PUKEKOHE FOOTBALL CLUB

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 501, 30 January 1920, Page 2

PUKEKOHE FOOTBALL CLUB

SMOKE CONCERT. A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. The annual smoke concert of the Pakekohe Football Club was held in rhe Oddfellows' Hall on Wednesday night. There was a large attendance, members and supporters of the club being largely represented. Visitors were present from Paerata, Bombay, Pukekohe East, Tuakau, Buckland, Patumahoe, Waiuku; in fact, from all of the surrounding districts. There was an attendance of between 60 and. 70. ;

Mr. J. Beatty, a vice-president, and the club's delegate on the Frankiin Rugby Union, presided, in the absence of the president, Mr. George Armstrong. Apart from the fact of the function being annual, the gathering also took the form of a farewell to Mr. E. Costeilo, an esteemed member of the junior 15, who is leaving the district, and a welcome home to members of the club who took part in the world war to uphold the traditions of the Empire to which we belong. Among these men who were fittingly weV.omed home were Mr. Joe Wilson, a D.C.M. winner, Mr. Joe Adams, the winner of a Military Medal, and one of the most popular ex-footballers in the Franklin district, Mr. Frpnk Graham, who unfortunately had the misfortune to lose a leg on the field of battle, and the presentation of caps to the junior team, winners of the Franklin Rugby Union's Junior Championship. Proceedings commenced with the rendering of the National Anthem, after which an exceptionally lengthy toast list was honoured.

The princit al toast of the evening was that of "Our Guests, the Junior 15," which was entrusted to Mr. R. Fulton. In the course of a brief speech Mr Fulton eulogised" the playing qualities of the winners of the competition, and added that he had never seen a better little team than the Pukekohe juniors. They played line football, a clean: game in a vfriendly spirit, and were always out off the they were a credit to the Wub, to the district, anchtheir parents. They were merely schoolboys, bj| good footballers. (!.oud applause.} Members of the tt-ftm suitably responded. Mr. J. Beatty. in presenting the caps, also referred 111 complimentary terms to the team's abilities. He endorsed Mr, Fbtton's retaarks. Cheers were kiv&i for the team.£ Mr. Beatts. on benalf of the members of the junior team, then presented Mr. E. Costello with a set of military hair brushes as a marlt|gj| the esteem and appreciation ,in wMjfl he was held by the he said, "was the best full-back in Franklin, an I Pukekohe was unfortunate in losing his sertfefa" .PukeKohe's less would be Hasp's gain. On behalf of the club, he wished the cepartin? member success in his future sphere. The toast was drunk with musical honours, and the recipient, in responding, trusted that the juniors would again win the caps, and he urged upon the sebjors to take a few lessons from j|j|flSpr>iors, rnd they too would win tnmlgh. He thanked them for the gift and complimentary re;.-.arks.

The toast A "Our Soldier Boys" was proposed by M*\ Beatty, who •.poke in glowing terms of the manner in which the "team" which left IPuiekohe fojght field of battle. Two of them played a great agame, and fir their services were awarded a D.C.M. and Military Medal. He congratumST thepi on the t allant achievements on the oattlefield. Messrs. J. Wilson, D.C. Ms*J. Adams, M.M., F- Graham and Geo. Lucas suitably resprnded. j Numerous other toasts Mg honItems were rendered by Messrs. L. B. Wilson, J. Brown, Wray, E. Twidle, R. Hewlett, R. E('ostello and Boyd, while JMnpOmpaniments were played by SKplaw. One of the most pleasant nßitions ever held in Pukekohe terminated at 11 o'clock with the rendering of "Auld Lang Svne" rnd the .National Anthem.