Board index ‹ Super League ‹ Wakefield Trinity ‹ Gert Coetzer

Redscat wrote:

Who remembers Ivor Dorrington who, if I'm not mistaken, was the first of the influx of South Africans to Wakefield Trinity, in 1958? I can picture him now.

Talking of wingers, here's one to test the memory of the older fans on here, can anyone remember a South African winger called Jan Lotriet who played one season for the club in 1958?

Yes I remember the name Lotriet.
Also sold green ‘uns around Durkar area in 60s.
Used to buy them from YEP office on Wood St.
Then from Unity Hall when office moved . Started off with couple of dozen , shouting ‘green uns’ in street , then built up a regular round selling 10 dozen or so.
Good earner for teenager and did it right up to going to university in 1970.

thebeagle wrote:

Yes I remember the name Lotriet.
Also sold green ‘uns around Durkar area in 60s.
Used to buy them from YEP office on Wood St.
Then from Unity Hall when office moved . Started off with couple of dozen , shouting ‘green uns’ in street , then built up a regular round selling 10 dozen or so.
Good earner for teenager and did it right up to going to university in 1970.

A bit off topic, the manager was called Pete Imrie from Crofton his assistant was George Horncastle from Kirkthorpe who lived across the road from me, I was the office boy there and funnily enough Pete sent me round Durker on a Sat night to establish the sale of the paper as it relied upon advertising, not a big area to cover and didn't take long to establish a couple of dozen regulars, the good thing was I was allowed to keep the money on top of the pittance they paid me.

Gert 'Oupa' Coetzer was one of the true greats to have played for Trinity and a gentleman by all accounts. I feel very privileged to have seen him play in the number 5 shirt which he made his own. One of those few players who got you really excited whenever he touched the ball. RIP Gert and thanks for some wonderful tries.

little wayne69 wrote:

Talking of wingers, here's one to test the memory of the older fans on here, can anyone remember a South African winger called Jan Lotriet who played one season for the club in 1958?

Yes, I remember him little wayne. A contemporary of the afore mentioned Dorrington. He was on the wing as I recall.

I hawked The Green Un around Flanshaw with my mate. We picked them up on Saturday tea time from the YEN office in The Springs. When we'd had enough we would dump the papers over a wall and go and do something else.

Too young to comment on the great players of the 60s, but my Dad speak fondly of the players that pulled on the shirt during this era.

RIP Gert

Very good and informative half-page article about the late, great Gert (Oupa) Coetzer in Today's League Express. For those who weren't around at the time, an ideal insight.