PIONEER FOOTBALLERS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17227, 18 August 1921, Page 4

PIONEER FOOTBALLERS.

RECORDS OF EARLY MATCHES. The fiiot recorded gamo of football! in Ihinedin was played between teams representing the Boys' High School and tho University in 1871. A statement to tikis effect appeared in the "Otago Daily Times" on Monday, and was referred to in the leader columns of "The Press" yesterday. The Southern journal states that it was probable that ball games were in existence before 1871', That is certainly true, for the records of Clirist's College show that tho first recorded game in Christchurch was played on Latimer square on June 21st, 1862. Tho match was played by a. team from Christ's College against the Fellows of Christ's College and tho townspeople of Christchurch, witlh 22 men on eaoh side. The game was not Rugby football as 5t is now played .but was based on the national game of England, which was the popular style of football before the advent of the Rugby Union. The record of the matdh in the minute book states: "The result of two and a half hours' piny was as follows: Fellows and Town, two goals; Christ'B College, one goal j drawn two goals; total games five." On August 29fch, 1863, a similar match was played between the College and the Town, and on AugUßt sth. 1869, tho first inter-schools matdh in Canterbury was played between Christ's College and the old Boys' High School, a Scottish institution, which was situated on the present site of the Weßt Christchurch District High School. The description given in "The Press" of that date was as follows: "The match between the College and High School came off yesterday, August sth, -1869, and resulted in six goals for the College, one of which, Ihowever, was disputed. Notwithstanding the rain, a considerable number of ladies came to see the game, and there was a large number of College boys, past and present, on the ground, who cheered every good lack made by their side. The masters of the' College were also present, but we were surprised to soa co few friends of tflie High School on the ground, and not a single master to encourage or give advice to the players. "The ball was kicked off at ten minutes past two, and in the first forty minutes four goalß were kicked for thu College by W. Willock, T. Chapman (captain), H. Cotterill, and E. Donald. The fifth, which was kicked 'by R. Chapman, was very hotly contested for nearly an hour, and showed very good playing on the part of the High School, now that they were better acquainted with the ground. Although it waß evident from the beginning that iflio College had the advantage over their opponents both in age and training, and also in knowing tho ground, the High School kept up the game to the end with great spirit, and at ihalf-past four time was called, when the schoolsseparated amidst etojenng from both sides." The personnel of ike teams, which consisted of 20 men o-side, was as follows : Christ's College: T. Chapman (captain), J. Goujd, F. Barker, J>. Rutherford, R. Chapman, A. Stifle, E. Donald, E. Rutherford, W. Percival, W. Willock, J. Fraser, E. Deacob, D. Lee, A. Murray, H. Cotterill, G.-jftUmer, G. -Whitcomb, E. Chapman, E. Cotterill, and H. Fearoir.

. High School: Wm. Stewart (captain), J. Macfarlane, J. Wilkin, J. Deans, O. M. Stewart, W. Martin, J- Davis, R. Smith, P.'E. Gillingham,'S. M.. Todd, .Ji Macfarlane, J, Paxton, H. J. Leslie, A. Rattray, J, R. Thorntori, J. Waxman, P. J. Leslie, W. T. Sutcliff, A. Anderson, and H. E. Smith; It-is difficult to understand the aysitem of play in" those early days, and the book of rules does not throw a great deal of light on the subject. Tho above records have been compiled by Mr E, R, Webb, Bursar of ■Christ's College, who is-working on the revision of "The School List." Up till recently the 1863 the earliest of which a record could be found, but Mr Webb haa since found the minute book of the Select Committee appointed in 1862, to draw up a Bet of rules for, the game, and in this he has found the record of the 1862 match, and much other information of value. He has also in his v possession a> copy of the

Committee. ™;^™° ho wa9 also cap- ¥* G 7ffL taffiun. The booklet is clause in the rutea wa « Tuesday, April 2<

A correspondent, referring to our rewhen tho first Saved in Canterbury, refers ifca It k therein stated: "Christ s uinege Grammar' School has *m«parlies days of Canterbury been a nursery for Sailers? and the game was payed thpre from the foundation of the mstituton (the college school M|Wri xs. ssjst w- an*! wgAas the game had been in full then They dealt with an amalgamation of several styles of Ptay.tjf" ™ vogue at Home, ani* ,t \ M^ lfic * t £™ nlnvad ud to 1880. Under them tVchief Feature was 'dribbling,' and totig was due the fact .that whatever Oanterbury's weakness other respects 1 ' might have, been our teams had always contained good Football Club started abou? 1861, or 1862, and, m spite of manv rivals, continued to. hold a leading position among the clubs of the colony In 1863 this club played a match in Lyttelton witn us cnief opponents for many years, t£e College boys. In 1875 n team from Auckland toured tho colony, and visited Canterbury, when our players, under the captaincy of Mr John Anderson, won an easy victory under Rugby rules. About this time a strong club was organised for South Canterbury, comprising in it 3 ranks Messrs Potts Brothers, F. Barker, and Hamerton, under the leadership of Mr A. St. G. Hammereloy (a former captain of an English international team); and the South Canterbury men played in several exciting matches in Chrietchurch.