MANCHESTER QUITS GAME

Evening Star, Issue 22453, 25 September 1936, Page 12

MANCHESTER QUITS GAME

ALL BLACK CAPTAIN RETIRING FIFTY-EIGHT GAMES FOR CANTERBURY [Per United Press Associatiox.]

CHRISTCHURCH, September 25. J. E. Manchester, captain of the 1935 All Blacks, quits Rugby to-mor-row. The ; match against Wellington will be his last. “1 feel I have had a lot of football,” said Manchester this morning, in announcing his decision, “ and 1 armretiring for business reasons. However, 1 hope to carry on niy interest in the game, even though I am no longer a player, and put something back into the game by helping with coaching or in some other way that I can assist.” Manchester is now 27 years of age. He learned his football at the Timaru Boy s’ High ■ • School and won his place in the Christchurch Club’s senior team at the end of 1927, hia first ' season with the club. At the end of 1928 he represented Canterbury for the first time, and immediately i inpressed as a fast an( j vigorous forward. Since then he has been first choice for the provincial pack whenever he has been available. By 1932, then over 14st in weight, he caught the eye of. the New Zealand selectors as a man who was always fit, a grafter all the time, and sharp and clever at providing opportunities for the backs. He was chosen for the All Black team to tour Australia that year, and again in 1934. So good were his performances that selection for the British trip of 1935 was virtually assured from the outset, and his appointment as captain was warmly acclaimed. With to-mor-row’s game against Wellington . Manchester fvill have played 68 times for his province, which equals the great record set up by G, I). Gray 1 from ■ 1900 to 1914,