CHANGE IN NAME

Stratford Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 3, 10 March 1934, Page 6

CHANGE IN NAME

CELTIC RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB DEBATES THE

QUESTION PROPOSAL DISCUSSED AT SPECIAL MEETING Motion for Annual Meeting Carried by One Vote EVEN support for a proposal to change the name of the club and of the desire to carry on under the same name was disclosed at a largely attended special general meeting of the Celtic Rugby Football Club last evening. A notice of motion to move at the annual meeting that the club be, ir, the future, known and registered as Stratford Old Boys was discussed by the meeting, and when a vote was taker, there were 16 in favour and 15 against the motion.

The patron of. the duly, Mr. .1. YV. McMillan, presided. The president (Mv. V. Foley) said that the propositi lor tlie consideration of the meeting had been brought up at :i committee meeting and il had

been decided i„ call the members together. Mr. Foley said that the oecas ion was ratlier unique in ilu: histniv of the club as the patron was present. He felt proud Unit Mr. McMillan was present. Mr. McMillan expressed pleasure at being present. He fell quite impartial as to the discussion. He stressed the point, however, that it was a very important matter and one calling for tree and full discussion. Mr. \Y". Hughes tabled the notice of motion to move for a change in the club's name. Mr. I). J.mes seconded. Mr. Hughes said lie thought it would be to the advantage of the club to change the name because U would, he considered, draw support from players and from the townpeople generally. Original Member's Opinion As an original member of the club, sunt Mr. W. Casey, he did not see that a change would be any advantage. No ilub could have more •support. It. was a successful club. Although the. senior team did not do too well last, year, it had to be remembered that evevy club had its lean years. It was. w ; , use continually (•hanging the name of a club. Mr. Casey asked if the motion could be passed at tha meeting. Mr. McMillan said he understood u it was passed if would be put forward at the annual meeting. The secretary (Mr. L. F. Coley) said that according to the rules a special meeting would have to be held and the motion passed then for the an.

i mini meeting.. , , ~ . Mr. McMillan said ho thought, thai if tin- members had been circularised as to'the business of the meeting n . niotioi could be pawed to be i'Ut ! forward at the annual meeting. I That would defeat the object of lUe [ \ committee, said Mr. Coley. _ IJ Mr. Foley said he was surprised | and shoclced to Know that, it was in- ; tended to hold another special meeting' , j- !,„ 1 Mr. Coley said that the mooting had been culled in accordance with the committee's motion. Mr W l . TlVhbridgO understood ttint the committee hud decided to decide th<f'matter at tin.' first meeting. "You should discuss this thing witu an said the chairman. II those desiring the change should win I the tlnirioTity should fall mt 0 lmc. | 'fliiitpnshould be no split in iho cluo I -Mr, iQiifoy said he did not think it . for Hose luembe s ivtoito&wfte* *° i, " 1 r «! ,01 ' tho ;,'n; i t»,feav# <w«rything taken away fiom \lw>i «A expected to carry on. Ij! Club's Early History B aftfT9JJto»e*„said he ;sp..k« very feel- : Plain rWby.&S Celtic, bootbnll Club I (■bMiiue,,wu< ft .rumour— and be. Uic i| change was to secure ex pupils; o 11 « | High Schn , II He reminded, members that the cub | out that many of the boys who went j !| boundaries. The ft ,..on rules w I I o( , i,f'7 1 ,' ' ; nl.he.ch ; n^,W^ l l)itneanda wash-| Ud there wel'e's|j.yers on ho si... ■iZd-V iorm a new club. A meetmß . S^^ldai£llie A 'now club pushed ;:S,'d All'sbrtVntobstacles bad bee . Unet With..but they had been lived »e Vas, nothing to do With ir£oh ih it'noV/Ti'counection with S& J^fe 5 There had been : reWai)4'll w'as-a' Protestant who be Celtic. AU senior clulw. had their lean yoni.< A !°-WPM 'POMtion loOflfe (il V ub Yl lWrpre i «hd that I three years ago the club bad a debit .. IHa.ce of now there nfl -fil^r-TO* • that e^dea^or^y'iy^?''* "ed'the suctoSsCUl;: ; :d ■ support- fV' the' Cliib.' It; .wnh" tWuHblft! iS : fel the 'nart of foundation member* 'should S<>. ' fof'n'oth'iug-JrbV'thoifebt'UhatMhe Wve WKWI 0«* he*-w*u » f . ri'Rhfb'ehinu it'Hifilil mM-iChirik:Winl 1 of ! ilVe iiropbsed Change'hn« thought of its_ bobiccJueMco* If .ltlifttfrna/: h "'trHply tb u the l 'ehairtnau'Mi': 'Coley - fuVtber : 'exp'lalned Uie"lftldsL«V/ H ;'Ht • r _ 6W''boVs (iv |; r "' '. : Mr.. A • C. AVa 1 k er i *o i d, h e pßUecii !- afcod th.o fueling behii.tl >ijie.».r f »»iwilifl - i f made, by. iho »prp«J(Unty..?HU, , .wqp -oft; opinion • thai .ijnv.yi.oi'ithe Ht-iittuueuts.i ; did-.M« ,: : ai-Plyu»s■■tbfii! club's-.present J uiuch,- dif'i'ereni! t.oj what ijt,iWJTs in fewye^r.:i;a^i ; i. Iflo.?a<;t» j j he was. sur,pr«i;Se(l [4 the-great:number ■) !' i'f old boys in the club. lfr? : .wa<s l)ar-|a i tieitilarlyi'Hee.n .p.'!/k' ol '.iMng .•m.old..boyij' j t ClUp .aJif}, hf-1 been foi; ! so,ni(^tii i w i o,.bl) i t l -J j bqen ..opppijtjUivf b«- ! fore becpiu'SfliiOf ittsuU'j<'iept ,<j\ld boys,. 1 What was T-calJy requ'.rod. ,of qonrsp,., Mfelh S"cbo«l.>o]fl floys' As, ' goica,tion,- (pthfiVr as,so{,vatio,i,Ls,. ' iklive-.a.Mt, rui?ctir;pin'g|.bUt } .w.afs.. , lacking au'itStva.ttora.. :1 L . , r " ~.,>;: ~,*

