DIAMOND JUBILEE

Evening Star, Issue 22413, 10 August 1936, Page 11

DIAMOND JUBILEE

ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB WELLINGTON’S SECOND OLDEST CLUB Next Easter there will be celebrated in Wellington the sixtieth year of existence of the Athletic Football Club, club well 'known in Rugby circles throughout New Zealand as having developed many noted New Zealand players since its foundation. The Athletic Club had its beginning at a meeting on April 12, 1877, and grew from the ranks of the members of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club. Up to that date, there had been only the Wellington Football Club in existence in Wellington, and the advent of Athletic meant the beginning of competitive club football in the capital city. At the meeting on April 12, it was decided to form a club, the colours to be blue jersey and stockings with a red bargee. These colours, however, were changed in 1882 to the present-day wellknown blue and black uniform. The first secretary was G. F. C. Campbell, who to-day _ as president of the club, still maintains an active interest, and who is also well known as Comptroller and Auditor-General of the Treasury. It is interesting to read back through the records and to note that in the first match played with the Wellington Club on May 19, 1877, the team included some names which to-day are still prominent in Rugby circles— Colonel G. F. C, Campbell, C.M.G.; C. Major, ex-M.P., of Auckland; and Cyrus Webb, who is now at Greymouth. The first match with Wellington was played in four spells of 30 minutes each, and Wellington won by a try which they secured only two minutes before time. Only one further match was played that season, a return game with Wellington on August 11, which ended in a draw.

In 1882, club competition in Wellington was extended to include the Masterton and Greytown Clubs in addition to Athletic and Wellington. The cup for that season was won by Athletic who did not have a point secured against them in their four matches. The Athletic Club has had a long and honourable career, having won the senior championship, as it is known to-day, in 1884, 1891, 1911, 1912, 1913. and 1914 (when it was bracketed with Wellington), 1915, and 1926. A good percentage of New Zealand representatives has passed through its ranks, and included among them are such names as H. C. (Baby) Wilson. Tom Pauling, J. Swindley, Ned Davy, J. Dumbell, J. A. Bruce, A. (Rangi) Wilson, C. 6. Porter, K. S. Svenson, J. Swain, and E. J (Teddy) Roberts, while E. W. Tindill was a member of the 1935 team to England. Old players of the club are scattered all over New Zealand, and they will be interested to learn that the club proposes to hold extensive jubilee celebrations next Easter, commencing on Easter Saturday and carrying through until_ Easter Monday night. An invitation is being extended to all old members to be present at this _ reunion, and in order that they might secure a copy of the programme of events and intended fixtures, they- are asked to forward their names to the joint secretaries, K. Kearney and H, I Austad, P.O. Box 134, Wellington, An interesting name in the register of old players is that of the Right Venerable Archbishop T. O’Shea, who played for the club in 1886-87, and who is now the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington. The late Sir Francis Bel! was president of the club for manv years from 1882.