Wairarapa Notes.

NZ Truth, Issue 198, 3 April 1909, Page 3

Wairarapa Notes.

The largest football meeting held';in Masterton during the past fifteenyears was that . of the Bed Star Football Club on Saturday, last. : Many years ago wheiiv the Red Star were m the zenifch, of their fame, and the Masterton club could not raise a team,, the former foolishly decided, with a view to improving.the game m Masterton, to- join with the -Masterfcon club. ' This new club was called the Union, but m a season or two the old Stars pulled but, and. m, 1901 there was no Saturday team m Masterton. In 1905 three enthusiasts, Messrs. B. Welch, S. Kingdon; and B. Iveson, started the old club again, and they were ridiculed for their pains. The Masterton club had been resuscitated m 1902. Several old Stars, inoludjng Tom Hoar (one, of the founders ot the old M'ebrose team, Wellington), Gharh'e Ewington, and Ted Welch, flocked round the •" Twinklers! ' banner, and though the ■seniors were badly beaten'- in contests in' 11905, 1906, and 1907, they "came to light ' r last year, being, runners up m the senior: championship, first m the junior champion-^ ship, andiirst m the third-class champion-, ship — a record never before equalled m Wairarapa. The old Bad Stars included in-' their ranks at one time Archie D*Arcy (j^ew Zealand Rep.), Billy Watson (New Zealand--Rep.), Harry Wrigley (who has done m the past such yeoman service for Wellington) , Edgar Wrigley (the burly three-quarter ,. now playing at Hpme) * and.numerous others who have shone m the football field. The. club has now a membership of close on onehundred, and at the meeting on Saturday night the following officers were elected : Patron, Mr. E. Welch ; President, Mr. J. O. Ewington,; Vice-presidents, Messrs. W. S. Lett, J. Hunter, and Bi Iveson; Secretary, Mr. T. G. Hoar; Captain, Mr. R. McKenzde; Selection Committe, Messrs. J. Dnggan, R. McKenzie, and B. iveson ; General Committee, Messrs. E. Hooper, K. Welch, J. Wing, J. Duggan, and .R. McKenzie. Masterton have lost a lot of their old jplayers during the past two seasons, prominent among whom" were Davy Eogan, PatfO'Laery Lyall, AUck Millar, Charlie Ross, Alick Robs, and now the star of them aUjJoe O'Jyeary. Masterton will have a weak fifteen this season, their annual meeting on Friday week last being attended by six seniors only-; the remainder of the t| thirty whoattended being eitheriiort-players, < juniors, or third-class players^