Dungowan Cowboys are a unique club.
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They are basically built around the Dungowan Hotel and valley and were resurrected by a group of locals just over 20 years ago to win a Group 4 Second Division premiership.
The Cowboys don't pay their players, relying instead on an end of season all expenses trip to the coast as a major enticement.
They also rely on the camaraderie gained by the post-game celebrations at the pub to enthuse its players.
It's a special and unique bond between players, related families and spectators.
The Cowboys were strong members of the G4 Second Division and then took the step up to a combined First Division two seasons back.
They have done well to maintain a competitive side and under first grade captain-coach Shaun Ferguson were hopeful of another good season. The prospect of having a second grade side too had the club confident of a good 2020.
The coronavirus pandemic railroaded those hopes.
"We don't know how we're situated really," said club president Robert Brady.
The July 25/26 starting date came as something as a shock to him and he knows it will only happen if health authorities and NSWRL agree it is safe to return to the playing and training field.
"Personally I think it will be too soon," he said.
"Whether the social distancing laws will allow us."
That then concerns whether spectators will be allowed.
If spectators are not allowed at games then the Cowboys won't be able to play as much of their income is derived from gates as well as sponsorship from the Dungowan Hotel and Tamworth Services Club.
That opens another concern.
If pubs and clubs are unable to open until September, Brady said, then it would be futile for the Cowboys to play.
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Kevin Smith is the licensee of the Dungowan Hotel. Has been for 20 years.
He's also been president of the club for at least five of those years and the vice president for the other 15.
"To be honest we haven't been thinking about football," Smith said, adding "Rob and I were only talking yesterday (last week)".
"The new starting date came as a bit of a shock. Had more important things on our minds. Had the drought the last three years, then the bushfires and now this (pandemic). I don't there'd be any other country in the world that has suffered as badly. The drought was bad enough but this (pandemic) is terrible.
"We've (pub) been shut the last five weeks, had no income."
Brady said the financial problem being faced by their two main sponsors (pub and club) is a worry in itself.
The club has also paid for all its gear (footy shorts, jumpers and socks) for the season as well.
He said Ferguson was confident of turning out a competitive side too.
"We were getting good numbers to training back in January," Brady said.
"While it's good to have a starting point and good to have something to aim at I'm not sure if we can play. We have to give careful consideration to a shortened season. It still costs the same amount but we have a lot less home games."
That's the main issue.
The Cowboys don't want to commit to a shortened season that could send them broke.
That would defeat the purpose of why Peter Blom, Paul Tongue and co resurrected the club a couple of decades ago.
