1910-1911 ANECDOTES

1910-1911 ANECDOTES

Mr. C E Williams re-elected as Chairman.

Resolved that during the first month of the season, training two nights weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays), but after that, once a week on Wednesdays.

Mr. R Ascott accepted Vice Captaincy of the 1^st XV.

MANCOM 16/8/1910

Agreed that Walcot Military Band play on the Rec. during home matches on the same terms as last season.

MANCOM 30/8/1910

Agreed to purchase 36 pairs of knickers at 3/11d

Proposal to proceed with the erection of the new grandstand as speedily as possible.

BATH CHRONICLE 31/8/1910

Winding-up of the Batheaston and District Football Club reported. Mr Hodder and Mr D Dolman heartily thanked for all they had done to keep the club together. The club had been founded in 1899, with the old Avonvale Club as a nucleus. There had been great difficulty in making up teams and several of the older players were reported to have thrown in their lot with Bath. The Oldfield Club also benefited from availability of players. Notably, T and A Blanchard and R Dolman.

Adapted from BATH CHRONICLE 8/9/1910

There was a get-together at the Crown Inn, New Orchard Street, as Bath rugby friends provided a hearty ‘send-off’ for J T Timmins, who was departing for Ceylon. The Chairman recalled him coming to Bath as a youngster from the College XV. Ever since, he had rendered invaluable assistance to the club, as a splendid tackler and ‘feeder’ to his partner Kitchen. His job had often taken him away from Bath and he had also made a name for himself with London Welsh.

His quiet, gentlemanly, unassuming manner was greatly appreciated by his friends and fellow players. He was presented with a handsome inscribed cigarette case and silver match box. Described as a true and honest sportsman, it was felt that: “no man had ever done, or would do again, what Mr. J T Timmins and his brother Mr. T B Timmins had done for the Bath Club.”

*S E Brooks hailed from Weston super Mare, and had attempted to catch the steamer direct to Penarth for the match. Unfortunately he missed the boat! Following this match, the captain ruled that, in future, all the team should travel together.

To add to their troubles, Bath felt they suffered from indifferent refereeing, Ascott falling on the ball for a good try, only to be brushed aside for a 25 drop-out. Two of Penarth’s tries were felt to be from offside positions, but all protestations fell on deaf ears. Overall, Bath were well and truly ‘whipped.’ Hamilton got the one try

ERE ERE !

BATH CHRONICLE: “Some of the Bath forwards were wondering if Jenkins did not break the laws of the game in wearing a leather helmet instead of the orthodox maul cap. It is all very well for a player to protect his bald head, but not to wear a hard covering that almost rubbed his opponents’ ears off.

BATH CHRONICLE  10/10/1910 – RUGBY RUSKS

“Bath members are not at all pleased at the manner in which Bristol have commandeered St. Clair Johnson, for it is hardly courteous, to say the least, to pick a man for the next match without any communication with the club he has been playing with regularly.

The relations between the Bath executive and Johnson have always been of the most pleasant and friendly description, and therefore it is rather surprising to get the first intimation from the ‘Times and Mirror’ that the Silver King was playing for Bristol this weekend. The relations between Bath and Bristol also have been very cordial for many years, but an incident of this kind is likely to strain them.”

MANCOM 18/10/1910

A Loxley congratulated and thanked for the satisfactory and expeditious manner in which he had built the new stand. (In use for the Bridgwater game, but with due ceremony for the Bridgwater Albion match on 29^th October 1910)

Resolved that Messrs. C C Clements, W T Davies and E F Simpkins were permitted to obtain a Club Badge but that no monitory obligation be incurred

All boys between 14 and 16 years of age to be admitted for 3d.

29/10/1910 v Bridgwater Albion, Home. Lost 0-4. Team: Hartell, Ascott, Powell, Brooks, Kitching, Hatherill, Fear, Cambridge, Thomas, Carpenter, Hamilton, Hurst, Dainton, Ford and Cashnella.

‘Official’ opening of the new grandstand, attended by the Mayor and various dignitaries. The game was well supported, and it was a pity that the play did not rise to the occasion. Perhaps the comment at the time was: “ Bother the onlookers as long as we have a keen and good game.” There was plenty of hard tackling, but the forwards failed to win the ball and the backs had little chance to shine. There were several solo efforts but for certain players failing: “to part with the ball promptly.”

Cambridge went off with a knee injury which was to keep him out for the rest of the season, and to add to their woes, the County Selectors were present to witness their indifferent performance! Albion won by a drop goal to BATH CHRONICLE 14/1/1911

Included a ‘Dissertation’ as to why the Stroud team were called ‘GOTHAMITES.’ “They had a reputation for roughness some years ago, and were, perhaps, a bit Gothic in their play.

But ‘Gothamite,’ according to the dictionary means ‘A person deficient in wisdom,’ and you would hardly expect its own friends and supporters to describe a team in this way. It don’t seem very complimentary on the face of it.

They certainly did not appear deficient in wisdom in their match with Bath last week.”

love.

BATH CHRONICLE 14/1/1911

Included a ‘Dissertation’ as to why the Stroud team were called ‘GOTHAMITES.’ “They had a reputation for roughness some years ago, and were, perhaps, a bit Gothic in their play.

But ‘Gothamite,’ according to the dictionary means ‘A person deficient in wisdom,’ and you would hardly expect its own friends and supporters to describe a team in this way. It don’t seem very complimentary on the face of it.

They certainly did not appear deficient in wisdom in their match with Bath last week.”

18/4/1911 v Pontypool,

Now came a regrettable incident in the game. The Pool forwards were dashing down the field, and Hartell caught a sharp kick, and marked. But disregarding this a burly Welshman swung the little man over with such force, that he performed a double somersault. It was a dirty a bit of football as ever marred a match. Hartell was carried off by the ambulance men in an unconscious state, and took no further part in the game.”