Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 10, 8 September 1900, Page 13

Association Football.

Association and Rugby players met together in harmony last Friday evening at the Diamonds' ninth annual social. From general appearances, all present spent a very enjoyable evening. Amongst those present were : — Messrs A. E. Gibbs, (Vice-President W.F.A), F. J. Courtney (Hon. Sec. W.F.A), and B. L. Salmon (Hon. Sec. Eeferees Association). The Sydney-street hall, in which the social was held, was neatly decorated, and upwards of 30 football photographs hung from the walls. One of the most interesting of these was a photo of a Victorian " socker " team of 1884, the first Australian intercolonial team ever selected. Prominent in the photo as captain is our worthy vice-presi-dent, Mr Gibbs. The President of the Wellington Football Association, C. H. I. Bard, esq., was unfortunately unable to attend, and to Mr Gibbs fell the honour of presenting the Venus Shield to the Diamonds, the winners of the Senior Championship for 1900. Mr Gibbs, in a short and happy speech, referred to the good work done "by the club during the present season, and concluded by jocularly referring to the club's intention of backing up its worthy president, Mr R. H. Davenport, in his efforts to become one of the " City Fathers." During the evening C. Hathaway and P. Martin received medals for the best _ forward and back of the junior eleven. " Hammy," as members of the club call him, was the recipient of a case of silver-mounted pipes as a slight token of the respect in which he is held by his club mates as a hard-working secretary. " Jimmy " Collins, another popular Diamond, was presented with a handsome tea service on the occasion of his marriage. The success of the evening was complete in every way, and those who failed to enjoy themselves were alone to blame. Such a successful social was a fitting termination to the most successful season the Diamonds have yet had. The good fellowship which exists among " socker" players here is well known, and Skipper Albert Wells, in acknowledging the receipt of the Shield, didn't forget to thank his club mates for their co-operation and good feeling, and in concluding referred to the good feeling which had existed in Cup matches this year. The re-played Third-plass Cup tie between Swifts and Bed Cross last Saturday was won by the latter by 4 to 1. The Maroons were leading at half time, and it was not until within ten minutes of time that the Crusaders got ahead, but they finally won as above. The game was a really good exhibition. Dan Twohill played a brilliant game for the winners, scoring three of the iour goals, Charlie Gamble getting the other one. Richards scored for Swifts. Several players on both sides got nasty knocks. Salmon was hurt early in the game, while Jameson, Bowden, Richards, and Duff were all limping at various stages of the game. Mr W. Auld was the referee, and his decisions gave every satisfaction to both teams. Some good form was shown at the Senior trial match, and after the Selection Committee (Messrs Gibbs, Roberts, and Earle) selected the following team to represent Wellington in the tournament : — Goal : Burns or C. Bernsten ; full backs, Swain and Godber ; halves, B. Clark, Patoh, and H. Renai; centre forward, J. McDonald; right wing forwards, A. Wells and J. Collins ; left wing forwards, A. Mouatt and P. Martin.