Awarded every year since 1937, the history-rich Clayton Cup is a little known piece of  silverware that has the names of legendary bush footy teams from Tweed Heads to Bega and from Bourke to Albion Park etched on its timeless frame.

And this year marks a special memento for two of its winners.

Last Saturday in Oberon, the Clayton Cup-winning side of 1964 celebrated 50 years since their dominant Group 10 premiership victory with a reunion at the Oberon Sportsground during the Tigers’ round 14 clash with Bathurst St Pat’s.

This year, too, also marks 60 years since Orange CYMS won the Clayton Cup after a similarly emphatic 1954 Group 10 season. 

Both were remarkable campaigns completed by champion teams.

To put the feats into perspective: in 77 seasons of the Clayton Cup, just three Group 10 clubs have won the coveted trophy and it hasn’t been done by a Group 10 club in half a century.

The 1950 Bathurst Railway outfit was the first. 

Part of the 1954 CYMS team, Vic Byrne said the history behind the Clayton Cup made the feat extra special.

“The big thing about it is, back then, you were virtually crowned country champions in rugby league. You had to be premiers of your first division competition,” Byrne said.

“For the club at the time, it was a big thing. There’s a lot of history behind the Cup and to be part of it is special.”

Donated by Reub Clayton to help foster the game in rural NSW, the Clayton Cup has been awarded to the best team each year in the CRL since 1937. 

Local legends of the 1964 side, and their families, were presented with a shirt with the same emblem of the 1964 Clayton Cup jackets.