Two Otaki Football Clubs Agree to Merge

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1948, Page 2

Two Otaki Football Clubs Agree to Merge

It being. ' the interition' of the Horowhenua Riigby Union to-' alloW only six ' ge'nior teams to take part ■ in championship matches this season, it was proposed that 'OtdkiR'ahUi be ;as;ke.d to arrive at- an amicable . arrangemeiit and ' combine. These tfvo clubs "have fouiid it difficult in the past- to do- so, each desiring . to have separate teams. It was considered by "some that two good teams- were available, while others felt that by having. two clubs the senior teams would be consider'ably weakened. It was therefore agreed that repreSentatives of- the two clubs meet and endeavour to come to a settlement. In consequence a meeting was held on Saturday night, when Mr. A. Gillespie,' president of the union, presided, i Mr. Gillespie pointed out the (value of amalgamation and hoped ithat a settlement, suitable. to each ! club, would be arrived at. He had no hesitating 7 in recommending j that the Otaki and Rahui Clubs ! amalgamate, the club to be either 1 known as the Otaki-Rahui Club, or !-Rahui-Otaki Club, or if a different j'name was desired he thought. this |eould be arranged. I Mr. H. Moffatt. agreed that a 'first-class team - should be made^ j available.from Otaki. Goo.d friend-' fship had existed between the two | clubs, and he thought that if a strong committee was elected good would be the result. There was no jdoubt, he said, that there would be f regrading of some plavers, a difficulty he hoped would be overcome. Coaches would also need to be 1 appointed. ! Mr. R. Jones supported Mr. Mofifatt. and he desired that members ! of the club have a say. The club, (when formed, should be run on strict lines. He had met members 'of the Rahui Club and they were in accord that there should- be a . good senior team, which would help, with 'the overflow, to . strengthen the juniors, and he thought there could be two of these. It had. been suggested thatj , Messrs. Watts* Moffatts Cook .and ' himself should be a committee, with an independent secretary.. t Some present voiced a desire that Otaki and Rahui should not com.bine. Others Were bf the reverse ; view, while some f avoured the formation of , a new club, to be known either as U-nited, Kia Toa or ; Tainui as in days gone' by. It Was also desired' by- some that Otaki Ko the name of the"club, being repre- ; sentative of "the town and the club : wherever it went. A long discus- , sion followed on a name for . the elub. - • ■ The chairman stated . that no doubt amalgamation would be for the good of football, and hoped that it would be possible at. some future time to run four senior B teams. / It was decidecl that amalgamation take place, the name of the club to be Otaki-Rahui. Seyeral were proposed for the position of president, but all declined, Mr. Arthur Knox eventually agreein'g.- to accept the position. • The matter of regrading. of nlayers would have careful consideration, said Mr. Gillespie. If a player, after playing in two senior ,matches, or eveh three, was found unfit to hold his" place, he could be regraded, and as the union met weekly Mr. Gillespie saw no trouble in this direction. . a The matter of colours for the club was discussed and green was favoured, there being a preponderance of this colou-r in the senior ranks. Mr. Lindsay agreed to accept the position of secretary to the club. Messrs. G. Gray- and L. H. Higgott were appointed as coaches.