The Chairman: Von should be discussing tho change of name, nor old b(M >' associations. Mr. Walker; Yes. til right. This is flic jioinl • The members ol' Ihis club ~]■,. mainly old hoys and their idea is to g (1 oil "sis an oJd hoys' team. It is no! ho much a marie* of "snaffling" .players from tho school but to have an old boys' tram to call ail old hoys' Irani. Lack of Support? Mr. J. b\ Stephens said thai he was strongly in favour of the movei: (in. The club lie con tended, did noi get a. groat deal of support, li was iinanced from the social side. The senior tenia had not niel with any success last year and at th« end '" lb,' season there had not been any players available. That was the first. * Mr. Tunbridge said he thought Hint Mr. Stephens was wrong when he said the club did not have the support oi the townspeople. There was no doubt at all that the club had a good meaure of support. He did not think thenwould be any advantage in changing the name of the dub. It it was changed older members would regard it as an insult. ■ Mr. Casey said thai n successful senior team"was not any criterion for a club. Unless third grade and junior teams were concentrated on there would never be a senior team. He did not think, in any case, that there was room for a senior team. It had boon a stumbling block to the club ever since it started. Mr. Polev said thai thorn was im point in Mr. Stephens' mention ol tho poor balance-sheet The great majority of clubs had shown a loss over the Inst three years-. Mr. Hughes said that the club was financed by activities on the social side In regard to a senior team. Mr. Hughes said that the clud should per. tainly have one—it was a junior >• privilege to go up to senior status. Players could not remain in the same grade all their lives. The chairman asked Mr. Stephens to explain in what manner the club lacked support. Mr. Stephens said that the gateproved that the senior team of (lie club had a very poor following. Me club lacked support from many people in th e town who would support it if it. became on old boys' club. Mr T. Attrill considered that t»e club had a large amount of support, from players and the public as well. "Club Well Supposed" "I fail to see where there is any sound argument in favour of the change;' said the chairman. He bad followed the club tor several years, and considered that it was well supported by the public. Of the large crowds at. the matches between Strut ford and Celtic there were a great number who wanted Celtic to Win. And a name would not make any (111 iVrence In the standard of play. Thai was otilv acquired by training, and he considered that Was wby the junior learn met with so much success lasl year. The spirit of football was not always to win the championship. The SUg&esfod name was alright, he -ui> i.OM-d but under that name would unybodv be admitted t.O the club? in bis mind there War no sense m the suggestion. Many prominent mgn ~hools did not have old boys' teams. Bovs joined the clubs with winch (heir associates were connected. 11 was the natural thing I" do. Was it • Il0) r; ,lhcr selfish to try and lorm a „„„.,. < ;r less exclusive club? lie UiU ~,,1 think there was anything ui the | iiniuc of old boys- Referring to iho t l,.bs finance Mr. McMillan said n did not matter tuppence whether the club did net have a big credit balance. The- main thing was to keep on Hi« .-iglil side of the ledger. "I would )„, sr r,v to see the nam.- changed said Mr. McMillan. "Celtic is well known to the public and is well sup

