Tim Pickup

Timothy Alexander Pickup (born 6 October 1948 in Sydney) was an Australian Rugby League player for the North Sydney Bears, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and Australian national side in the 1970s. He played Rugby Union for the Manly Rugby Club as a teenage prodigy for three seasons in the late 1960s. In retirement Pickup was involved in Boxing at famed Newtown PCYC and was Jeff Harding's Manager when he won the WBC World Light-Heavyweight Title in 1989. He was the Foundation CEO of the Adelaide Rams franchise of the Australian Super League in 1995. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to Australian sport. Pickup was named in the North Sydney Bears Team of the Century in 2006 and was a finalist for both the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 70th Anniversary team as well as Manly Rugby Union's Team of the Century.

Tim Pickup was born the second of three sons to Harrie and Mary Pickup, between brothers Paul and Chris. His father Harrie was a lower-grade player for St.George and Eastern Suburbs, and his brother, Tim's uncle, Laurie was an outstanding 1st grade Rugby League player with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters (player #258).

Laurie Pickup is on record as the 3rd youngest ever Captain of the tri-colours whose career was cut short when killed on duty at age 22 during World War II.

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 six 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, as well as Rod Smith and Australian Horse-racing identity, Frank Tagg – both 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 seven 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 twelve out of the starting thirteen 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.