In 1968, a red-haired former Wallaby and Sydney Easts Rooster by the name of Ken McMullen, arrived in Dubbo and changed the fortunes of the struggling CYMS.

The left-footed magician took control of a talented group of youngsters with a couple of experienced older players like Mick Wilson who returned from Cronulla to weld a combination that went within an ace of taking the club’s First Grade title.

CYMS fell that year to Bob Weir and his brutal Narromine side in the Grand Final, but backed-up in 1969 to upset Parkes in Parkes and break their Group XI “duck”.

Grand Final number three was a war of attrition against Tony Slacksmith (ex-Coonambe) and the Forbes Magpies and CYMS lost by a few points in a muddy morass on No 1 Oval.

That unexpected loss inspired the greens in 1971 and after a still “discussed” penalty in reserve grade, the club claimed just the second Group 11 “green sweep”, taking all three trophies on a grand day.

Those years set CYMS, now known officially as “The Fishies”, on a path to glory with a first-ever Dubbo Grand Final going their way against Macquarie Blues in 1975 and a record-breaking defeat of Forbes in 1986 when Steve Hall’s team decimated Lord Ted and his Magpies 56-0!

Now two of the late 1960s and early 1970s brigade have decided it's time to get the players in green together again one more time.

“They called me and asked if I could help,” CYMS stalwart, Tod O’Dea said.

“We’re losing too many blokes, and there are too many golden memories to cherish so if you can get the word out we’ll give it a crack,” he added.

So here it is. If you know any former players and especially wives, partners, children, and family of those who have run out under the Catholic Young Men’s badge, get them in touch with Tod on 0447 865 661, or via the CYMS Old Boys on Facebook.