SYDENHAM RUGBY 75th JUBILEE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28222, 9 March 1957, Page 5

SYDENHAM RUGBY 75th JUBILEE

TN its /□ years of existence the Sydenham Rugby 1 Football Club has experienced manv changes of fortune, hounded on March 16, 1882, the dub started with only 40 members, but has since grown into one of the strongest clubs in the city. Several times between 1910 and 1930 its continued existence was in doubt. However, the club weathered those bad daxs and at present its position in the senior grade looks secure for years to come. One of the oldest clubs in Canterburv, it has contributed many notable players to both provincial and national sides. As a rule these plavers have worked their way up through the grades with the chib and many potential senior provincial representatives are at present in its lower teams. The club’s contribution to All Black teams date from the selection of G. D. Innes for the 1932 New Zealand side.

On its founding, membership ef the club was drawn largely from the recently disbanded Sandridge club and the Sandndge ground was the headquarters of the new club for several years. During the first season casual matches only were played, but soon after this the club took its first part .in competition play. It did not have to wait long for success, winning the senior championship in 1888 and 1889. One of. the outstanding features of the club, almost since its inception, has been the high standard

of amenities provided for players. The present club rooms are among the best in Christchurch. These' £ rooms at the Lawson Street Hall! t —recently remodelled —were ofTi-il cially opened in 1904 and undoubt- < edly played their part in building'? up the club since then. With a J membership of 260. the club won j; the senior championship again in h 1905 and 1906. Energetic and am-L bitious officials played a big part} in the outstanding development of j the club at this time. j Serious Blow ( J In 1910 the club suffered a i lerious blow—the formation of the ( Marist club. The starting of Rugby League in 1912 was a further set- 4 back which almost crippled the club. The First World War followed and in 1917 only one team could be entered in the competitions. In 1921 amalgamation with Lyttelton was attempted with the object of strengthening both teams, but the combination lasted only two years. And so, after 40 years, the club was forced to apply for junior status. It took seven years to regain senior status, and when this was finally attained in 1929 players and officials determined to ensure that there would be no more recessions. The golden jubilee year for both the Sydenham and Merivale clubs was 1932. and both were intent on marking the oc-

casion with a victory in the senior; competition. There was great jubilation in the club when the championship finally went to

Sydenham and the winning of the Payne Trophy, along with the Evans and Redpath Shields, made I 1932 a memorable year. The next Reason saw the club again win the senior championship, this time playing through the season undefeated. Name Changed It was shortly after this that the club changed its name to Southern, in an attempt to attract support from fresh districts. The old name was soon revived, however. and the club continued to flourish especially in the lower grades. The Second World War again saw a big influx of players into the armed services and the club once more had to amalgamate with other clubs so that it could

3 field a senior team. This time it y joined forces with Albion and 1 Merivale. After the war, Sydenham soon s forced its way to the top of the . senior competition once more. In j the 1947 season the club was again t successful in winning the senior s title, and gained a similar success t; in 1948. Since then the senior r ',team has met with varied success, r |but has been consistently near the jtop of the competition. - Club's Amenities -j

The amenities for players include the club’s own lighted ground for night training. Indoor training facilities are of the same high standard, and the pleasant conditions at the club rooms are a great boon to the players. The present club colours of cardinal and blue were first adopted in 1886 and have remained the official colours ever since. The ’jubilee will be celebrated in August and the planned functions include a ball, an informal smoke concert and an evening especially for the lower grade players. There will be a_ number of special matches to commemorate the occasion.