FOOTBALL CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 8

FOOTBALL CLUBS.

ANNUAL MEETINGS. ATHLETIC. The thirty-first'annual meeting of tho Athletic Football Club was held at Godbers, Mr. G. F. C. Campbell presiding over a largo attendance. , The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Tho report stated'.—"Comparing the results of tho last season with thoso of tho preceding year, when tho club had tho services of an experienced coach, your committee would strongly urge that an en deavour bo made to secure a coach for tho coming soason. The senior team did not perform as satisfactorily as was expected in view of the improvement in their play during tho previous year. Tho forwards were tho mainstay of this team. Tho junior fifteen started the season most successfully, but towards the end a lack of enthusiasm was very noticeable. The third fifteen had a much better record than for several soasons past. Playing with better combination than usual, this team gained a plnco in tho semi-finals for tho championship, but, unfortunately, wero defeated in tlie play-off. The fourth class team was not so successful as usual. ■ The team of tho previous year was practically non-existent, being drawn upon to fill vacancies in tho higher grades. Notwithstanding this drawback, they put up a very creditablo performance for the season. Tho record of tho "A" team in tho fifth grado was a great improvement on previous seasons. Seeing that' they were practically a new team, their record is a most satisfactory one. Tho B team wero on tho small side, ami in all their matches were opposed by boys of superior weight and years. In both fifth grado teams thero aro some very promising youths who will bo beard of in the game of the future. Tho club was represented in senior matches by Messrs. A. Wilson, Shadbolt, Bell, Pool, Osborn, Gordon, and Evehson. Mr. A. Wilson also took part in tho inter-island match and represented New Zealand in the test matches against tho Anglo-Welsh team. It is with deep regret that wo havo to chronicle tho deaths of Messrs. O. Crauford and Bert Wills, who took a prominent part in club affairs in tho past, l'onr committee regrets tho departure from Wellington of Mr. 1 ,, . C. Atkinson, a gentleman who has done a great deal for the club both on and off tho field. Tho thanks of the club aro duo to Messrs. Davy, Kelly, and Pagni for donations, and to Messrs. J. P. Murphy, Fletcher, and Ridlor for trophies, also to Mr. J. Glasgow for the interest tnken in the third-class team, whose success was duo to his untiring efforts." The balance-sheet showed a credit of £100 6s. 7d.

