Enfield Federals
Tim Pickup was a Western Suburbs Rugby League junior who played his formative years with the Enfield Federals J.R.L.F.C from 1959 to 1965. The Federals were formed in 1912 but dissolved, to be reformed by Tim's father Harrie and friend Jim Bagnall in the late 1950s. The Federals became a juggernaut and Pickup's team-mates included 6 future Sydney First-Graders, including Michael McClean - Manly,North Sydney and Wests(Son of former Western Suburbs Captain Peter McClean), Neville Hornery - Canterbury and Wests, Geoff Nielsen - Canterbury and Easts, John Clark - Wests and Parramatta, Rod Smith - Wests(200+ first grade games) and prominent Australian Horse-racing identity, Frank Tagg - Wests. Legendary Balmain,NSW and Australian Rugby League Trainer/Conditioner, and noted hard man Les Hobbs was also a key member of this team.
The Enfield Federals were such a dominant side they went undefeated for 7 years,and ironically lost their one and only game,the 1965 Grand Final which would be Pickup's last ever match for the club. During the Federals reign they quickly ran out of opponents, having to play up an age group to get a game and would eventually have to shift to other Junior League's (Balmain, Newtown) to be accommodated. The Federals were such a force that 12 out of the starting 13 line-up represented Western Suburbs RLFC in the 1963 S.G BALL/Oatley Shield and 1965 JERSEY FLEGG and won both competition's UNDEFEATED, with Tim Pickup as Five-eighth and Captain. In 1965, Western Suburbs RLFC called upon Pickup and team-mate Neville Hornery to play in the 3rd Grade open-age Semi-finals. Harrie Pickup deemed his son to be to young for this promotion at only 16 years of age, yet Hornery not only accepted the challenge,he excelled with gusto.
Pickup did his schooling at St.Patrick's Strathfield, and would later graduate from Christian Brothers Lewisham in 1965. He was offered a High school sholarship to storied Rugby Union nursery, St.Joseph's Hunter's Hill but declined for at that time was not a fan of the game.
At the end of 1965 Harrie Pickup decided to move his family to the Northern Beaches, as all 3 brothers had discovered surfing and were regulars on the peninsula. The Pickup's would settle in Curl Curl.
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