Born Francis Patrick Aloysius Hyde in 1916, he grew up in inner-city Sydney in The Rocks. Residential rules of the time required him to play for the Balmain club, but he preferred to play with Newtown and managed two seasons there before the rule was enforced upon him. During his playing career, Hyde represented the Newtown Bluebags,, the Balmain Tigers, the NorthSydney Bears and, at the state level, New South Wales. He scored a try for the Balmain Tigers in their winning grand final of 1939, and was captain-coach of the North Sydney Bears when they reached the grand final in 1943 when defeated by Frank Farrell's Newtown. However, due to World War II, he was unable to represent the Australian national team. Frank Hyde married Gaby Schofield at Waverley in 1942. He retired as a player-coach in 1944. He returned to coach Norths for one last year in 1950.
Media career
Hyde began his career as a broadcaster in 1953 and found immediate success as a Rugby League commentator. His 'legendary' call, accompanying a shot for goal, of "It's long enough, it's high enough and it's straight between the posts" became an iconic part of the game. He broadcast 33 consecutive New South Wales Rugby LeagueGrand finals from the Sydney Cricket Ground between 1953 and 1983 on Sydney radio station2SM from which he became famous. He also was a Rugby League journalist at the Fairfax Press for many years. For many years, Hyde was a regular on Sydney television, mainly appearing with Ron Casey on the World Of Sport - a weekend Rugby League program on the Nine Network. Recording Career During the 1970s, Hyde recorded 3 albums: Frank Hyde Sings, The Frank Hyde Party Sing-a-long and Frank Hyde Sings For The Good Times. His famous rendition of the Irish classic Danny Boy, with Try A Little Kindness as the B Side were released on Parlophone Records in 1973 as a single and reached No.7 in the Sydney top 40 in 1973.
Honours and awards
On 1 January 1974, at the age of 57, Hyde was made a Member of Order of the British Empire. On 26 January 1990, Hyde was awarded the Medal of the Order Of Australia for services to Rugby League Football and the media. On 24 October 2000, at the age of 84, Hyde was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his service to the game of rugby league as player, coach and broadcaster. The Frank Hyde Shield is contested on an annual basis between the Newtown and North Sydney clubs. In 2006, Hyde was inducted into the Australian Commercial Radio Industry Hall of Fame.
Family
Children: Gregory Francis Hyde Anne Elizabeth Hyde Michael James Hyde Margaret Mary Hyde Maria Linda Hyde Patrick Joseph Aloysius Hyde He is the great great uncle of Julien Hyde
Death
Frank Hyde outlived his wife Gaby by seven months, and died on 24 September 2007 at the age of 91. He was survived by his 6 children, 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He was honoured at the 2007 NRL Grand final with a video-tribute during the half time break of the match between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm and a minute's silence prior to the Premier League Grand Final.
