“BOB” WHITESIDE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 43, 13 May 1927, Page 12

“BOB” WHITESIDE

Rev. W. B. Scott writes: The passing of Robert Whiteside carries me back to my boyhood days when “Bob” was at the top of his form. How we used to roll his name under our tongues and in a vicarious fashion swell with pride as we heard visitors talk of his powers. Stoddart’s team had played Taranaki and had a hard game. The story was “Wait till you get to Auckland and meet Whiteside, then you will be up against it.” I remember standing outside the hotel —the Empire I think it was—in Fort Street, and saw the brake load of men—the idols of everybody—roll away to the match. I was a message boy and could not get leave. My grandmother would not die. How downcast we were when the news came through that Whiteside had broken his leg. It was even worse than breaking our own.

I was privileged to see the second game during the midweek when Auckland scored a win and Barlow Madigan, with a broken collarbone, played throughout the game. They were great days, and one feels in the sear and yellow leaf when one becomes reminiscent.”