FIFTY YEARS OF FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20907, 14 July 1933, Page 15

FIFTY YEARS OF FOOTBALL.

KAIAPOI CLUB'S JUBILEE.

PLAYERS WHO WERE "BEARDED LIKE THE PARD."

After many ups and downs in its fortunes, the Kaiapoi Rugby Football Club will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in August. Although not so strong as it used to be, the Kaiapoi Club has a history in which there are several brilliant pages. From the days when teams played in the streets and were "bearded like the pard," the club developed into one of the strongest in New Zealand, reaching its peak between 1890 and 1900, when 20 playing members attained Canterbury representative honours. In recent years the orange and blue of Kaiapoi has not been so prominent, but the traditions of the old club, and the enthusiasm which distinguished its founders have been maintained.

The Days of Street Clubs.

In the early eighties there were many street clubs about the borough and one or two immediately outside. They had amusing names, 6uch as "Sandhills" and "Moonshine." The consolidation of these small clubs into one was achieved through the efTorip of Mr Robert Wilson, in 1881. The first president was Mr T. H. Caverhill, and the first secretary Mr Horace Neave. Kaiapoi was affiliated with the Canterbury Rugby Union in 1883, but in did not take part in competitions until 1890. The first success came early, for in 1891 the first fifteen won what was known then as the junior flag in the Rugby Union's competition. In the following seasons the club moved into senior football.

In 1834 Kaiapoi won both the junior flag and the senior cup. That was the first time any club had succeeded in winning "the double," and the feat was not equalled till six years later, when the Sydenham Club was successful. The third Kaiapoi fifteen won the president's cup in 1896. Four All Blacks. In the early years Kaiapoi had four players who represented New Zealand. They were G. Maber, B. Fanning, D. McGregor, and W. Balch. McGregor was a member of the team of All Blacks which toured Great Britain in 1905. During the years 1890 to 1900 20 members represented Canterbury in interprovincial matches. Perhaps the peak of the club's fortunes was reached in 1898, when there were eight of its members in the Canterbury team. Kaiapoi was the cause, in 1900, of one of the biggest surprises in the history of Rugby Union in Canterbury. ( u„ cvdenham team was leading for the senior championship, and Kaiapoi had not won a match; but in the last round Kaiapoi made a special effort, and beat Sydenham by 17 points to 0. This brought the Sydenham team back level with Christchurch, and after three more matches Christchurch finally won the competition. Kaiapoi has since that time been in and out of senior football. The last time it had a team in senior B was about five years ago.

Provision of a Park. The Kaiapoi Rugby Football Club has done much for the benefit of all kinds of sport in the district. In the early days there was no fixed playing ground and teams had to borrow paddocks from the townspeople. This was found to be a big drawback,, and the club succeeded in obtaining an option over an area of ground now known as Kaiapoi Park. It was known then as Hurst's paddock. With the assistance of residents, especially the women, in the organisation of bazaars, enough money was raised to purchase the ground outright in 1896. The park] was vested in three trustees, Messrs J. H. Blackwell and T. H. Caverhill and Dr. J. A. Murray, and was prepared for all field sports. All sports clubs now have a right to playing areas there. Since the acquirement of the park many improvements have been made. The area was originally sandhills.' A deep well—3oo feet —has been sunk and a neat pavilion built in place of the original one, which was destroyed by fire. The club owed a great deal of its success in the past to its offlc&ls. Early presidents were Messrs T. H. Caverhill, C. Hansen, and J. H. Blackwell. The secretaries were Messrs H. Neave, F. Truman, B. Roll, and F. B. 1 Robilliard. The history of the club could not be written without reference to Mr J. H. Forrest, who was in his day the most active and regular at--1 tender at training, and a fine example |to his fellow players. He gained representative honours in 1896, and after retiring from active football was an enthusiastic supporter. It is realised in many quarters that had it hot been for his example the club would have been in danger of going under several years ago. The president this year is Mr J. R. Murphy, and the secretary Mr Cyril Gordon.

The Rufby Spirit. To-day the Kaiapoi Club is a virile one, and has urmly withstood the invasions of other codes which, though flourishing for a while, have fallen back as the Rugby spirit of the borough has prevailed. During the present season Kaiapoi has teams in the junior, fourth, and fifth grades of the Canterbury Rugby Union's competition. Although it frequently has to suffer heavy defeats the club is not lacking in enthusiasm for the great game of Rugby, and it seems likely that it will be in existence when its jubilee year is only a memory. The jubilee committee has a programme of celebrations extending over three days, and it is expected that a big gathering of "old timers" will attend the various functions. On Friday, August 11, a jubilee ball will be held in the Orange Hall, Kaiapoi. On Saturday, August 12, there will be a parade of former and present members at the Kaiapoi Park, and an interborough match, Kaiapoi v. Rangiora, for the Mcintosh Shield. On Sunday, August 13, the celebrations will be concluded with a service in the Grand Theatre, Kaiapoi.