PICTURE RECORD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 251, 5 August 1941, Page 2

PICTURE RECORD

LEADING lights in football. PHOTOGRAPHS OF FORMER TEAMS. Tile prowess oh the Rugby football field of many well-known Ashburton residents of the present day, of others who have long since gone to reside in other towns, and of some who have passed on, is recalled in the collection of photographs on the walls of the office of the secretary to the Ashburton Rugby Union (Mr G. V. Furby). All the exhibits, which fill a very large space, are of club teams which won honours in inter-club contests years ago-, or of County representative sides, some of which had muchsuccess and others not so much. Among the earlier teams are players who made big names for themselves in Ashburton football, and their names are still spoken in Rugby circles whenever the deeds of the past are recalled. There is a. photograph of the Ashburton Club’s team which won the third grade competition in 19131 and the junior in 1914. W. Joyce.was captain of that side, and some of his men were A. Donn, O. Stills, whose performances later on were to take him to the top flight of County players, C. Colville, G. Porter, <R,. Childs, N. Stephens and R-. Lindsay. There is the Hakatere Club team of 1907, when A. J. Tyrrell-Baxter and A. E. Clarke- were enthusiastic officials of the Club. In the team are W. Page (many years later to suffer a-' tragic death in the grass fires just north of Ashburton), P. Brown and H. R. O. McElrea.

The Southern Cross Club is represented by its team of 1812, which included H. James,. D. Fitzgerald, G. Tremain. J. Dobbin, W. Patching, W. Tilley, J. Barden and J. Harris. E. Dewe, E. Cartwright, A. Clarke, R-. Bushell, M. Lilburne, W. Gibson, P. Boothroyd and- G. .Terris are seen in the Allenton Football Club team of 1922, when Gibson was captain. The County representative- team cf 1922, selected by Messrs F. W. Seldon and J. C. C. McLachlan, played five matches and won the lot. C. Stills was the popular captain, and with him were J. Betts, E. W. Mollison, M. Daily, G. Francis M. J. Argyle, M. Farrell, G. Day, N. Robilliard (now president of the Rugby Union), H. Porter (later to become president of the Union), S ; . Maxwell, W. Burrows and F: Kennedy. Followers of the game will recall the wonderful kicking hoots Stills used to wear in those days! The Old Boys team which won the. senior grade competition in 1926 is among the exhibited photographs. It included N. Robilliard, J". Robilliard, O. Friedlander, P. Stevens, F. David, E. WithelL and H. M. Scott (captain). The representatives of 1927 are recalled: C. Pawso-n, J. Mulhern, J. Elms, E. Burgess, J. Farr (soon afterwards to die. as a result, of injuries received in ii match at the Showgrounds), A. McCormick, G. T. Dalton (captain), G. Day and G. G. Stephen. Mr J. Smith was manager of that team.

Another photograph shows the Ashburton Club’s team of 1910, when Mr A. Thomson was treasurer, and some of the players were, heavily bewhiskered. Among them are T. Reeves, W. Joyce, B. Bushell (captain), S. Childs, and J. Tait. The teftm of 1911 is also there, but there- are no names of players.

The same club’s team which won the Seldon Cup in 1921 is on show. G. Day was the captain and-Mr A’ Thomson- (secretary). Others were C. "Wellman, C. Stills, D. Little, and "A. Argyle. There are a number of other photographs on the walls and to those whocan recall the football matches of 20 to 30 years ago they must prove very interesting. There are also photographs of officials of the Rugby Union, and of A. McCormick and A. Robilliard, the Ashburton All Blacks, and there are also- some of cricket and boxing teams which have represented? this district. As time goes by these records will take oil even greater value than they have to-day and lio doubt they will be added to.