ANECDOTES 1938-1939

MANCOM 15/8/38

Roy Harris had accepted a teaching post at Taunton, and advised that he would be unable to attend training or play in the early matches. Regretfully, he asked to be released from captaincy.

Arrangements made to have the jerseys washed commercially, rather than relying on the players. However, players to pay 6d per week for the service. Captains to collect the sixpences.

Mr. Matthews of the Chronicle, be asked to attend Committee meetings.

Supporters’ Club to be again asked to provide voluntary match stewards.

Bath Football Chronicle 16/8/1938

Roy Harris had been elected as Club Captain, but was unable to accept the post. At the time of reporting, he was away with Taunton School’s six weeks’ cricket tour of the West Indies and would not be returning until the end of September. His teaching commitments at the school would preclude him from attending regular training and selection, and although he would not miss many matches, he felt it only fair that he decline the post. Mr. Kenneth J Foss (Clifton College, Clifton and Gloucestershire) was appointed in his place. Fred Unwin became deputy to Foss.

Harris’s release for most Saturdays was reasonably assured, considering that his headmaster at Taunton, was none other than Crichton-Miller – the former Bath stalwart, and Scottish forward.

SCHOOLMASTERS

Messrs F Unwin, J S Grundy and R Harris were all schoolmasters, and not forgetting Eddie Simpkins, the honorary secretary of Oldfield School.

Herbert Buse was now on the Somerset CC professional staff, but still intended to play rugby.

R.A.F. THREEQUARTERS

17/8/1938 ‘MASCOT’ of the Chronicle announced that B V Robinson, Bath’s wing-three-quarter, was ready and keen to start the new season, and would be bringing fellow Boscombe Down, R.A.F., and Leicester centre A V Rogers to the Club. Bath could therefore select an

all R.A.F. three-quarter line in – J S Bartlett, J O’B Power (Bedford), A V Rogers and B V Robinson.

Tragically, Robinson and Bartlett did not survive the War.

3/9/1938 Good news in that W F Gay, the Bath policemen-forward was to restart playing. He had previously been first choice for Somerset and was a great clubman, willing to go on police duty overnight, and travel, without adequate sleep to play for Bath in the afternoon. He had assisted Pontypridd as a teenager, played for Glamorgan and later, Metropolitan Police.

BETTER THINGS TO COME?

Bath Chronicle 19/9/1938: “The spectator, no less than the player, has to attune himself to Rugby. The placidity of a summer’s cricket, even its occasional langours, are hardly a preparation for the fiery endeavours of the winter game, played as it usually is at the outset of the season in a heat which soon leaves the men steaming. The change over always comes as a bit of a jolt. There are no coupons in Rugby to warm the cockles of the onlooker’s heart.

One experienced a little lassitude watching the Llanelly game, for all the masterful display of the ‘Sospans’ forwards, but it marked the transition from cricket to football, and the Bedford match on Saturday, though ending pointless, came as spikenard to enthusiastic Rugby football spectators.

Years it must be since 70 minutes of forthright Rugby passed at the Recreation Ground without a score.”

“No one is going to cavil at the result; no one can grumble at the football served up.”

Perhaps it was a glimpse of better times to come.

THE CAPTAIN’S NOTEBOOK 1/10/1938

“It has been very hard to write about football these anxious days. The game looked at one time like going up in a cloud of smoke, fixtures would have been cancelled, and grounds would have lain idle unless there had been commandeered for the training  of troops. The immediateness of things may be gauged by the fact that in one Bath junior club alone nine officials and players would have been called out at once. But once the call to young manhood had come – and that would have been swift- football would have ceased unless we could have recruited the ‘has beens’ to carry on  some pretence at playing.

Happily, things have not come to that pass. Despite our light-heartedness at Devonport on Saturday there was a feeling that the crack of doom was at hand. All the players in the Services’ team were obliged to wear their uniforms in case of a sudden recall to their ship, or their barracks, and Kenneth Foss’ brother a doctor in the R.N.V.R., was detained instead of

on a special gas course for which he journeyed from Bristol, examining reservists who were already reporting for duty.

