After six years in his first job, Noel joined John Taylor for 4 years, building dairies.

A move to the Northern Star, that had been a significant regional organisation for many decades, saw Noel working night shift in the press room between 1985-2019.

The demise of the once powerful Northern Star impacted Noel, as it did many locals, but serious working folk are typically ‘glass half-full’ types and Noel wasn’t ready to retire, so he found work driving a taxi and he now drives a school bus. Every job that Noel has ever had, came as a result of an introduction from someone who he had met through sport.  

FAMILY

Noel and Jenny have four children, being Katie, Michael, Stephen and Kim and are grandparents to eight grandchildren, ranging from Macy who is 14 years to the youngest Augie who is 4.

Talking about his grandchildren ignites even more excitement in Noel’s gravelly voice than is normally heard and like all grandparents, he facetiously says that if he had known how extraordinary grandchildren are, he would have had them first?

Eldest daughter Katie lives on the Gold Coast and with Noel firmly entrenched in Lismore (he is said to get a nosebleed if he leaves the city limits), getting all grandchildren together with ‘pop-pop’, is a rare event, but is a must-do each Christmas.

This doting grandfather has a story about each grandchild to highlight their sporting prowess, with evidence of future stars plying the family gene in several codes.

Eldest grandchild Macy attends Woodlawn and apart from being a good swimmer, she plays rugby league for Marist Brothers, which is likely to be a consequence of the influence of her other grandfather, former top-line league player Steve Bartlett.

13-year-old Jimmy also plays league, in addition to union and just as I was about to quiz Noel about the sport of choice for his bloodlines, he waxed lyrical about next grandchild, 11-year-old Hunter, who plays as a soccer midfielder like Noel and according to pop-pop, is a natural goal-scorer.

The other 11-year-old, Reggie, plays league and union and thrilled the family by being named man of the match in the grand final last season.

Nine-year-old Evie, plays hockey for East Lismore and is also a cross-country runner.

Field’s influence returns parity to soccer with 9-year-old Benji and 7-year-old Willow already completing several seasons and youngest grandchild Augie ready to start playing for Rovers as he turns five in 2024.

(11-year-old grandson Hunter)

(The extended Field clan)

(Michael, Stephen, Jenny, Katie, Kim and Noel in 2003)

(The eight Field grandchildren Christmas 2023)

Noel muses about five of his eight grandchildren being left-handers, which is a standing joke for many sportspeople, who see sporting endeavours as being biased towards right-handers? The current golf 12 handicapper (who has played off as low as 9), says that there is still time for the grandchildren to become even better sportspeople by changing to right-hand dominance.

Although Field has not always possessed a svelte athlete’s physique, don’t be fooled by thinking that his sporting ability was (or is) mediocre. Golf is the priority every Saturday, where he is a member at Coraki, but he is happy to play anywhere and proudly highlights the three hole-in-ones that he has recorded in his trophy cabinet.

Post soccer playing days, Field played cricket and was scouted to be a handy batsman and bowler with the Lismore Workers Third Grade team, colloquially called the ‘Test Team’, in response to its dominance under the leadership of prolific veteran opening batsman Mick Ryan.

SOCCER

The magic of kicking a soccer ball first consumed Noel before he started primary school, and the love of the game has remained ever since.

As a young Noel Field grew, he made friends with other lads in his neighbourhood, starting a lifelong friendship with Neil and John Wraight, each of who would share many great soccer moments with Noel.

In 1968, John Wraight senior would take Noel to games with Neil and John (junior) and it was only a matter of time before Noel started playing with Lismore Richmond Rovers Soccer Club (now football club). Field would play a further 20 consecutive years and would become a prodigious left half or centre half (that we would now call a mid-fielder).

Although diminutive for much of his career, Field had extraordinary skill on the ball and possessed exceptional soccer vision. His capacity to see a play well ahead of most and to understand how to utilise space on a soccer field made Field a special player. Despite being colour blind, which created a different perspective, with some colours being indistinguishable, Noel talks about having to adapt to counter the limitations of not having a full and normal vision, but he adapted.

