FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20498, 17 March 1932, Page 16

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

SYDENHAM FOOTBALL CLUB LOOKS BACK. A JUBILEE BANQUET. Kemiuisecnccs of the early days of ihe Sydenham Football Club were told at its jubilee banquet, held last night in the club's hall, Lawson street, which was decorated with festoons of the < lub's colours for the occasion. The lirst club captain, Mr T. W. Eeese, preAt the tab'e with, him were Mr \V. Britten (president of the club), Mr A. E. McPhail (president of the Canterbury Ilugby Union), Mr S. F. Wilson . ex-president of the Union), Mr F. T. Evans (ex-president of the Union), and other stalwarts of the game. In welcoming those jjresent the chairman expressed pleasure at seeing several foundation members. The toast of "Departed Friends" was proposed by the chairman, who stated that Mr H. C. Harrison, who died recently, had been anxious that the toast should be fittingly honoured. The orchestra played ••A Garland of Flowers," and the toast was drunk in silence. Toast of the Club. In proposing the toast of the "Sydenham Football Club," Mr F. T. Evans >aid that no Eugby Club in the Dominion had staged such a "come-back." after years of adversity, as the Sydenham Club. People .in the City were proud of the club's achievement, not the least of which was its acquisition of the present club rooms. It was something to the club's credit, too, that it had held a church parade annually for twenty years. The club possessed a great record, and in 1888-S9 never lost a match, J. M. McLean being a prolific try-getter for. the team, having scored a try in every game during those two years. After naming a large number of old-time players who had made the club respected, Mr Evans said that about 1910 the Sydenham Club encountered a series of misfortunes which continued until very recently, resulting a few years ago in the club having temporarily to go down to senior B grade. However, the club had resuscitated itself to such an extent that last year it finished as runner-up in the senior and junior grades. He urged the younger members of the club to take up the traditions handed on to them by the older ones. Responding, Mr W. Britten said that although the club had had a cliwjiied earner it would appear to be on a good footing to-day. ' Eugby Union. In prcposiug the toast of the "Canterbury Ilugby Union," Mr Georgo bcott paid a tribute to the administrators of the game in Canterbury and staled that this institution of Charity Day was nn"action which added to the prestige of - the Union, in addition to which it provided much needy assistance to those requiring it. In reply, Mr A. McPhail said that there must be something good about the gamo of Ilugby when it could keep a club together for 50 years. He could assure the meeting that the Union did all it could to be fair to every club and every player of the game. 'fbo toast of "Old Timers" was proposed by Mr S. G. Faulknev, who *tated that the younger members of the club were proud of the work done by the older ones, including the men who died on active service in the Great War. Hesponcling, Mr J. M. McLean recalled many incidents in the earlier •lays of the club. At the conclusion of his speech, Mr McLean passed a Rugby bill to another "old timer," it being then bandied by players of various decades. untjl received by Mr J. Young, captain of the Sydenham First Fifteen. Later the ball was autographed, to be kept as a souvenir. Mr L. Clemens proposed the toast of "Friendly Foes," which % was responded t<f by Mr S. P. Wilson. During "the evening items were given by Messrs D. McGill, J. Lockhart, F. Morau, and C. "Lawrence.