ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 25 March 1922, Page 7

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

HAWERA CLUB'S ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Havvera Association Football Club was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening, when there were a large number of members present. Mr F. Stevens (president) was in the chair. In addressing the members, Mr Stevens 'said that generally speaking the past season had been a very sue- j cessful one. They had started the season without funds, and they now had a small credit balance. Football as a whole had shown a great improvement i during the last year. The speaker had visited Wellington, and had attended the New Zealand Association's meeting, when arrangements had been made for a visit to New Zealand of an Australian Association football team. The members of the Hawera Club would I have the pleasure of seeing that team

in Taranaki. During the past season I the Hawera Club had been handicapped j as far as competition was concerned, I

but they had nevertheless had an interesting season. He would like to thank the Hawera Football Club for the support that club had given them. Commenting on the number of younger members present, Mr Stevens said that' he was satisfied that this coming season the club would be able to put a team in the field that would worthily uphold the name of the Hawera Association Football Club. i ANNUAL REPORT. j The annual report stated, inter alia: In presenting to you the first annual report of the reformed club, your man-' agement committee has pleasure in congratulating you upon the splendid result of the past season. It was not. the winning of many matches or trophies that was of value, but it was the reintroducing of Soccer to Taranaki. When the club commenced operations they were the only Association club in Taranaki, and to-day New Plymouth had a very strong club, which would run three teams. Stratford had a good club, which.' would probably put two teams into the field, and it was hoped tht towns such as Eltham, Kaponga, Iriglewood and Auroa would soon \be forming associations. Altogether ten matches were played last season, of which five were won and five lost. The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of 6s 6d 3 which, although only a small amount, is considered satisfactory by your executive. The prospects for the coming season were very bright, many new players and members joining the club. Thanks to the Borough Council, a first-class playing ground had been obtained, which would be a • Kg item in furthering the popularity j of Soccer. It was interesting to note that the guarantee towards the Taranaki v. Australia match had been arranged; also it was hoped that the: Taranaki F.A. would challenge for the Brown Shield and arrange for the game to be played at Hawera. The committee had to express its thanks to the Technical High School Committee for allowing the club the use of their ground during the past season. Thanks 1 were also due to the South Taranaki I Club for the use of their committee i

room, and to the local press for the publication of a weekly report. A special vote of thanks is due to Mr W. Adams for representing the club at Wanganui and New Plymouth. GENERAL. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the secretary (Mr Piper) for his services during the year. He was presented with a small cheque. The president thanked the officials ) and members for the support given him during the year. It was decided that the field captain and vice-captain be elected by the team. . Referring to the forthcoming tour of the Australian team, Mr Stevens said that if the undertaking proved a success in all probability an English team ' would follow the next season. A vote of thanks was accorded the press. It was decided that the subscriptions be the same as last year, with the ex-' ception of that of 2s 6d for junior players. The matter of the utilisation of grounds for the coming season by the ' Association Football Club and the Hockey Club was brought up. The chairman was of the opinion that the two clubs could work harmoniously in • this matter. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow: Patron, Mr E. Dixon, M.P.: president, Mr F. Stevens; vicepresidents, Messrs W. Adams, E. C\ Hayton, T. Mason, A. Pickering, H. Catton, Barnes, J. G. Nichol, W. Brooks, C. J. Cummings, G. R. Horsbrugh, E. Burge, and F. Wilson; club captain, Mr W. Adams; general committee, Messrs Reid, Barker, J ~ F Tiddy. Bading, E. Jones, and Howath; selection committee, Messrs Adams, I Brown, and Reading; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr E. H. Piper; hon. auditor, Mr C. K. Mahoney; delegates to the Taranaki Association, Messrs Stevens, Adams, Jones, Cummings, Piper and Catton; club referee, MiReading. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.