When Matt King walked into the pub just before the 2013 rugby league grand final started he was surprised to find it packed with CYMS fans.
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And then he was stunned to see captain coach Mick Sullivan open another door to lead his team into the bar in their full gear ready to play.
“The players had got ready out the back. The pub was absolutely packed,” he said.
“The players walked out through a tunnel of fans. Most of the supporters followed them over the road to the ground.”
It’s a big loss, no doubt about that.
- Gerard Hannelly, CYMS cricket club president
That was Kelly’s Rugby Hotel.
Locals, fans, rugby league and cricket players and officials have been visiting the Lord’s Place watering hole this week to say goodbye to an institution that was their ‘home away from home’ particularly for the CYMS sporting clubs.
Publican Bill Kelly, brother Mark and sisters Melissa Englert and Sue Webster have sold the pub and the last drinks will be poured on Sunday.
It brings to an end 96 years of continuous ownership of the hotel, one of the longest stints in NSW by the one family.
Mr King, a rugby league club committee member, said the pub was “the CYMS clubhouse.
“We couldn’t thank the Kellys enough for what they’ve done,” he said.
“In the last five to six years with our successes I don’t think they could have fitted more people in.”
Sporting honour boards and memorabilia that adorned the pub walls have been taken down as the clubs have had to find new homes.
Mr King said Kelly’s new owners, the O’Hara Group, had offered them space at the Ophir Hotel.
“They’ve made us a really generous proposal. They’ve given us a wall to put boards on,” he said.
A courtesy bus will be provided to get people from Wade Park to the hotel for the post-match function on Sundays.
The CYMS cricket club will hold its final presentation on Saturday night before moving to its new home, the Robin Hood Hotel, from next week.
Cricket club secretary John Covelli said Kelly’s was “part and parcel of your life.”
He fondly remembers the 1983-84 premiership. “The celebrations went for two days. They were wild and happy days,” he said.
Club president Gerard Hannelly said Kelly’s was “an institution” in Orange.
“It’s a big loss, no doubt about that,” he said.
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