It was once a field of dreams. A place where local heroes ran their hearts out to the try line and a place where players forgot about the cuts and bruises amid the joys of famous victories.
The cheering crowd on the stands and alongside the field would roar their approval and cars horns would sound everytime the blue and white of Sentraal scored.
After the final whistle, there would be much merriment at the clubhouse; the walls upon which hung photographs of winning teams and legendary players.
Now, only the wind whistles around the trashed Sentraal Rugby Clubhouse in Glencoe. Even the grandstand has been methodically dismantled by vandals and/or scrap metal seekers. A Vote EFF slogan is daubed on the wall. Ironically, the rugby poles have been replaced by football goals but it appears as if not many games are ever played with only the odd goat roaming free.

Johann Coetsee and Boy Hesom, old Sentraal players, say the club left the Glencoe ground in 2004. “We were constantly broken into. The fence was even stolen – it was just impossible to control,” said Johann. Sentraal was formed in 1968 – a combination of teams from Dundee, Glencoe and Talana and started playing at the Oval before settling in Glencoe in 1974.
“Back then, rugby was played from January to September unlike now where the season is shorter. We always had a good crowd in Glencoe. People would surround the field and there was a great atmosphere. The get-togethers after the games were legendary. If Newcastle was playing away in Ladysmith on the same day, they would drop in to join us for dancing before continuing the drive home to Newcastle. Vryheid players did the same – a good time was guaranteed at Sentraal’s Glencoe clubhouse,” remembered Boy.
When Sentraal left Glencoe, they took up residence at the Dundee High School fields where they have since developed the clubhouse there.
Johann, who is currently Sentraal chairman, said first prize would have to be to have their own field and club and ”do their own thing”.
“Hopefully one day this will happen. But for now, the old Sentraal ground in Glencoe will remain a place of fond memories.”