Campbell Scott was basically born and raised at Bathurst St Pat's rugby league games.
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He was just a young child in 2001 when a St Pat's side coached by his father, the late Dave Scott, ended the club's 12-year wait for a premiership by downing Mudgee in the Group 10 grand final.
When the club won its next premiership in 2008, Scott was on the sidelines as a ball boy.
Then, when those in blue and white celebrated the 2014 title triumph, Scott collected a premiership medal as one of the team's young stars.
That connection is why he was so eager to get back involved in the club after he returned home in recent years after roughly a decade living and playing footy in Newcastle.
"I've had a huge affiliation with Pat's my whole life," Scott said.
"In the last couple of years, as I've wound down my own playing career, I've started to help out a bit more on that Old Boys scene.
"It's definitely a club I hold dear to my heart, and I know a lot of other people do, too."
Saints ran a hugely successful Old Boys day in 2024, and this year's edition on Saturday, July 12, promises to be bigger and better.
As part of the celebrations at Jack Arrow Oval, a St Pat's Old Boys side will take on a Lithgow Old Boys side in an exhibition match before the reserve grade and Peter McDonald Premiership matches.
As well as it being Old Boys Day, St Pat's are teaming up with The Amend Project for Wellbeing Round.
The Amend Project is run by St Pat's reserve grade co-coach Lewis Bird and the weekend will help put a spotlight on domestic and family violence.
On top of that, funds raised on the day will go towards former Saints player and president, David Chapman, who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
The club has already held a FightMND round against Orange Hawks earlier this season, and Scott said all these events showcase the club's strong connection to the community.
"I want to see the club succeed as much as anyone else, and a lot of the Old Boys are jumping on that bandwagon as well," he said.
"Events like we had for 'Chappo' in May and those sort of community events, I think, can really propel the club.
"Hopefully, it can generate success on the field, too."
St Pat's and Lithgow have long had a healthy relationship, so this weekend's fixtures between the clubs was the perfect occasion to celebrate Old Boys Day.
The exhibition game is certainly set to be a spectacle.
Scott laughed he's not sure how much of a game it will prove to be, but it will certainly feature some greats of both clubs.
Scott is among some of the younger Old Boys at the Bathurst club and others like Jack Mackey and Hudson White are likely to be part of the game, potentially alongside Paul Larsen, Michael Weekes, and Brent Dennis.
The Lithgow team is expected to feature Workies stars of yesteryear like Kip Maranda and Terry Field.
"We've got a specially designed cotton strip that we're wearing, and I think Lithgow have the same," Scott said.
"We're gonna auction them off and hopefully give a fair few proceeds to 'Chappo', as well as The Amend Project.
"It's just such a great day to go out to catch up with boys that you haven't seen, and you get around it for a good cause, and everyone has a beer and a laugh."
In the day's main game, sixth-placed St Pat's will start as heavy favourites against a Lithgow side with just one win to its name in 2025.
The action will start with league tag at 11.30am, while the Old Boys game is at 1.40pm, followed by reserve grade and the PMP fixture at 3.45pm.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior sports journalist for Western NSW, covering all that's happening in in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and everywhere in between. Contact me at nick.guthrie@acm.media
