COBDEN FOOTBALL CLUB

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1931, Page 10

COBDEN FOOTBALL CLUB

ANNUAL BANQUET. Organisation, which marked the success of the Cobden Football Club on the Rugby field during the season just closed, was also responsible for the definite success attained ar the club's annual banquet held on Saturday night in the Cobden School Gymnasium. There was a large attendance of officials of the Rugby Union, visiting clubs, and players from other teams,' while the Cobden officials and players were asembled in full force. The hall was appropriately decorated with the Club’s colours, and the tables and supper arrangements were a credit to the ladies’ committee. Mr T. Gilmore presided, and Messrs A. A. Adams, president of the West Coast Rugby Union, and T. Mclntosh, chairman of the Referees’ Association, "were among those present. A silent reminder that the Club had lost the Knock-Out Cup was present in the shape of a china cup, with the base knocked out, suspended from miniature goal posts. A placard later placed on the President’s table informed the gathering that the Cup “had gone , but was not forgotten.” Apologies for absence were received from Messrs H. R- Barrett, A. Bennett, C. rentecost, and A. If. Wilde. Proceedings opened with the loyal toast, which was fittingly honoured. In proposing the toast of “The West Coast Rugby Union,” Mr Gilmore said that, as was well known, the Rugby Union was one of the biggest organisations in New Zealand. Not from the North Cape to the Bluff was there a town of any size which did not have its Rugby' Union, showing that the code must have a vast following. Certain gentlemen in each union gave up their evenings and other time during a season to carry out the work of the union and foster the game of Rugby. While it was hard for outsiders to see eye to eye with all that unions did, he was sure they did their best. In regard to the West Coast Rugby Union he would say that its members had shown real interest in the game, and in purchasing a ground for football had made a good move. He congratulated Union members for the manner in which they had carried out their duties during the season, and hoped to be present at the Rugby Park next year to see the teams do battle. Ono matter in regard to Union meetings held each Tuesday night was that members seemed to have trouble now and again, and took to fighting over things of little account. The arguments at times led to big things, which amounted to nothing when all summed up. Mr Gilmore considered that . a smaller executive would do better with the affairs of the Union. On behalf of Cobden Club he thanked Union representatives for what the West Coast Rugby Union had accomplished during the past twelve months. Responding to the toast, Mr A. A. Adams, president of the West Coast Rugby Union, said that the stories just told by Mr P. Coll, about the wilds, reminded him of the small boy who wanted to know what came out of the lion’s den alive. The answer was, the lion, but he (Mr Adams) did not feel like the lion, after being in such convivial atmosphere. He had previously expressed it as his opinion that the affairs of the Rugby Union would be better managed by an elective executive. The weekly meetings carried on throughout the season were practically an annual meeting held each week, as the delegates 1 were the same as those attending the annual meetings- He considered the Union as at present constituted too unwieldy. The objection which clubs had to a small executive was that club feeling might be introduced 100 much. There was no saying that in an elective executive, six or four of the members may come from Cobden, as members would be elected on the votes of representatives from the different clubs. Such a position would not matter so long as the members were there for the good of the game. Outside feeling was liable to creep in at Union meetings in the shape of club spirit, but that did not often occur. Very often reports gave prominence more to trivial things than to the solid business of the Union, and outsiders were inclined to base their opinion of the Union on the press reports which in regard to some matters of the Rugby Union, were

ABSOLUTE “TOSH.” Members of the Union gave their time each week during the season, not only at meetings, but at matches also. Differences of opinion had at times arisen, but on the whole members had been keen on the progress of the game, and “did their bit to help clubs on every occasion. The Union s decisions were not always considered as best, but right or wrong, should be abided by. Everybody was liable to make mistakes, and if members did not agree on any point, the meeting was the place to say so- The Union had had a successful season, and it was his honest opinion that the Cobden Club was one of the strongest and biggest assets the Union had. Now that the Union possessed its own playing grounds, with the support of clubs the game should not look back. Rugby Park might not be perfected during his time, but in years to come when present players would be officials of the Union, they would have good playing areas which would be an asset to the Union, and to the town. There was quite a lot of business not brought before the meetings, which Union officials had to do,that others were not aware of. He congratulated the Cobden Club on its success, not only the senior team, but the club in turning out such fine players in all grades. Cobden had a great asset in its officials, and coach who spent a lot of time in helping the club along. By keeping together, Cobden players would lift the game to a higher plane. It was not merely the fact of winning that counted, but by building up a good club spirit and organising players would do all expected of them. The Union would provide the fields of play and make other arrangements, but it was for the players and clubs to organise and place teams on the field. If this was done then there would not be any fear as to football having a successful season. “Sister Clubs” was the toast proposed by Mr F. W. Eaillie, who said that the good spirit existing in club football on the West Coast was unsurpassable anywhere else in New Zealand. He congratulated clubs gaining successes during the season, especially mentioning Kumara Club, and United and Technical School Third Grade teams. Messrs A. Walton (United) and F. McEnaney (Blaketown) responded. i In proposing the toast of the Cobden

Club, Mr J. Guy congratulated the club on the success it had attained- 'I he fine class of young fellow belonging to the club, and strict attention to training had been responsible for the success- He wished the Club similar success in future seasons as it had enjoyed during the past two years. Mr Baillie, in responding, said that Cobden had been elated at its performances. IL was their second year in senior football, and he was of the opinion that the senior team did not owe its success to Rugby having slipped back, for the game had gone ahead. Their triumph was the result of strict attention to training, and if the other clubs did not train, then they must remain at the bottom of the ladder. United Club’s attention to training for the seven-a-side tournament had proved the value of such practice. The Cobden Junior A team had been a good one, but had ’been beaten by better teams in Kumara, and United. Cobden had been as good as the previous year’s fifteen, and that showed that the teams defeating them had been of good standard. The lower grade Cobden teams had not been successful, but they would improve next season. Mr N. Eggleton proposed the toast of “The Referees,” Messrs T. Mclntosh and W. McLaughlin responding. “The Ladies,” proposed by Mr F. Baillie, and “The Press” were other toasts honoured. During the evening items were rendered by Messrs P. Coll, T. Clarke, Hodge, and A. A. Rouse. Several community songs and a musical programme by the Club’s orchestra, also assisted towards a pleasant function.