The first stint with Rovers continued until 1979, when Field transferred to South Lismore when that club was trying to form a senior team. Noel went across as Captain Coach, to guide a young and inexperienced squad, that had a tough initiation into the top grade.

Field was captain-coach for 2 years, then returned as a player-coach (not captain) at Rovers in 1981, staying for two years. The transfer journey between clubs continued in 1983 when he found himself back at the Celtics and finally back to Rovers in 1985, where he retired as a player at age 28 in 1987 with a First Division title, when Rovers claimed the Cyril Mayo Trophy by defeating Bangalow 4-1 in the grand final.

(Grand Final Winners 1987 Lismore Richmond Rovers)

(Field in action for South Lismore against Rovers)

Field was identified as a very talented junior soccer player and he progressed through Lismore soccer, to State tournaments and as a 13-year-old, he played for Northern NSW that contested the Nationals in Newcastle.

A recent chance conversation with Liverpool Legend Craig Johnston reminisced about that occasion, when Johnston represented Lake Macquarie and he says that he recalls his tussle with the equally tenacious Field, who was a skinny, red-headed kid.

While the days of being young, slightly built lads have passed, both Johnston and Field, maintain a passionate love of the game and each sport a ‘long ponytail’, which prompted some amusement when the men caught up for a chat recently. There was a clear connection evident between former junior opponents, who last met when young teenage midfielders.

Each is now almost in their mid-sixties and while Johnston became a global soccer superstar and Field remained a local resident in regional NSW, each possesses a genuine down-to-earth disposition and this chance introduction five decades on, rekindled a conversation that sounded like it had been going for the past fifty years and delivering much entertainment.

(Field holding a ball signed by Craig Johnston)

Soccer has been integral to Noel’s life and Jenny was always close at hand, noting that Noel first coached a junior side at age 17 (an Under 10 side) and Noel and Jenny would often ferry the WHOLE team in one car (clearly not legal these days) to games as far as Ballina to play.

Field has coached many teams and while he is reluctant to single any out above others, he nominates Troy and Brendan Matthews, Scott Coster and Troy Kenny as being ‘as talented’ juniors,’ as any that he has seen locally.

Making Field’s short-list of best senior men that he has coached includes Ian MacGregor, Brett Lane, Tim Sheridan and Luke McAnelly. The opportunity to coach female teams and marvel at the skills of players like Martene Wallace (nee Edwards) and Katie Parker, is also fondly remembered by Field.

At club level, Field has seen many good players, but he considers that Tony and Shane Wilson, Steve Bryen, Steve Braid and Chris Rose that each played in his era, were the very best that Rovers have ever produced.

Field spent two years as a committee person with Soccer Far North Coast (now Football Far North Coast) in 1986-87. He was encouraged to join the committee that was looking for younger people with fresh ideas and a new focus promoting junior soccer, with an eye to the future.

Noel recalls successfully lobbying for the abolition of penalties for competitive juniors in finals matches, in response to a view that junior players should not have to endure the scrutiny and emotional pressure that comes from deciding matches by penalty. Field has always been able to understand balance and context in sport and while he enjoys the celebration of sporting success, he tempers a pursuit of winning in junior sport, at the expense of the greater good of promoting participation that is inclusive and fun.

What you see is what you get with Noel Field and while his opinions are always direct and can be too honest for some people, his assessment is rarely off the mark? He continues to enjoy every opportunity to watch local soccer and he doesn’t care what level, what location or what the stakes of a game are?

You will regularly see Field sitting for hours, watching the game he loves and he is highly respected by generations of players and others who have benefited from his soccer wisdom. Field’s appreciation and understanding of grassroots football reflects much of what makes him the man that he is, so the last word should go to Noel;

“I have always tried to be the best person that I can be. Family and community are everything to me and while not a highly spiritual person, I have been blessed to have lived a life where riches have been gifted in things that come from the heart."