Great Northern Football League: Royals’ first reserves flag dedicated to mum of Mark ‘Big Tex’ Houston

Mark Houston, aka Big Tex, proudly looked at a self-inscribed message on his left hand when the siren sounded to give Chapman Valley its first GNFL reserves title. “Enjoy Mum,” the Royals coach had written. Lorelle Houston succumbed to motor neurone disease last year. Houston, a recently turned 40-year-old insurance broker and resident of Geraldton for 15 years, was close to his mum. He had organised his club to have a MND awareness and fundraising day when his mum was alive. Another had been planned this season but was cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions. The problem of coaching the Royals to their first premiership — in only their second grand final appearance — in the reserves competition was easy compared to selecting the side. On Friday night, following training, Houston had a list of 34 names. Twelve had to be pruned. It gave new meaning to the term “The Dirty Dozen”. One who had to be overlooked was the coach himself, a part-time but effective ruckman. “We got through it; it worked out pretty well,” Houston said. And that’s exactly what could be said of the contest on Sunday. The Royals confronted Northampton, their country cousins and chief rivals. And, more importantly, their conquerors in the GF in 1970. There was only a couple of kicks in it at the main break. Not so at the finish, with the Royals running away, 9.6 (60) to 4.4 (28). Sincere Rams coach Ryley Fenner was full of praise for his rivals. “Congratulations to Tex and the Valley. I remember you finishing in a forfeit to us last year and you have come back strongly,” Fenner said. “It was a great effort by you, Tex, and your team. I just hope it is not another 50 years before we play again in a grand final.” The second-half dominance of the Royals, when they booted 7.2 to 2.1, was in front of a roaring grandstand full of supporters. Last week, the Valley had lost a chance to play in the league GF when beaten by the Railways. And on Saturday, their girls had lost a GF thriller to the Brigades. Houston, who earlier this decade was a co-coach of the Valley senior side with good mate Aaron Thomas, said the win would “mean much” to the club. “It’s history, the first time we have won the reserves,” he said.