WHO WAS WHO AMONG THE GIANTS OF THE PAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1939, Page 5

WHO WAS WHO AMONG THE GIANTS OF THE PAST

CARTERTON FOOTBALL TEAM, 1900. FIRST SENIOR TEAM TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIP.

the McKenzie family. The honour of being the greatest football family in New Zealand —the one with the longest playing record and the most extensive activity in an administrative, selection, and refereeing sphere —belongs to the McKenzie family of Carterton, eclipsing even the splendid record in football of the Spencer, Nicholls, Ryan and Devine and other families. Covering a period of just on half a century, the McKenzie family have been, with one or the other member, actively associated with football in the Wairarapa in particular and New Zealand in general. As long as football is played in the Dominion the names of Bill McKenzie, Jack McKenzie, Ted McKenzie, Bert McKenzie and Norman McKenzie will be remembered for the splendid part they have played in its promotion, bill McKenzie. • Popularly known on practically every football ground in New Zealand in his playing days as “off-side Mac,” Bill McKenzie was, next to Tom Ellison, who introduced the wing-forward game, the greatest wing-forward New Zealand has seen. Playing for the Carterton seniors in the 90's and for Wairarapa, he removed to Petone where he played and captained the Petone seniors. He played 36 times for the Wellington representatives from 1893 till 1897, captaining the team on many occasions. He was an All Black in .1893, 1894, 1896 and 1897, When playing either for Wairarapa or Wellington, and was a member of the first North Island team which played the South Island in 1897. He toured Australia with the New Zealand team in 1893 and in 1897. He was also a referee. ted mckenzie. The All Black selector of today was associated as a playing member with the noted Rover seniors in the Wairarapa Thursday Rugby Union’s competitions and later with the Carterton seniors. One of the best full-backs in New Zealand, he has probably never been equalled as a line kicker, breaking the hearts of opposing forwards by his tremendous punts. He was a magnificent goal-kick and on one occasion won a match for Wairarapa against Canterbury at Christchurch when he goaled from half-way. Over a long period of years he represented Wairarapa and played for the North Island against the South Island in 1902. In 1899 he played with the Petone seniors who won the championship that year. During his long career as a footballer he was noted for his clean play and was never known to indulge in anything even suggestive of unfair tactics. He stands out as one of New Zealand’s best referees, and on many occasions from 1910 till 1913 had charge of Ranfurly Shield and other important matches, and in 1909 held the whistle in l the North v. South Island match. For many years he has been secretary of the Wairarapa Rugby Union and has been associated with the administration of its affairs for nearly forty years. For many years —much longer than anyone else —he has been a Wairarapa selector; in a wider sphere has been on the New Zealand Rugby Union’s Management Committee and has been (or years an All Black selector, this year being the sole selector of the team that is to visit South Africa next year. bert mckenzie. Known throughout New Zealand as one of the best referees that the Dominion has ever had, Bert McKenzie was a member of the Carterton senior team when quite a youngster and soon made his mark as a heady forward finding his way into the Wairarapa senior reps, when most players are just beginning their serious playing days, this being some 37 years ago. He was probably the best line-out player Wairarapa has seen and a most dashing forward in- the loose. As a captain he displayed outstanding skill and many a hard fought senior and representative game was won as the result of his strategy. He has a record of having plavcd over a very long period of vears for Wairarapa. He played in the North Island team against the South Island in 1913-14. As a referee he has had charge of some of the most important matches played in New Zealand ineluding about fourteen Ranfurly Shield contests. For many years he was secretary of the Wairarapa Refeiees As sociation and has acted in various official capacities in connection with football administration, rendering service to the game that would be hard to equal.

jack mckenzie. An outstanding wing-forward, Jack McKenzie represented Wairarapa on many occasions, during a period when the district had some of the best forwards in New Zealand; in fact, at one time Carterton had undoubtedly the best club forward team in New Zealand, among its members being, besides Jack McKenzie, “Lofty” Armstrong (All Black), “Tiny” McMinn (All Black), Bert McKenzie, Art Cadwallader (North Island), Alf. Johnston (North Island), Harry Cadwallader and “Irvy” Armstrong. Jack McKenzie for many years was a very capable referee. norman mckenzie. “Trixie” McKenzie is known to pre-sent-day followers for his outstanding ability in selecting world beating Hawke’s Bay teams, displaying almost uncanny knowledge in quickly sorting out champion players, and for his as-> sociation in the selection of All Black teams. When pldying for Carterton and the Wairarapa he was a brilliant t>ack, adding further to his laurels when playing for club teams and representative teams after he left the Wairarapa. He toured with the North Island country team in 1910 and was responsible for some remarkable goal kicking. ALBY DESMOND. One of the finest forwards the Wellington province has ever seen, Alby Desmond has played more representative games for Wairarapa than any player, his record being in the vicinity of 120. In his playing days he was the best trained forward in Wairarapa, brilliant in attack and solid in defence.