ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2450, 1 May 1915, Page 5

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL MELROSE OLUB DISBANDS. An extraordinary general meeting of the Melrose Football Club was held on Thursday night at the Gymnasium, Ri"toul Street. The patron, Mr. John Burns, was in the chair. Tho business was confined to a discussion as to tho futuro of the club. The chairman in a statement laid tho position before the meeting. Owing to diverse reasons, ho stated, it was not possible to continue successfully with tho present membership. He regrottod that the position was so acute. Thirty years ago he was one' of a band of Newtown boys who founded tbe club, and had been closely associated with it ever since. It seemed that be was going to be the only witness of both the birth and death of the_Melrose.Club: He keenly felt the position. Mr. Col. Campbell said that the officers bad worked hard in their endeavour to place a senior team in tha field, and had it not been for tbe number of players who volunteered for service in the defence of our country a team would have been entered. Tho Melrose Club had always been loyal to any call of dutj\ Its membors had always assisted in any charitable work, and it was this same feeling that wa-s affecting their membership to-day. in the patriotic match played on the Basin Reserve on Sept-ember 9, 1914, the Melrose Club provided 8 players out of the two teams. Like the patron he felt Borry'that tho old club was about to disbancl, but lie saw nothing else for it. Mr. F. Gibson, for some years treasurer, stated tbat he had put in a week looking round to players They wero all gone, most of them to the ranks and many into the country. Eis regretß were no less keen than those of former speakers. Mr. A. Gilchrist said that whatever the fortunes of the Melrose Club were, tbe good fellowship amongst members was such as'will be found in very few clubs. . In a general discussion some speakers were of the opinion that the Kugby Union had not treated the club right— they were sent too much into the suburbs. Oil tbe motion of Mr. A. Gilchrist, seconded by Mr. A. Goodwin, it was unanimously decided: "That the club dissolve as from even date." Mr J. Burns and Mr. Col. Campbell were appointed to direct the disposition of tha club's finances and property. The allocation of club trophies was mentioned by the secretary, Mr. J. Paterson, and it was decided to deal with iliese at a meeting to be called at somo future date.