At North Road Station piquets were on duty side by side with the ticket collectors. It all looked very ominous; and there was a false ring about the hospitality we received. We met Harry Slade, of the Bath Committee, who was on important war work connected with the Admiralty. He saw the match but dashed off immediately it was over.”

Not Suffered Much

“Bath would not have suffered much as a result of sudden callings up. Only R A.Gerrard, who is happily turning out again, would have been immediately mobilised, being an officer in the Royal Engineers. Kenneth Foss would have been needed perhaps at once, as he is an A.R.P. fireman in Bristol. W.F.Gay, being a policeman, would have been quickly summoned for service with his force or the Army. But in no time the young men of the team, and they are all that, would have answered a call even more insistent than the last. And there would have been no game today.

The medical students would have been mobilised, and Rugby would have ended for the time being with our trip to Devonport. You will have seen that the Yorkshire trip to Somerset and Devon was cancelled. There was not much else for it. The break seemed so imminent. That tour can easily wait. By the way, speaking of tours, Bath have none for next season, but the fixtures are rapidly improving.”

W F Gay must have been a very fit man. He was back in Rugby after a year’s absence, and was making up for lost time, by playing both Rugby and Soccer. On the Thursday, playing at centre-half, he had supplemented his Rugby activity, by helping the Police beat Grocers Sports by 6 goals to 3.

Good news that Gerrard was returning to the game: “At 25 it seemed ridiculous that he should have been on the long roll call called ‘finis.” A season of strenuous cricket had influenced his decision to re-join the Rugby fold.

GAY SCORES FIRST TRY

“Football was to-day a joy and a pleasure after the tension of the past week. The players were smiling, happy and full of a new zeal.” The game opened with one of Robinson’s characteristic dashes and a forward ‘slog’ carried the ball over the line for Gay to touch down for Bath’s first try of the season. Gerrard converted handsomely. “Gerrard was often in the picture, strong and thrustful, giving that stiffening to the middle that Bath have missed in previous games.”

St. Mary’s rarely emerged from their own half as Bath exerted a strangle hold on their affairs. During this period Gerrard landed a superb penalty to give Bath a half time lead of 8-0.

In the second half, Bath remained in the ascendancy: “Some snappy ‘blind side’ work by Halse and Gerrard caught the eye. It was the prelude to another breezy aggressive movement by the home side.”

The students’ persistence was eventually rewarded by a goal and a try to level the game at 8-8 with eight minutes to go. Then Bath pulled the game out of the bag, as Gerrard settled the

issue by dropping a beautiful goal: “Thus in a dramatic finish, Bath won their first game of the season and Gerrard signalised his return by scoring nine out of their twelve points.”

Referring to B V Robinson, MASCOT is quoted as: “I doubt if there is any more forceful runner in England. If he were confronted by a brick wall, he would go through it, pell-mell, bricks and all-plus ball.”

MANCOM 10/10/38

Combination asked Club to receive a deputation in order to get a better understanding.

Hon. Sec. to write to the headmasters of Weymouth House, Sutcliffe and St. Johns Schools, complaining about the conduct of some of their boys at matches. Police to be instructed to keep people behind barrier. Supporters’ Club to be asked to nominate one member for Committee.

MANCOM 7/11/38

1. Advertising in local papers to take a different form every week.
2. Advertisements on Posting Stations to be discontinued.
3. Sub – committee to ascertain how many boards required.
4. Sub- committee to ascertain cost of advertising special matches at the picture houses and theatres.
5. If possible, matches to be advertised on buses on the country routes.

Goal kicking coach to be asked to attend training.

MANCOM 21/11/38

J P Haskins asked to join Bath from Bristol. Approved, subject to Bristol agreement.

