Manning radio personality Craig “The Dice Man” Huth will step into the shoes of a former footballing great tomorrow for the Centenary of League Gala Day in Wingham Central Park.

The Max FM breakfast radio DJ will assume the role of Sydney front rower Alex “Bluey” Burdon, who famously dislocated his shoulder at Central Park in 1907 during a rugby union match against Upper Manning.

This accident ended up being a major catalyst and driving force in the establishment of the breakaway rugby league code.

Event organiser Graham Steel approached Huth to take part in the playful re-enactment of the historic match.

“Graham asked me because I was the right size, right weight, and I’ve got a face only a mother would love,” Huth said.

“I said ‘Thanks a lot. I’ll do it!’.”

The radio station hopes to hook Huth up to microphone during the re-enactment so his comments can be broadcast live on air.

However, there may be some technical difficulties.

“I’ve got to be at the bottom of a ruck twice in the match – so a few adjectives and pronouns might be uttered.”

Wingham Football Club president and first grade player Brenden Summerfield was planned to be the one to perform the tackle on Huth on the very spot where Burdon was injured 101 years earlier.

Summerfield is currently recovering from a shoulder injury of his own, so he has had to step down – which came as a relief to Huth.

“I’m having a sigh of relief about that but I’m sure the Tigers have someone new to step in, so it could be just as bad!”

The historical re-enactment event will be the focus of tomorrow’s footy gala day, which will culminate with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating Wingham’s part in the establishment of league in this country in its 100th year.

The plaque will be unveiled by 64-year-old Mary Linning of Brisbane, a blood relative of Alex Burdon.

But the day is not just for footy aficionados.

The event has been billed as a back-in-time day, where attendees are encouraged to wear clothes from a past era, old football jerseys or even their favourite NRL team’s colours.

The family day will kick off at 9am with mini, mod, girls and golden oldies league matches followed by a mini-Olympics for current Group Three players and a march past comprising former NRL players and local players past and present.

The gala day will be completed with a sold-out Men of League dinner at the Wingham Services Club tomorrow night, which will be attended by some former rugby league greats.

Any former player wanting to take part in the march past or any other part of the program is more than welcome.

Phone Graham Steel on 6557 0147 for more information.