Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Farragher | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1957-04-01)1 April 1957 (age 68) Gilgandra, New South Wales,Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source:[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
John FarragherOAM (born 1 April 1957) is an Australian former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. He played for thePenrith Panthers, as aprop.[2]
A Gilgandra junior, Farragher was graded by thePenrith Panthers in the 1977 season. Penrith coachBarry Harris gave Farragher his first grade debut in the 1978 season. He made his first grade debut in his side's 9−8 loss to theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs atRedfern Oval in round 4 of the 1978 season.[3]
On 28 May 1978, in just his seventh appearance in the top grade, against theNewtown Jets atHenson Park in round 10 of the 1978 season, a collapsed scrum during the first half left him seriously injured. It was later revealed that he had dislocated his neck and damaged his spinal cord, and whilst surgery was able to correct the neck dislocation, he would become aquadriplegic.[4][5]
In the aftermath, a trust fund was set up to provide him with the financial support needed for the rest of his life. After extensive rehabilitation, Farragher returned to work at Panthers Leagues Club in 1982, taking on a role in public relations to greet and assist the club's members and guests. He still continues to hold that role, with his charm, warmth, and unwavering passion for the Panthers making him a most popular and recognizable character among the club's patrons. In 2016, he was awarded theMedal of the Order of Australia for his ongoing services to rugby league.[6]
 | Thisrugby league football biography relating to an Australian born in the 1950s is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |