First arriving at Valleys as a 19 year old, it didn’t take Alan Beauchamp long to fall in love with the Diehards.
The speedy winger would don the Royal Blue from 1973 to 1981, embracing the love the historic club showed to him.
How would you describe your love for the Diehards?
I love them so much, they are such a valuable part of my life.
From 1973 to 1981 all I wanted to do was play for the Diehards, it’s the greatest joy in my life to say I played for Valleys.
You started at Brothers playing Under 18s, what made you move clubs to join Valleys?
I was a junior at Cannon Hill Stars, playing all the way through.
A lot of my mates, like Graham Quinn, decided to make the move to Brothers, so I figured I’d go there too.
At the end of that Under 18s season, Brothers weren’t that keen to progress too far with me, so Ron Gurnett suggested I could play at Valleys, so that’s when I went across.
Can you remember your debut for Valleys?
Lang Park, 1973 against Wests. They had Sattler and some very scary forwards.
You were only 19 years old playing in a tough era of football, what did your parents think of that?
Mum didn’t come to my games, but my Dad loved it.
He would always be there to help them unlock the gate at Lang Park for C-Grade, they must have thought he worked there.
What was it like being alongside some of the best Diehards of all time?
I could never pick a favourite.
Marty Scanlan was one, what an honour to even know him.
Hughie O’Doherty, just a great player and friend.
John Crilly was so tough and skillful, Russell Hughes, Al McInness, don’t get me started or I won’t stop.
I’ll just say that I love every Diehard.
What was it like being on the bench for the 1973 Grand Final against Redcliffe?
I was on the bench the entire game, I never got on but what an experience it was.
Valleys had won in 1970, 1971, lost in 1972 and now in 1973 I’m sitting here while they beat Redcliffe 15-7.
John McCabe was exceptional that day and Jeff Gill was just Jeff Gill — you’d expect nothing but excellence from him.
Then in 1974 you returned to the Grand Final, this time against Brothers and your old mate Graham Quinn.
Up against Quinny, what a player he was for Brothers and then the Dragons.
We beat Norths in the finals and then Brothers.
After sitting on the bench the whole game last year it was such a great feeling to win at Lang Park in front of 38,000 people — it was disgustingly wet, but who cares when you win.
What do you remember from the AMCO Cup game against the Roosters, where you had to mark Bob Fulton?
Fulton was my hero, I loved him, and that Easts side was unbelievable.
Fulton belted me early on, and all I could think was I just got belted by Bob Fulton.
Things were looking good for a 1979 Premiership, but along came Chris ‘Choppy’ Close?
Choppy and I were the centre pairing in reserve grade during preseason, but Jerry Fitzpatrick announced his retirement, so one of us was getting the call up.
Struddy pulled us both aside one night at training, saying one of you must go up, and I think Alan is the man.
Choppy replied, Right, I'm going back to Cunnamulla.
So Struddy changed his mind and promoted Chris.
We went on to win the Grand Final that year with Choppy and Vic Wieland in the centres.
It’s hard to argue with though, Choppy was just a sensation.
At some point you come across a young Wally Lewis at Valleys, at what point did you know he was a different brand to everyone else?
He played a C grade game and scored three tries, that was the only C grade game he was ever playing.
He was rookie of the year in 1978 and was just sensational.
In my last year for Valleys in 1981 we were playing Easts at Neumann Oval and my best mate Ian Sommer had given me a hospital pass, and I quickly got it on to Wally who ran 25 metres to score.
John McLeod had hit me late and high and I was laying on the ground when Wally walked back to check on me.
I thought then, it wasn’t going to get any better than setting up Wally for a try so I might retire.
Were there any players who used to keep you up at night?
Tony Obst, what a player — he was tough.
I will say for all the nasty forwards Redcliffe had, they were all good blokes.
Obst, Orchard, Bleakley and Thinee, they had some scary players.
They’d whack you but would then come see you after the match.
What was your day job during your playing days?
I worked for SGIO but I hated it, so I drove brewery trucks instead.
I think half the BRL was doing that.
I retired in 1981 and figured I better get a real job, so I was a fireman for 35 years after that.
What was your biggest contract at Valleys?
Are you ready? $2700 for 1977.
What do you wish you knew in 1974?
I wish I knew about weights; I was 75kg playing and could have done with some strength.
