The event has been in planning stages for about six months, and 620 invitations were sent out to past players, officials and umpires.

For a player to receive an invitation they had to have played a minimum of 20 games in the Port Pirie league.

Twenty-two out of the expected 270 guests played in the opening season in 1960, and guests will be coming from Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria, as well as from all over the state.

Organising committee member Don Waters said at least half of the guests are still living in Port Pirie, and there will also be guests coming from Port Augusta, who had a team in the league.

The original teams in the league were Crystal Brook Dodgers, Port Augusta Eagles, Risdon Tigers, Prop Panthers and Port Pirates, and a year later Solomontown Cats also joined.

All games were held under lights at Memorial Oval, and seasons were often wrapped up with a game between a Pirie combined team and an Adelaide team.

“It was hotly contested with the local boys performing at a high standard,” Mr Waters said.

The local league was heavily supported by former Glenelg player Tom Rice, who was awarded an honourary life membership.

The best and fairest medal is also named after the stalwart supporter. The most premierships have been won by Tigers, with 22, and Graham Scarman has won best and fairest the most, with seven Rice Medals awarded.

Today, there are about 100 players for three clubs and two divisions.

Organising committee member George Branford said the sport has lasted in Port Pirie thanks to the addition of division two in the 1971/72 season.

“It has given somewhere for the older players to go, and somewhere for the younger players to start,” Mr Branford said.

He was the first person to be awarded life membership with the association. Gary White, Sam Mezzini and Gordon Williams were also on the organising committee.