GROWING up Ben Keegan never knew the full extent of his grandfather Alan Ridley's rugby league career.

But after Ridley, Mayor of Orange in 1956-57, was named in the Western Suburbs Magpies and Wests Tigers teams of the century the whole family is now very much aware of his achievements.

"Growing up 'Tink', as we called him, never bragged about what he did or anything," Keegan said. "Instead he would just talk about the fun times and funny stories.

"It wasn't until we started to read things about him and talked to other people that we worked out what he had achieved."

The Wests Tigers' team of the century, which was a combination of the Western Suburbs and Balmain sides, was selected earlier this year with Ridley named on the wing.

The Magpies' team of the century was celebrated at the Ashfield Leagues Club on Friday night.

"Being named in the side it really shows what he did in the sport," Keegan said.

Alongside Ridley, who died in 1993, in the Magpies' legend side are hard man Les Boyd at lock, captain and hooker Noel Kelly and halfback Keith Holman.

Roy Masters, who spoke at the dinner on Friday night, was named as coach of the Wests team.

Ridley played for Wests between 1931-36 and scored 63 tries in 64 games, a record only recently broken.

A Canberra junior, he was part of two Kangaroo Tours of Great Britain and won a premiership with the Magpies in 1933.