He and wife Tanya have been licensees of the Dungowan Hotel for 26 years, and it was in his pub the Cowboys were reborn in 2000.

That’s when Paul Tongue and Kevin got together and decided they needed to reform a side that hadn’t played for over 40 years.

“Dungowan hadn’t had a side since Micky Thornton was killed in a bus accident coming back from Manilla in the ’60s,” Smith recalled over a cup of coffee on the verandah of the Dungowan Hotel.

“Paul and I got together and decided we needed a football team and have a run in Second Division. I was the president for the first five years.”

On Saturday afternoon Dungowan host Werris Creek Magpies in the first game of the second round.

It’s a huge game for both the Cowboys and Magpies as they sit in equal fourth with Narrabri in a three-way log ladder jam.

The three sides are jousting for two semi-final spots, with Group 4 first grade a five-team final series.

Dungowan have elected to stage their Old Boys day against a Werris Creek side they have plenty of history against.

The Cowboys beat Werris Creek 30-28 in 2008 to win their first Group 4 Second Division premiership, making it back-to-back titles with a 18-16 defeat of Bendemeer in 2009.

Their third title came in 2014 with a 30-10 victory over Kootingal.

In 2016, Werris Creek beat Dungowan 14-12 in the grand final.

They are all great memories, Smith said with an easy smile.