Athletic Football Club.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6849, 26 March 1897, Page 4

Athletic Football Club.

The annual general meeting of the Athletic Football Club was held in the Globe Hotel last evening, when there was a largo attendance of members, and Mr M. Connolly was voted to the ch;tir.

The annual report was read as follows

Your Committee have much pleasure in presenting for your consideration their eleventh annual report, and regret th it the Club has not been 30 r ncces3fal aa in former yeir3, due, no doubt, to the want of interest taken by memher3 in training, et -., and this incoming season your Committee would urge upon members the necessity of turning out to evening training and practice matches, aa without both the L'ltib cin never expect to occupy a high position. iast season the first fifcet-n played fottr matches, winning one, drawing one. and losirg two. The annnat fixture with the Zingari-Kichmond Clnb was played on May 25th, when, after a tight tnsjle, victory rested with the visitors by 9 points to 5 This year the match will be played in Dtmedirt, when it is to b: hoped that a strong team will make the journey, and, with proper training, turn the tables on their old opponents. The second fifteen were again in the rear, losing the three gam s in which they took part, and your v'ommit&ee would recom mend to the incoming committee the necessity of I-iokieg more ifter the second's interest than has been the custom in the past; it is to this team the success of the tirst mainly depends. Your Committee are pleased to report an increase in the credit balance as shown in the balance-sheet, bcir.g the largest since IS9O.

Your Committe regret to report the loss of several members, proninent amocg-tt them being Messrs J. Maxwell. A. Robertson, and F. Has tie. During la 3& season the Otago teuu played a game here pgainat North Otago, Otago winning by 15 points to nil. The annuil fixture against Ir'oath Canterbury was also played, the game ending in a draw. Your Club was welt represented by Mesars Birr, Connolly, M'Ghie, D. nnd C. Isee, flurtis and Yeitch, who one and alt fully jnatirted their selection.

It is worthy of note that E. Booth was chcsen for the trial match-a in iiunedin, and succeeded la gaining a place in the Otago team against Southland, acquitting himself in a creditable manner.

In conclusion, yonr t.'ornmittse hopes that members individually will do their beat for the interests of the Club, and pay strict attention to their training and practice, and succeed once more in placing the wearers of the red, white and blue in the premier position.

The report was unanimously adopted.

The election of officers resulted as follows: President, 11. Duncan, Esq. : vicepresidents : Messrs C. C. Proberf, M. M*Fad<jen. J- Bee and D. Miller; c m>tain, Mr J. Barr; deputy-captain, Mr W. Veitch ; committee : Messrs M. Connolly, W. Burns, C. Ree. D. Bee, G. Hnstie, M. M'Elhenny, and J. Heron ; match committee : Captain. Deputy-Captain and Mr D. Bee ; delegates to Otago Rugby Union: Messrs James Maxwell Stid A. C. M'L-C'jd ; secretary. Mr W. Yeitch.

Fifteen now members were elec'ed as follows, viz : C., J. ancl M. Fiynn, W. Irving, R. Campbell, J. Smith, W. Duncan, A. Keid, G. Biker, F. Oaeley, D. Heron, M. Barry, J. Bain, Hehu and C. Christie.

It was decided to play *he opening match on Thursday, April Ist. A hearty vote of thauks was passed to Mr M. Connolly for the very threat services rendered the club in past years.

A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.