FOOTBALL CLUB.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 79, 24 March 1914, Page 2

FOOTBALL CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual -meeting of members oi the Stratford Football Club was held last night, a good number of members being present. Mr R. Masters was voted to the chair in the absence of Mr T. 0. Fookes, president of the Club. ANNUAL REPORT. • The committee presented the follow-; !iug report:—ln presenting the report and balance-sheet for the season 1913 your committee has to report haying had a successful season. While the club were not fortunate enough to win any of the championships, yet the standard of play was very high, and at the close of the season your teams were fairly high up in the competition. Finance: The finances of the ciub continue in a satisfactory condition., the year's working showing a credit balance of £3 17s 3d, which is eminently satisfactory, seeing that only two senior .matches were played in Stratford. We regret that tha Tara"naki Rugby Union did not see its way clear .to play any representative matches during the season in Stratford, and we hope to have a fair share of such matches in the forthcoming season. The thanks of the committee are due to Messrs R. Masters and O; Jackson for donations of £1 Is oach, and the club is deeply indebted to these gentlemen for their continued interest in the welfare of the club. Mr T. Mercer donated a football, and the president, a gold medal -for ! the player attending most practices. It is-with' regret we have to report that our popular president, Ml- Fookes, is unable; to Ibe with us to-tnight • owing io-a breakdown in health, necessitati n,g • his taking a" trip to England for (Lis, health's sake. BALANCE-SHEET. 1 The statement of receipts and #xpenditure showed that a balance,, of ;£62 was brought forward,-which with current receipts totalled £B3 8s : 9d. the chief item of revenue being gate receipts, £l3 12s 6d. The expenditure totalled £lB 12s 3d; sundries (£4 16s 3d), ,'footballs (£3,175), -and subscript - lion to Rtigby Union (£3Bs) being the. chief items. Cash in banband.in hand totalled.£64'l6s-6d. ■ Mr Masters read a letter from Mr Fookes,-in which, in l taking an affectionate; fai-e we'll of the members, he ; expressed his- thanks for the-gift tendered him. Mr Fookes regretted not being able to personally present the 'medal lie had presented last season. He Expressed the hope that members of" the' club would continue to play up to' the best traditions .of. Rugby footyha.ll., , "•,'•••

1 Speaking to the report and 'balancesheet, Mr Masters made an appeal for the better paying of subscriptions by members. There should .be interprqvineial. matches in Stratford, and he hoped that in the. comings season there would bo some-matches in Stratford in connection with the Ranfurly Shield. He desired to pay a tribute to the work of the club's representative (Mr Pewar) in the New Zealand team.

Mr J. | H. Thompson. seconded the adoption of the report and -balancesheet. He hoped that Mr Dewar would be,seen in the coming season playing for the Stratford Club.

Mr E. Jackson said he hoped to see some help .given towards paying the expanses of school children in matches.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The, following officers were elected: —Patron, Mr J. B. Hine, M.P. j presi;dent, Mr. T. C. Fookes; vice-preßi- . .dents,. .Messrs R. H. Cameron, R. Masters, D. J. Malone and S. H. James; club captain, Mr 0. Jackson; delegates to Rugby Union, Messrs R. Masters and E. Jackson; secretary, Mr T. Wilson; committee, MessrsEdgcombe, Harkness, H. Dewar, Don Cameron, W. B. Fearon, W. Sullivan, F. Collins; treasurer, Mr W. 18. Fearon; senior selector, Mr R. F.. ■.Harkness; junior selectors, Messrs Wood arid Harkness, and captain of the junior teams; auditor, Mr Q. Potts. < NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were leeted:—B. Bergin,,R. Mace, J. Petrie, W. H. Hawkins, J. Hunter, W. Higginson, C. M. Kivell, B. Fryday, W.Sharrock, Reid, Q. Smith, G. F. Scott, C. Wlrittingtoh, Reckloben, Morris, J. Lister, Young, R. Campbell, Hedgman, and W. H. JPoynter. HELPING THE SCHOOLS. Mr E. Jackson moved that the Club vote £3 8s towards paying the expenses of. schoolboys who may be asked to travel to play football. Mr Harkness objected to the payment. Members had to put their hands in their pockets to help the thirds. It had also to be rem«mbored that last season only six teen members of the senior team paid their subscriptions. Mr Malone seconded. It was, «• said, absolutely necessary for something to be done for the smallest players in the comp?tifions. The Union had a ruin that befere play a list .of .financial members should be made out,and if members had been improperly entered as financial then there was something wrong. Mr C. Jackson supported the idea. He thought that if the money was handed to Mr Tyrer or Mr Thomaß it would not be wasted.

Mr Harkness- said his only objection was that the proposed notion ihould be taken by the Union.

The Chairman said the Union already made a contribution. He thought it would not be * hardship to the Club and would b© a groat ■help to the boys. Tie motion was carried. /

THE OPENING DAT. Mr Harkness moved that the season be opened on April 23rd, with a seven-a-side tournament, open to the whole of Taranaki. He thought the tournament would be the means of i convincing players from other towns that Stratford had the best ground in the province. The motion was carried, GENERAL. The president's medal for the player attending most practices was presented to Mr W. Woods. The Chairman announced that Messrs Mercer ami Sharp had donated footballs to the Club. Mr J. H. Thompson made a presentation of-a football to the-team, declining nomination to the committee. On Mr E. Jackson's motion, a hearty vote of thanks to the retiring officers and those who had donated trophies for the coming season was passed. He thought the Club waa ' particularly fortunate in having gentlemen who donated trophies year after year.