1908-1909 ANECDOTES

1908- 1909 ANNECDOTES

AGM 17/7/1908
Mr A F Florian in the Chair. Captain Forester re-elected President, with additional Vice presidents:- Messrs. J T Timmins, A Price Martin, Paul Broadhurst, W Cleall and V Gould.
In his address, the Chairman said that last season’s poor results were more a result of ill fortune, than bad play. “He deplored the result of the cup-tie and said after that match the committee determined to see if something could not be done whereby the teams playing in the matches should have a voice in the election of referees. They had advanced a little in that direction and he was sure next year when they met the plucky Combe Down team in the first round, if the two clubs could choose the referee, they would select one who had qualified by examination.”

The 3rd September 1908 Chronicle reported on the Winston Churchill wedding, and also important developments in the Walcot Club. There had been proposals for amalgamation with the Oldfield Park RFC. At a special meeting held at the Garrick’s Head on Friday 28th August, it was unanimously decided not to favour the project of amalgamation. Mr. Moody, the Hon. Sec. felt that things should be left as they were and saw no reason to alter the name of the club, which was practically the oldest local club in existence in Bath. It was decided to write to the Oldfield Park Club to that effect, and to also add that they would be pleased to welcome any old players as members of the Walcot Club, and after a general meeting had been held, consider election of some of these additional members to Committee positions.

BATH V CHELTENHAM 19/9/1908
A no score Draw away at Cheltenham was regarded as an encouraging start to the season.
“For seven times in succession Bath went to Cheltenham without losing, but the last five visits prior to today ended in defeats-and substantial ones. Bath have only won 16 matches away from home in eight seasons, and only 10 in the last seven, so that the draw today was exceptional in every way.”

BATH V WESTON SUPER MARE 14/11/1908
“It may be said that they are a fair weather team, but if that is the case the sooner they alter their tactics the better, for Old England possesses a curious climate, and footballers must be prepared for mud-larks as well as dry grounds. To-day, with intervals, the team seemed to lack life and cleverness. The players let the Westonians push them off their game, and the first home defeat is the penalty.”

PROTEST AT ‘POACHING’ OF LOCAL PLAYERS.
There was difficulty in providing a representative side as, unfortunately the game was boycotted by the Batheaston and District Club. This followed a successful approach by the Bath Captain, to secure the services of W Gerrish for a previous Plymouth match. Batheaston were unhappy that he was asked directly, and showed their disapproval by returning their tickets. With hindsight, it was a pity that they took this particular action, as the event was staged for the betterment of local rugby, and the Bath Committee had devoted considerable time and effort to stage this Christmas Day event. Stothert and Pitt RFC found a number of extra players.

BY AN OLD PLAYER.
“
As I write the country is in the grip of the snow fiend, a vast expanse of white meadowland lies under my eyes, the trees have assumed all sorts of fantastic shapes, the few neighbouring roofs that I can see all glisten and gleam in their white covering of feathery fluffiness. Under foot the roads and highways are well nigh impassable, and as for Rugby football, it might be as dead as the Dodo for the time being.
Of course, by the time these jottings appear in lines- of- type, all this may be altered, but as I see things today it is the fireside with a pipe of —-‘s mixture and a magazine which appeals to me, and not the football field and a notebook.
Seasonable weather it may be, but it is rough on other people besides Rugby footballers, and those who are ill clad and badly provided with necessaries are optimistically hoping we have had the one snow visitation of the present winter”

ROW OVER DAILY ALLOWANCE
ADAPTED FROM CHRONICLE REPORT 14/1/1909

Announcement that Scotland would not fulfil their fixture with England on 20th March 1909. This was in reaction to their learning of payment of £1 1s.0d weekly allowances, in addition to full expenses, to the touring New Zealanders of 1905.
They had also learned that the current Australian tourists were receiving a similar allowance and maintained that this was contrary to the principles of amateur Rugby football, and amounted to professionalism. However, there was no intention to interfere with relations between Scottish and English Clubs, and Scotsmen playing in England would not be affected.
“There has been no such sensation since Scotland declined to play Wales because of the A J Gould testimonial.”

For the R.F.U., Mr Rowland Hill said the Scottish intimation came as a great surprise, and he could express no opinion on the matter, pending a meeting of the Emergency Committee.
“An OLD PLAYER” wrote at the time: “If this is true I am bound to say that the position of the committee in agreeing to this, and yet steadfastly refusing to sanction ‘broken-time’ payments in this country, cannot be reconciled.”

At a subsequent meeting of the International Board, the following resolution was passed;- “That having regard to the constitution of the Board of the Scottish Union was not at liberty to cancel the International fixture with England without referring in the first instance to the Board.” Scotland dissented from this finding.

The game was eventually played at Richmond, and Scotland beat England 18-8 on the last international before the move to their permanent home at Twickenham.

LORDS DAY OBSERVANCE
MANCOM 15/2/1909
Minuted item re not playing on Good Fridays.
INSERT – NO PLAY ON GOOD FRIDAYS

DIVIDE AND RULE
Messrs Soane, Roberts and Timmins represented Bath at a Somerset County Committee meeting on Wednesday 3rd March 1909. This followed a protest that Bath had fielded three unqualified players in the Cup Tie with Weston on February 20th. The Committee concluded that in accordance with the spirit of the rules, Weston were justified in their protest, but according to the strict interpretation of Rule 7, the three players were qualified to play for Bath. They expressed the opinion that the rules needed revision and undertook to deal with that question.

LORDS DAY OBSERVANCE
MANCOM 15/2/1909
Minuted item re not playing on Good Fridays.
INSERT – NO PLAY ON GOOD FRIDAYS

DIVIDE AND RULE
Messrs Soane, Roberts and Timmins represented Bath at a Somerset County Committee meeting on Wednesday 3rd March 1909. This followed a protest that Bath had fielded three unqualified players in the Cup Tie with Weston on February 20th. The Committee concluded that in accordance with the spirit of the rules, Weston were justified in their protest, but according to the strict interpretation of Rule 7, the three players were qualified to play for Bath. They expressed the opinion that the rules needed revision and undertook to deal with that question.

BATH CHRONICLE 6/3/1909Rum and Honey

I was somewhat amused on one occasion to hear the faithful guide and counsellor of a certain football club advise one of the players who was coughing somewhat persistently as he was engaged in tubbing operations at the conclusion of a match, to get off home and have a pot of rum and honey as a cure. Being of the ‘blue ribbon’ turn of mind, the footballer did not accept the suggestion, but his cough made me notice that many players are rather careless after a match, and walk about the dressing room in very scanty costume far too long, and I am sure many bad colds are caught in that way.
Talking of this brings a reminiscence to mind, for I was once a witness to a curious sight. After a tough match in which there had been some ill feeling, two players who had been in collision during the match renewed their quarrel in the dressing room, when both were in ‘the altogether,’ and dripping from their baths. The spectacle of these two fellows fighting in such a fashion was quite too funny for words, and a great deal of trouble was necessary before they could be separated, the peace-makers getting well splashed for their pains.”

BRISTOL SHORT ON CASH

BATH CHRONICLE 10/4/1909
Article discounted rumours that Bristol Rugby Club might be “giving up the ghost.” This followed a bad financial season, ending with a deficit in the region of £70.
There was no crisis, and next season’s fixture list was already confirmed.

1909
CLUB COLOURS
Mr Loxley moved “That in future the club colours be blue, white and black hoops.”
Motion carried