By Greg Danvers
The Murray Wever Shield was struck to honour, not only Murray, but Belmont High’s 1-0 win over Whitebridge High in the very first Bill Turner Cup in 1979 staged at Wallsend’s Crystal Palace.
View the 2022 Live Streamed match at: NewsCorpAustralia
In 1979 the late Bill Turner AO, then Hunter CHS Convenor, called a meeting of all the local CHS coaches at South Cardiff Soccer Club, to discuss the setting up of a new competition for boys 15-years-and-under.
The competition became known as the Bill Turner Cup and has been active for since then.
Hunter Sports High Bill Turner Cup Boys team were crowned the inaugural Murray Wever Memorial Shield champions with a 4-2 win over Lambton High at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on June 27, 2019.
The Murray Wever Shield was not contested in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Hunter Sports High beat Central Coast Sports in 2021.
The 2022 edition of the Murray Wever Shield, played at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Thursday 16 June was won by Hunter Sports High 2-0 over Central Coast Sports College.
On Thursday 15 June 2023 Whitebridge High School beat St Mary’s Gateshead for the Murray Wever Shield.
Pictured below are Murray’s parents Berend and Beverly with Hunter Sports’ captain Mackenzie Alexander.
Murray’s parents along with the 1979 team captain Mark Leatham, goal keeper Mark Williams and manager Mark Smith attended the match.
“I never thought the Bill Turner Cup would get this far,” said Mark Smith.
“In those days it was simply a Hunter Region event and I didn’t think anything like today would come about.”
Pictured below are Belmont High’s 1979 captain Mark Leatham, manager Mark Smith and ‘keeper Mark Williams.
Murray Wever 29 – 16 November, 1964 to 21 June, 1994
Murray scored the winning goal for Belmont High School in the 1979 Bill Turner Cup.
He played football from the age of seven with Valentine FC.
Murray died as the result of injuries sustained in a car accident.
His last match, for Leichhardt Police Citizens Youth Club, was on the day of his tragic accident.
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