I ported. *' , , ■ I Mr Colcv criticised the chairman » | statement that I he flub hud receiv.nl ' good rublie support. Over tin- last i three years (ho senior train had cost I th'j cliib i: 10 10 C IS each year. Thai j did not indicate good support. Th" Chairman: You might explain | why' you lbii.l< there will be more ! rUPP'U' 1 if th» name is changed. Mr. Coh'V said' that there was a \ greater centre ot Mitcrcsl and wider scope for tiie operations of an " 1( l boys' club. That was cpiHc clear. Upsptting the Club? Mr. F. Foley, junr., asked why the iuuiio should he changed merely to upset the clul). Why was not a new club started? Mr. Cook said t.ial there was no intention to upsel |he club; it was merelv desired to change the name The club, he did not need to say. had cnine in tor a good Geal of abuse. "A Voice: Doesn't every football club get that? 1 , Abuse Lived Down 'There had been no abuse over the lasUf/ew years, said Mr. Foley. Thai was, 'i«n liVi ' a ,lown ' Mr;'; Walker: No. MH\ Foley: Yes. M.V!' #y,(ker said he did not wish to. r|Ui)lo P ii)sVnae.-:.. but knew of severalwhere- the''club had lost support because, of , the. inference of the name an(i'< : 'ir«'i^-" , .. Mr*. ITughes raid there was no down that relipviuilid. enter into it. He had been 1 asked' 'why he associated with the cluJk •'That is a very foolish aspect." said tlHAcilaTVnfaif. '^ r .. • , "It is only withythc public. Hind Mr. Walker. "But, it,4s .there nevertheless.'' said Mr. ColeyV ~ J. ..... "Whej.i,:,a ship., is ."funking does i| change'Ha .name?" asked Mr. H. Me ■Caiman,.' He',co,nsk'ered ,that a ehuiigo -in..i;aine .would-.not, produce any more ;support.. He v ,(jWted. pases ot! where : oi;\tiU'(;; ! ciuh A dis-

tinguished positions in Taranaki foot- j ball. The club had done very Well, j since its inception. F;.nher, if it '< was to be an old boys' club, it should ' be ex< lusive'y old boys. Voices; Not necessarily. i It the (cams played the football th; 1 i public wanted Ihe club would get : plenty of support, continued Mr. Me j Caiman. A club was not necessarily j successful if it had a b:g bank bal- ' a nee. j Mr. Coley and Mr. McCalman de- ■ bated the matter of drift of players | fi'iuii the senior reams. II would look rather farcical, said i Mr. McMillan, when the public read j a report of the meeting and found I that the club expected more support j because of ti.e change of a name. j A vide was taken and resulted vr. 22 to 15 in favour of the moMou. A lisl of members eligible to vole j was then produce'' and several mem- ] bei'K were eliminated owing t'.i sub j sci'iption arrears. Another vole war- taken. The point | Was debated whether a member of the ] club last year, after bavin- heen offi- ; dally transferred from Clifton was , eligible tor a vote, 11-v was financial I with the Clifton C'ub jirior to bis j transfer. On the motion of Mr. T. Attrill and j the president, 'lie memher was given ! a. vide. The result was then an- : nounced, t,P.e motion bavins; a majority ; of one Vote—-Hi to 15. "Whoever wins this argument do nol j let »t on any account split the club." j ssOd the chairman in conclusion. "I j hope the minority will fall into line j and (firry on." j