Chronicle – CAPTAIN’S NOTEBOOK comment: “A player being an amateur, can play for whom he likes, but it is courteous when a player resolves to move from one club to another for the second club to notify the first that So-and-So is moving. There is no law that says you must do this, but the unwritten law, which is more important, says that you do so; and Bath took the earliest possible opportunity of telephoning the Bristol Club.”

Another application had come from Lieut. Eric Smith (Blackheath) of the Royal Tank Corps, stationed at Bovington Camp, Dorset.

Combination could not agree to the suggestion that referees should recommend local players to Bath.

Vote of thanks to Chairman for defraying the cost of showing the film: Modern Rugby.

BAD BLOOD?

‘Our Special Correspondent’ in The Times reported: “Northampton beat Bath at Northampton in a game that brought no credit either to Northampton or to Bath. It was as unpleasant a game to watch as it must have been to play in, and at the end of it one was left only with a feeling of dismay that so flagrant an exhibition of hot tempers and bad manners had been permitted to drag itself out for 70 uncomfortable minutes.”

The writer adjudged both sides as equally guilty: “Neither team was free from blame and one frequently saw both sides employing methods of play which they could only have felt heartily ashamed. Men were deliberately tripped by an outstretched foot, they were pushed over when the ball was yards away from them, and fists and feet were flying in the loose scrummages and in the lines-out.”

PENT UP ENERGY?

The vehement nature of the report raised some eyebrows, as the participants and club officials saw nothing untoward in the game. They sat down to tea together and made plans for the next fixture.  Bath Club Honorary Secretary, Eddie Simpkins saw nothing in the game worthy of such complaint. As for the Chronicle’s regular correspondent: “I am no believer in ceremonial, or ‘by-your-leave Rugby’ and remembering the atrocious conditions there was nothing worse than a little pent-up energy which the ardent fan likes to see and the old Rugger player used to love to take part in.”

SLIP-SLOP!

It was a ‘heavy going’ day, unusually cheerless with a cold wind and steady drizzle precipitating from leaden skies. With Christmas shopping in full swing, attendance was the lowest of the season. “Bridgend were in storming mood, relying on their forwards, who slithered through the mud with the ball at their feet in determined fashion.

The early stages favoured the Welshmen, whose tearaway tactics seemed to nonplus the opposition. Bath used the drier part of the ground for a bright bit of passing following a quick heel, but Weston was collared.”  “There was ‘one for the river’ from Robinson” (The match ball kicked into the Avon)

“It was a hammer-and-tongs battle, in which Bath held their own far better towards the interval in some stirring mid-field play, in which there was little scope allowed by either side for thrustfuL intentions.”

“The pace never wavered, even if the standard of the play ‘flopped.’ Often it was a hectic scramble.”

Christmas Fixtures v Old Blues and v Weston-super-Mare both cancelled as ground unfit.

BATH HERALD & CHRONICLE 14^th January 1939

The Sports pages featured an article on the ex-Schoolboys R.F.C.

Whilst be-moaning the lack of up and coming local talent, it instanced the exception of the ex-Schools.

Thanks to the generosity of the Senior club and the County, they were now financially viable, with £20 with which to see the season out. Along with Avonvale, they were the only unbeaten local club, with 13 wins and a draw. They had been greatly aided by the coaching contribution of R A Gerrard, who had given fortnightly talks at the Royal Engineers Drill Hall. They had dedicated committeemen in Harry Fiddes, Gillard, Tom Watkins and Chivers. All the players were products of the local Schools’ Union. They were steadfastly holding together, despite losses of players to the Services. Critically, their playing membership was down to 16. Tommy Hicks, Curly Halse, Freddie Hayman, Hazell and Hyden, were all products of the Schools’ Union. The Club was formed in 1934 and 87 players had worn the jerseys; and up to that time, six had played for Bath 1^st XV, and 11 for the United, whilst the Colts were studded with them.

The ex-Schools provided a ladder whereby an elementary schoolboy could move through to the ex-Schools, into the Colts, and if good enough, up to the United and First XV’s.

