CLIFTON FOOTBALL CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1930, Page 4

CLIFTON FOOTBALL CLUB

MEMBERS’ ANNUAL MEETING

REVIEW OF THE PAST SEASON

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS.

The Clifton Football Club’s annual meeting was he’d on Friday evening, when there was an attendance of about 40. The president sent an apology for his unavoidable absence and Mr. V. Tate was voted to the chair.

The following were elected new members.—Messrs E. Beekbessinger, VLaurent, D. Fulton, D. George, B. Tippett, Galbraith, J. Goodwin, S. G. Barnes, G. Rayner, W. Thomas, J. Jones, R. Henderson and H.' Neharry.

Ihe report stated. The committee congratulates the teams that took part for creditably acquitting themselves both on and off the field. Although the senior fifteen did not get very far up the ladder, they were dogged with a certain amount of bad luck. Better football was played than in the previous season. The quality seemed to be there, but the team seemed to lack cohesion in critical moments when success would have come their way—in ether words, there was a lack of finish to consistent thrusts of attack which took place practically in every match. The club for several years has been suffering a dearth of players; so much so, that the manager had hard work in fielding a full team, but it is hoped that this year the manager will not have the same difficulty. The manager of the first juniors had trouble in getting a team together at the commencement of the season, and when a team did materalise it was too late, the junior fixture committee having disqualified the club from taking, part in the coni petition, by acting up to the strict lettering of the rules. It.is sincerely hoped that more interest will be taken in this grade this year, as it is from this grade tliat seniors : are made. .

Ihe third grade team fulfilled its fixtures heroically, winning one match. There was considerable room for improvement in the class of football played. .What is required, az mentioned in previous reports, is a good all-round coach.

The finances of a football club arc governed, by the quality of the football presented to the public. The -gates were good in the first half, but when public interest wained, naturally, gates suffered. The refund from the Rugby Union for gates for the first half of the reason was £3O Ils 9d, but the second half realised only £8 14s 4d. It is obvious, therefore, that if the team had created interest by being in the ascendant, a fair credit balance could have been shown. Another loss of revenue to this account for the past year wds the absence of junior gates. This account started with a credit balance of £lO 17s 7d and has finished up with a debit of one shilling with liabilities of £3 8s 6d.

Last year »aw the resuscitation of the annual sports, which were held on

Easter Saturday. The-.function was- a successful one from every . point, of view, the day finishing up with an approximate credit balance Of • but subsequent expenditure for improving the running track and other commit-' ments which were rather heavy reduced the balance in this account to 15s -4s with liabilities of £3 14s fid. The committee have arranged a comprehensive programme for the coming Easter Saturday, and given a fine day it is hoped that a much .larger success will be achieved.

The club was able at the end of last season to erect a gymnasium at a cost of £292 12s 3<l, of which £75 is still outstanding. This has been' a long felt 'want- to enable players to get fit. A floor of clay or tan is still required, bint it is hoped to have this ready soon. It has been said by critics that the shed will prove a white elephant—in other v/ords, will not be used by players—but it is hoped the players will recognise its usefulness and use the shed. The report and balance sheet were adopted. . ■ The football account showed re-ceip-ts/ including- fW. 17s 7d brought forward from the last balance sheet, as £96 I2s Ifld and expenditure- ■ £B6 13s ICd,-leaving a: debit 'balance of 1/'-. • The-gymnasium: account-on .-the receipt side showed £221 5s transferred from the bank, £5O .loan from Rugby Union and other items totalling £l7 Is 2d. The total of receipts was £278 6s 2d. The expenditure was principally for the erection of the gymnasium, amounting to £275 12s. lid, leaving a balance in hand of £2 13s 3d. The sports account showed receipts £159 4s 2d and expenditure £l5B 8s lOd, leaving a credit balance of 1.5 s 4d. The liabilities amounted to £O2 18s 2d. The assets were set down as £3Ol I.os 2d, leaving a balance of assets over liabilities of. £2OB 12s.

The election of officers resulted—President, Mr. L. Birdling; vice-presidents, 12 were elected; secretary and treasurer, Mr. Geo. Bird (rc-elected).; auditor, Mr. A. J. Arms (re-elected); executive, Messrs. J. Priar, D. Laurent, V. Tate, A. Lash, E. Tate, J. Shea, and S- D. George; delegates to the Rugby Union, Messrs. H. Spurdie and E. Tate; senior selector, Mr. E. Tate; first junior selector, Mr.'D.. Brown; second junior selector, Mr.' Ned Brown ; club captain,. Mr. Mick Cain; coach, Mr. Pat Ward. The opening day is to be' April's. At a subsequent meeting' of the executive Mr. V. Tate was'- re-elected , chairman. . •

FOOTBALL AT OKATO

SUCCESSFUL SEASON REVIEWED,

PROSPECTS REPORTED BRIGHT..

