Message with a difference

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34114, 29 March 1976, Page 26

Message with a difference

The footballers who played in Fergie McCormick’s farewell match yesterday were greeted by the message, "Welcome to Game” displayed in large letters on the Lancaster Park pitch. Nocturnal visitors used acid to inscribe "Welcome to Racist Game” on the grass 10 days ago as a protest against the presence of two South African internationals. John Williams and Johan Oosthuizen. But diligent work by the park’s ground staff obliterated the word “racist.” Four demonstrators protesting against “apartheid sport” picketed the Linwood rugby clubrooms on Friday evening, when a dinner in honour of McCormick was held, and there were again four banner-carrying protestors at the match yesterday. But the match organiser (Mr Bill Sinclair) was unconcerned. •‘They moved on when they were asked on Friday evening, and they paid their money to get into the ground today,” he said. As the result of a capacity crowd of 407 at the dinner and an attendance of about 10,000 at the park, the Linwood club hopes to be able to achieve its aim of buying first aid equipment and developing playing fields.