Timothy Alexander Pickup (6 October 1948 – 7 June 2021) was an Australian Rugby League footballer for the North Sydney Bears, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and Australian national side in the 1970s, playing his First Test for Australia in 1972, only 12 games after his NSWRL First Grade debut.
In retirement Pickup was involved in boxing at 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 Australian Sports Medal 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.
Early years Tim Pickup was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, as the second of three sons to Harrie and Mary Pickup. His father Harrie was a lower-grade player for St. George and Eastern Suburbs, and his brother, Laurie Pickup was a First Grade Rugby League player.
Enfield Federals Tim Pickup played with the junior team of the Enfield Federals from 1959 to 1965, very successful years for the club (managed by Pickup's father Harrie), who were such a dominant side that they went undefeated for seven years. That came to an end in the 1965 Grand Final, 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 eventually had to shift to other Junior Leagues to be accommodated. In 1965, Western Suburbs Magpies RLFC called upon Pickup and teammate Neville Hornery to play in the 3rd grade open-age semi-finals, but Harrie Pickup deemed his son to be too young for this promotion at only 16 years of age.
Pickup did his schooling at St. Patrick's Strathfield, and graduated from Christian Brothers Lewisham in 1965. He was offered a high school scholarship to storied Rugby Union nursery, St. Joseph's Hunter's Hill, but declined for at that time was not a fan of Rugby Union. At the end of 1965 Harrie Pickup moved his family to the Northern Beaches, as all three brothers had discovered surfing and were regulars on the Peninsula. The Pickups settled in Curl Curl, New South Wales.
Manly Rugby Union Pickup's Rugby League career stalled when his family relocated to Sydney's Northern Beaches, as the Western Suburbs RLFC did not grant a transfer/release for him to play with any other club. Instead, he went with a work colleague to the Manly Rugby Union Club, and was named starting First Grade stand-off in the first game of the 1966 season, aged 17. He then played three consecutive years at five-eighth/stand-off, until the 1968 Grand Final which they lost to Sydney University, 23–6. Following that season, Pickup set off to England on a working holiday, and did not return to Australia until 1972.
England After traveling in Europe and the Middle East, Pickup and his friends eventually arrived in England. He was spotted playing touch football in a London park, and was invited for a trial by rugby league club St Helens. He debuted for the 'A' team in September 1969, but was not offered a contract and never made any first team appearances for the club.
He later signed for Blackpool Borough where he played fullback alongside Billy Boston, at the end of his career, and Allan Bishop. In 1969, Pickup was deported to the United States, as his last port of call, for overstaying his visa.
During this period Pickup lived in a homeless hostel in New York, and hitched a ride to the Woodstock music festival with fellow residents. He also tracked down his hero Sugar Ray Robinson, following him and his entourage on their daily run through Central Park. He was accosted by Robinson's minders when they were alerted to his pattern of following their group. Pickup managed to avoid a beating by establishing himself as a genuine fan, and amusing Robinson. He then trained with the group until his visa was cleared and he was able to return to England.
In 1971 Pickup married his wife Jan, an AMP colleague, with Allan Bishop as his Best Man. Jan flew over to join him once his visa status was resolved and he was readmitted to the UK. Pickup was named Blackpool's player of the year for the consecutive 1970 and 1971 seasons, but began to consider leaving when unable to get a recall to St. Helens' first team. However, his performances for Blackpool Borough began to generate high interest back in Australia, and he eventually decided to return.
North Sydney Bears
When Pickup returned to Sydney he resumed his career in finance with AMP, and his career in Rugby League with the North Sydney Bears (#691). Pickup stated that Norths were the team that had suffered the longest drought between premierships, and he wanted to make a difference.
He was partnered with Keith 'Chicka' Outten in the halves. The pair were an effective defensive duo, with Outten playing the organisational role in attack, where Pickup assumed the role of running back. With Ross Warner, Keith Harris, and Bruce Walker in the forwards, and the hard playing surface itself, North Sydney became a tough opposition for visitors.
Although Norths fortunes improved during Pickup's brief time at the club, they never made the final five playoff series, and hovered around the middle of the ladder when coached by Noel Kelly for the 1973 and 1974 seasons. Their highest finish was 6th, lowest 9th in the 12 team NSWRL competition.
Pickup was successful at representative level in 1972 and was playing for Australia after 12 games for the Bears. Pickup was chosen for City Seconds then played two games for New South Wales (NSW #664), wearing no.15. Pickup was a late inclusion to the starting side, replacing incumbent state and Australian pivot Denis Pittard. He took advantage of the opportunity and was a key contributor to the convincing 29-5 victory over QLD. Pittard returned to the starting line-up in the second game, but selectors opted for Pickup, then 23 years old, when he was selected for the Australian national team (#462) alongside Norths teammate George Ambrum.