BATH CHRONICLE 18^th February 1939

Somerset gave a reason for not staging the County Final at Bath. Mr. Frank West, the Bridgwater President and Honorary Secretary of the S.R.U., wrote to say that in the interests of the Rugby public in the County, the match should be played on a centrally situated ground – not at the extreme end of the County. The decision had been unanimous.

MANCOM 13/3/39

Question of raising admission prices to be considered.

Agreed to consider the matter of forming an Old Players Association as soon as possible.

MANCOM 3/4/39

R A Gerrard attended and explained at some length, a scheme he had formulated in which he and other well- known old players had agreed to take over the Colts XV and run them as the Bath Ex Schools Club. All he asked was that the Bath Club provide the ground and facilities for training. Agreed.

Decided to apply for renewal of the Lambridge tenancy

LEICESTER SEVERELY CRITICISE BATH

Extract from Leicester Sports Final 15^th April 1939:-

“The Tigers’ frolic in the sunshine on Tuesday wound up the Easter tour very pleasantly for them, but it must have been all very humiliating for the home side and their supporters. For the second year in succession, Leicester’s biggest victory of the season was scored at Bath, and while I wish to detract nothing from the merit of their commanding show this week, it is evident that this fixture has lost the major quality, which is that of keen well-matched rivalry.

From the standpoint of the Tigers’ players who have battled through two strenuous matches in three days, the weakness of the opposition at Bath is not unwelcome, but the game is not helped by such one-sided encounters.

With reasonably good kicking, the Leicester total would have been nearer 40 points, which would have revealed more adequately the farcical character of the proceedings. It is a great pity that a match between clubs with such traditions, could not be arranged for a time more suitable for the regular members of the Bath side.

Several inexperienced youngsters and a fly-half who was turning out for the first time this season – LD Wardle – had to deputise for those who could only assist the club on Saturday and Monday.

I realise that this seems more like a lament of a Bath supporter than a Leicester view, for the home club are the losers in every sense, but there is another point to be borne in mind.

The more imposing the Leicester score, the more carefully is it pointed out that they were not up against a side representing the true strength of Bath.”

The reporter continued: “If one Bath official had had his way, there would have been no score at half time.

He came to the stand at that stage and asserted indignantly that when Squibbs dropped his goal the ball had passed under, and not over, the bar, while before both Downes and Anthony touched down for their tries there had been infringements.

I wonder if he noted, in the second half, how young Hayman, the Bath left wing, stepped outside the touch line when he gathered a pass which led to his spectacular home ‘try’?”

Editor’s comment: Occurs to me – Leicester/Bath ‘camaraderie’ has not changed much since those far off days!

CAPTAINS NOTEBOOK 15^th April 1939

The success or non-success of the season has really turned on one man, Harris. He was not able, as a result of his house-mastership at Taunton School, to turn out often enough, and his injury, in the match at the Memorial Ground, keeping him out of the side for the rest of the season, resulted in Bath becoming progressively worse as a playing force. You may have heard scare reported that Harris will not play again. Take no notice of them. His doctor says he will be fighting fit next season, and I should prefer to take his view to al the rumourmongers who are the apostles of despair whether it applies to games, businesses or to international affairs. The thing they do not realise is the disservice they render to the game, and one suspects their interest in it to be purely superficial.

Leaning On a Player

The side used to lean on Gerrard-far too heavily I thought. Once he did not play they were lost, like a ship in a dense fog.

Bath made £94 profit on the season, although Gate Receipts were £400 down. It had not been a successful playing season, the points Against well exceeding the points scored For the Club.

R A Gerrard was the Players’ nomination for Captaincy for the following season.

Gerrard had the distinction of playing in all the England games, and several did good service for the County.

JUNIOR CLUBS

“Once more the committee have to thank the junior clubs of the district for their assistance. Several of their players were often called on-there was never a refusal, and the selection committee spotted quite a number who are bound to render excellent service to the club in the near future.”