Prospects fbr football in the Okato district look very bright, judging by the enthusiasm displayed by members a,t the annual, meeting, which was held on Saturday night. Mr. L. Carey, president of the. club, occupied the chair. In submitting his annual report, the president stated that the season on the whole had been very successful. Although the seniors had not taken a prominent place in the competition they had shown marked improvement. If that improvement wore continued this season they would “have Opunake thinking?’ He paid a tribute to the work of Mr. C. Bond as coach, he having taken a very live interest in the game. He also congratulated Mr. Goodwin on his elevation to B representative rank. He spoke enthusiastically of the way in which the first juniors played the game and fulfilled their fixtures. In this respect Mr. Shptter had done splendid work. . The fourths, had played splendidly, too, hav,ihg filled' the role or runner-up in the competition. They played bright fbot--ball, reflecting the interest that had been taken in their training by Mr. Tate. If the members of all the teams would again assiduously practise so as to be in good -trim for the early matches the prospects for the season should be very bright. During the year the club had recognised the services rendered over a long period by Mr. J. Saran by tendering him a social evening and a presentation, Mr; R. C. Larren, an enthusiastic official of the club, had left the district and had been given an appropriate farewell and presentations. Mr. Tate, the fourth grade manager, had left the dis : trict and bad been given a presentation by his team. These, with Mr. Corbett, who had moved to Pakeora, would be very much missed. The thanks of the club were due to the ladies who- had as-j sisted in- various directions during the year. ; ■ ' ■' : \

Financially,.. the season had been a success, also, there being a profit of: £6 2s. on the year. This was, : of course, due to the success of the annual hair. Mr. Carey expressed regret that during the seasom one of their senior W. Julian, had broken his leg. AH members sympathised with him in h’is misfortune. The thanks of the elu'b were also due to Mr. and Mrs. Dick Andrews, and Mr. Bullock, who had donated medals. These had been won respectively by F. Goodwin (seniors), J. Laurin (junior), and L. Hoskin (fourths), whom he congratulated. The balance-sheet showed that receipts had totalled £6l Is. Id., the principal items being subscriptions £l2 135., junior gates £4 3s. Cd., gate money from' Union, £l6 9s. lid., profit from ball £2/ 2s. 2d. Expenditure totalled £54 19s. Id., the principal items being travelling expenses £8 18s., referees £5 125.,, affiliation fee £3 35., fqotballs £4 10s., Waimate match £3 125., hire of hall for practice, etc., £2 18s. Cd. ■ The report and balance-sheet were a..opted. Several new playing members were elected as well as a number of honorary members.

Officers were elected as follows: —Patron, Mr. J. Putt (re-elected); president, Mr. L. Carey (re-elected); vice-presi-

dents, five were elected; hon. secretary and’ treasurer, Mr. K. O. Hickford (re* elected):; management committee, Messrs. R. Shotter, H. Roberts, 8. Roebuck, E. Roebuck, D. O’ Sullivan, L. Goodwin and C. Bond; selectors, Mr. C. Bond (seniors), Messrs. R.-Shotter.and L. Andrews, first juniors, third or fourth grade, to be appointed later; club captain, Mr. O. Eustace; delegate to T.R.U., Mr. J. Garcia (re-elected); auditor, Mr. A. J. Smith (re-elected). - .It was . decided, to enter three teams in the competitions —a senior, second grade and third or fourth, grade. . It,' was decided to open. the season on ,Saturday next. 'The question of . effecting improvements tq the ground was discussed, and Messrs, ii.'Roberts and S. Roebuck were authorised, to expend up to £lO .in preparing the' 'ground for the season. 1 'it Was decided to enter a team for the pc'waY ! Shield tournament at New PlymoSith bn Easter Monday.

’‘ ‘AjS enthusiastic vote' of thanks was abcorAed the secretary, whose work was graisdd,'and it was resolved to vote Inman honorarium of £3 3s. It was decided to donate a football to the Ok’ato school. Votes of thanks were accorded Mr. Jas.iGarcia for his services as delegate, ■Mr. L. -Carey for his interest as presiddnt, fliiul the retiring officers, especially Mr. .Darren, who was elected a life member.:’. : It -was. decided to issue a challenge to Rahotu. for the Meredith Cup. ' ■