When first chosen for the Australian team, Pickup gave his first jersey to his Bears halves partner Keith Outten, in recognition of his contribution to Pickup's achievements. Pickup played two Tests against New Zealand in 1972 partnering Tommy Raudonikis in the halves, and Bob Fulton in the centres, a combination which was used regularly by selectors over the next four seasons.
Tim Pickup was the only North Sydney Bears player selected for the 26-man Kangaroos squad that toured Europe in 1973, captain-coached by Graeme Langlands. Pickup played in 14 out of 19 tour games, behind Arthur Beetson with 15, and also played in four of the five test matches, including the 21–12 First Test defeat to Great Britain at Wembley, and the third match to decide the series.The Kangaroos – The saga of Rugby League's great tours' Changs Gang, pages 179,181,184,187,192,257. By Ian Heads, Lester-Townsend Publishing 1994.
Pickup generally played at five-eighth, though he was selected at halfback in the 2nd Test against France. On the 13th Kangaroo Tour, Australia successfully retained the Ashes with a 2–1 series win over Great Britain, and a 2–0 series win against France, where Arthur Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain an Australian team in any sport. The Kangaroos had an overall tally of 17 wins from 19 games. Their only other loss was against St. Helens. Pickup's last Test Match for Australia as a North Sydney Bear was against the touring Great Britain side in the 1974 series. He was named the Bears' player of the year for the 1973 and 1974 seasons.
Frustrated at some of North Sydney's policies towards their players, Pickup subsequently signed a well-remunerated five-year contract to captain Canterbury-Bankstown, (#406) then known as the Berries.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Pickup's tenure with Canterbury-Bankstown started in 1975. He led the team as captain after the club's loss in the 1974 NSWRFL season's grand final. However, he severely injured his knee, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in a World Cup match against England in June of that season. Canterbury were in third place at that time and eventually were knocked out in the major semi-final; Pickup did not play again that season, and missed the entire 1976 season after knee reconstructions.
During his rehabilitation Souths legends' Bob McCarthy joined in 1976 and Gary Stevens in 1977, after Pickup initially recruited them to Norths. When Pickup switched to Belmore, both Rabbitohs eventually followed him. After 18 months out, Pickup returned to the field in 1977, playing a few Reserve Grade games to ensure his fitness for the First Grade squad. Upon his return to the top squad, Pickup was forced to adapt to a different style of play, as his play had less speed and agility than before. Paired in the halves with Steve Mortimer for the first time, Pickup assumed the organisational role to Mortimer's unorthodox running halfback. Pickup shared captain duties with Bob McCarthy and George Peponis for the rest of the season and the team finished in 7th place, out of final five contention.
In 1978 McCarthy returned to South Sydney, and Peponis and Pickup shared captaincy of the newly renamed Bulldogs. The team had an effective combination in Mortimer and Pickup, leading to a good season, making the finals in fifth place. Pickup was named KB Player of the week across the entire competition in May, and performed effectively within his enforced physical limitations. Canterbury went out in the first week of the finals to Parramatta by 22–15. The Eels lost to eventual premiership winners Manly 17–11 in a midweek replay, three days after a 13–13 draw, and a week after their victory over the Bulldogs.
Pickup was talked out of retirement by Canterbury patriarch Peter Moore, and played in Reserve Grade as insurance for first team injuries. Pickup played one more First Grade game in the 1979 season, before going into a mentoring role for the next generation of the club's players over the next decade, including Chris Anderson, Steve Folkes, George Peponis, Greg Brentnall and the Mortimer brothers, Steve, Peter and Chris. Steve Mortimer devoted a chapter to this in his biography Top Dog, titled "Toughened by Tim (Pickup) Tom (Raudonikis) and Terry (Lamb)."
Tim Pickup finished his career at Belmore as captain of the 2nd Grade side in a Grand Final loss to Parramatta. He was named Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Clubman of the Year in 1979.
Post Rugby League career Tim Pickup worked for AMP from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s as a financial planner. He also owned a chain of donut stores in three Sydney locations: Chatswood, Birkenhead Point and Hurstville. He also managed boxer Jeff 'Hitman' Harding when he won the WBC Light-Heavyweight world title in 1989.
Upon Tim Pickup's retirement as a player from the Bulldogs at the end of the 1979 season, Peter "Bullfrog" Moore convinced Pickup to move into team administration, and he became the director of the football club, until the end of the 1995 season, and again from 2002 to 2004. In 1985, Pickup was awarded life membership at Canterbury-Bankstown for his 10 years of continuous service with the team.
As a scout, his discoveries included Australian defender David Gillespie in 1982, as well as brokering a deal with his former club Norths for Daryl Halligan in 1994, and signing Willie Tonga in 2004 from Parramatta Reserve Grade, who went on to have one of the most successful individual seasons in NRL history.
After a 1995 detour to Super League as CEO of the now defunct Adelaide Rams, Pickup received a Rupert Murdoch 'golden handshake', and went on safari in Africa for 1997.