Metro North: A Family Affair

It would be natural to assume that these three members of Metro North's Pyers family, Paul senior (Pappy), Paul (Pixie) and Anthony, comprise three generations. In fact there are just two generations represented here.

Although they were born thirty years apart, Anthony is not Pixie's son, but his brother. And doesn't father Pappy get some mileage out of that!

In what is thought to be a first for schoolboy football, the three Pyers all were part of Metro North’s memorable carnival debut at Kingaroy. Pixie coached the team in which Anthony was fullback, while Pappy was not to be denied as ‘runner’.

Kingaroy was not the first time that Pappy and Pixie saw league action together. 1971 and 1972 they played A grade for Wynnum with Pappy as coach. Pixie played his first A grade game at age 16, and within a year or so was a Brisbane representative.

Sadly, a promising league career was cut short by a bad knee injury he suffered in a motorcycle accident. However before this mishap, Pixie was to make his mark in another arena.

While a lifesaver with the Coolangatta club, he won the national junior beach sprint championship, delivering Coolangatta’s first national title.

These days Pixie teaches at Kelvin Grove High. He is dedicated to fostering schoolboy rugby league and the young men who participate.

impressive carnival debuts
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