CHRISTIAN BROTHERS’ ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB, DUNEDIN
In recognition of the remarkable success achieved by the five school teams in this season’s competition a very enjoyable social evening was tendered by the club to these juvenile players in the Octagon Tea Rooms on Thursday, September 19. The gathering numbered upwards of one hundred present and ex-pupils of the Christian Brothers’ School, these latter including Father Liston (Rector Holy Cross College, Mosgiel), Mr. J. Walls (Mosgiel), Mr. T. Anthony, Mr. J. Deaker, Mr. G. Bevis, Mr. W. Kennedy (lion, secretary), and other officials of the club. In extending a welcome to the assemblage Mr. B. Connor (who presided) said the social had been arranged as a compliment to the boys who had so worthily upheld the fine sporting record of the Christian Brothers’ School during the 1918 football season. It was, indeed, cheering to be able to say that the boys’ consistently good performances had won the appreciation of all club members and the admiration of all lovers of the good old game of Soccer. Mr. Connor gave the season’s record as follows: — The Christian Brothers’ School A Grade team were runners up for the competition. They played 8 matches-won 3, drawn 3, lost 2 ; goals for 13 goals against 7. The B Grade team was very successful, as they went through the season without a defeat and secured the B Grade Banner. Thirteen matches were played 11, drawn 2; goals for 52, goals against 7. In the C Grade the C team were also successful in winning their grade banner, going through the season without losing a match. Sixteen matches were played —won 14, drawn 2 ; goals for 64, goals against 4. This is a splendid record. The goalkeeper of this team (Master Martin Wills) represented the Otago team against Southland. The D team had also a successful season. Sixteen matches were played—won 12, drawn 1, lost 3 ; goals for 59, goals against 9. Of the 9 goals scored against this team 6 were kicked by one of the Brothers’ teams. The E team, which is the youngest, did remarkably well. Thirteen matches were played—won 10, lost 3; goals for 29, goals against 10. A feature of all the matches was the unselfish play of the Greens’ forwards. This largely contributed to the success of the teams. Mr. Connor paid a warm tribute to the past and present Christian Brothers of the Dunedin school, who during their successive terms had always kept the element of clean sport well in the forefront. He congratulated Brother Higgins on the splendid attainments of the boys under his control, and very sincerely thanked him for the amount of time and energy, apart from his ordinary daily work, he had devoted to the coaching and training of the boys. Mr. Sinclair, president of the O.F.A. (who was received with prolonged applause), said the splendid playing qualities of the Christian Brothers’ School teams had been viewed with great pleasure by the O.F.A. for mally years, and when he (the speaker) saw so many of such a fine stamp as were now present in the rooms he could realise what this meant for the Soccer game in the future. He advocated loyalty to the association which depended wholly on individual loyalty to their own club; always bearing in mind that the point of view of the Association is that of the affiliated clubs’ members. Play the game (he said), play it like men; this will bring credit on the national game of the Christian Brothers’ School, whose green-jersey players he hoped would continue to carry off cups. On behalf of the senior boys, Brother Bowler (Principal of the school) thanked the senior members of the club for their thoughtful generosity in arranging the function all were so heartily enjoying. It was an object-lesson to the boys of the present, and wh6 would fie the men of the future, and an incentive to their ambition, inasmuch as it indicated the sustained loyalty of men who had gone through the school and were a credit to it in after life. In conclusion, Brother Bowler expressed appreciation of the honor conferred on the gathering by the presence of Mr. Sinclair. Brother Higgins, after thanking the chairman for his kind personal
remarks, saidNdie pleasing duty devolved upon him of asking Mr. J. P. Dunn (vice-president of the club) to accept from the players a tobacco satchel (with initials engraved) in recognition of his many services to the club and in the interests of the good old game. Mr. Dunn (continued the speaker) is a keen, straight sport, both in football and in cricket. He is a firm advocate of fair play to all parties. Mr. Dunn in expressing gratitude for the unexpected gift made him, said it was his desire to keep alive all the sporting organisations with which so many of the old Christian Brothers’ boys who were now at the war had been associated. They deeply deplored the fact that many of their former comrades had made the supreme sacrifice, but he felt sure that those who were privileged to return would be gratified to find the football and cricket clubs still going strong. As an old player for the school, Mr. Bevis expressed the pleasure it gave him to be present that evening, and he contrasted the treatment they now received from the O.F.A. with that formerly meted out to them by those controlling another branch of the game. During the evening songs were contributed by Mr. T. Anthony, Mr. J. Deaker, Mr. D. Fogarty, and Mr. A twill ; a violin solo by Mr. E. Sandys: recitation by Mr. Collier ; and a piano solo by Mr. J. S. Brown, who also played the accompaniments. Supper was served by the tea rooms’ staff, and at the conclusion of the proceedings “Auld Lang Syne” was sung.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZT19181003.2.97
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Tablet, 3 October 1918, Page 43
Word Count
975CHRISTIAN BROTHERS’ ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB, DUNEDIN New Zealand Tablet, 3 October 1918, Page 43
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