Tho following officers wero elected: — President, Mr. Q, F. C, Campbell; vice-

presidents, Messrs. F. A. C'oatc3. D. G. A. Cooper, I. Hyams, W. S. llidler, W. 11. Hales, E. Davy, J. M. King, J. A. Thomson, H. Kelly, J. H. Pagni, and G. Robertson; secretary, Mr. H. M. Mullins; treasurer, Mr. J. Glasgow: delegates to Rugby Union, Messrs. E. O. Hales, 11. Kelly, J. W. Heonan; Management Committee, Messrs. Hales, Bell, Gordon, St. Clair, Evonson, Wilson; club captain, Mr. A. Wilson; auditors, Messrs. It. P. Hood and J. A. Thomson. SWIFTS. In the fifteenth annual report of tho Swifts Football Club, tho committee state that they realise that last season cannot bo looked upon as a very successful one from a playing point of view, compared with season 1907, regarding tho position of tho teams in the different leaguo competitions; but, whilo no championships were secured, tho membership of tho club was increased considerably, and contains good material, especially in tho Junior League teams. In this connection tho club would gain considerably if some enthusiastic members coiild bo found to take charge of these teams each week. Tho senior first division team had a disappointing season, winning but fivo out of fourteen matches played, two being drawn and seven lost. The senior second division team won tho senior second division challengo cup, beating Wanderers in {ho final match by ono goal to nil after three stubbornly-contested games. In tho league competition, this team only managed to win five out of twelve matches plaved, seven being lost. The junior second division team qualified for the junior second division challengo cup competition, but lost in tho final. Iβ thb leaguo competition, they won six out of eleven matches played, four being lost' and ono drawn. The members of the junior third division team were very keen, and showed good form throughout tho season. They won six matches out of fourteen, four being lost and four drawn—a fair performance. Tho following members wero chosen in senior second division renresentativo matches:—Messrs. G. Wilson, ll 11. Pye-Smith, J. M'Lean, and G. Guiso. Messrs. J. H. Pye-Smith and F. Tattle represented the club in a represeutatiro match with Wanganui. The following members of the junior second division team won medals:—Best back, G. P. Williamson; best forward, O. Foote; most improved player, A. J. Overend. Tho balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £13 11s. 3d. PONEKE CLUB. Tho twenty-eighth annual meeting of tho Poneko Football Club was held last evening, Dr. A. K. Newman presiding over a largo attendance. The annual report recounted the results of the past season's games. The following wero tho individual scorers: —Twohill 6 tries, Flanagan 4, Wallaco 4, F. Mitchinson 3, O'Brien, Mageo, and Gardiner 2 each, Hush, C. Mitchinson, Hunter, Tilyard, Trezise, Mentiplay, and Calcini 1 each. Wallaco converted 6 tries, Gardiner 2 tries and 1 penalty, Hush I try and 1 penalty, and Iliggs 1 try. The record to date of all matches played by tho first fifteen showed that 270 games had been played, of which 173 had been won, C 9 lost, and 28 drawn. " Messrs. Wallaco and Mitchinson represented tho club in tho New Zealand teams which played against the Anglo-Welsh team. Tho junior record stood as follows:—Played 11 games, won 4, lost 7. More success might havo been gained if the team had not been called upon so often to fill vacancies in. tho senior ranks. Tho third fifteen's record was as follows:— •Played 8 games, won 3, and lost 5. The fourth fifteen played 10 games, won 2, and lost 8. Messrs. Wallace and Galge having promised to coach the lower grades this season, greater things were expected of them. The committee thanked Mr. J. Pudney for his services as coach of the first fifteen. Regret was expressed at tho prospective loss of tho services of Mr. James Mageo, fiveeighths, owing to a fractured leg. Albion (Cliristchurch) wero sending a team up to play the club. The committee had purchased a section in Hataitai, and hoped to build a gymnasium and club rooms soon. The bal-ance-sheet showed a credit balance'of £5 13s. 10s. Mr. W. Hood, in moving tho adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, said that under unfavourable circumstances, tho club had come out very well. Mr. W. Coffey, who seconded the motion, said that it would be an excellent thin? for tho club when it had a gymnasium of its own. Tho President attributed the satisfactory babnee-shoet to tho .treasurer, Mr. C. Mitchell. Tho report and balance-sheet wero unanimously adopted. Six new members joined tho club. Mr. E. H. Dawson, vice-president, wroto forv.-ardiiig a prize for any branch of excelloncy the committee should deem fit, and offering to take debentures to tho valuo of £5 in tho nev/ gymnasium. Mr. "A. F. Wiren stated that £81 10s. had been collected last srason for tho gymnasium fund, out of which £2"> bad been spent as a deposit on the land, and the rest was bearing interest. It was thought that tho total cost of tho scheme, including a clubroom, would bo close on £300, but portion of tho scheme might be left over for tho present if necessary. An additional sum of £19 bad recently l>een raised for tho fund, and promises had been received to tho amount of £20. Thero should be another £30 in hand before they commenced to erect the building, but ho would like to seo it finished this season. Officers wero elected as follow:—President, Dr. Newman (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. AV. Coffey, J. Dawson, W. J. White, A. H. _ Turitlnill, G. Dcslandes, T. Burgess, A. Smith, W. Brown, Drs. James and Mackin; club captain, F. C. Gardiner; deputycaptain, F. Mitehiiison; treasurer, Mr. E. C. Mitcholl (re-elected); secretary, Mr. R. B. Mageo (re-elected); auditors, Messrs. W. Hood and A. F. Wiren; delegates to the Rugby Union, Messrs. W. Coffey, J. Dawson, and J. Sweeney; gymnasium committeo, Messrs. A. F. Wiren, C. Mitchell, and N. Wilkinson (re-elected); selection committee, Messrs. W. Wallaco, J. Pudney, and tho captain (ex officio); management committee, Messrs. N. Wilkinson, W. Wallace, D. Hunter, J. Sweeney, and S. Mentiplay. Mr. C. Mitt-bell proposed a- motion opposing the raising of the subscriptions to tho Rugby Union's insurance- fund. He suggested that a special match should be arranged at tho end of the season, the proceeds of which would go to an insuranco fund. Tho motion was carried. Mr. A. F. Wiren suggested that a match might bo arranged at the end of the season, of which the proceeds should be divided among clubs needing gymnasiums. It was left to the. incoming committeo to proceed with the gymnasium scheme.