1949-1950 ANECDOTES

AGM 14/6/1949
New Rules: The Captain will be elected by the regular players of the previous season.
Captains of the United and ‘A’s shall be elected by the Management Committee.

Captaincy
These proposals gave rise to considerable debate before approval. An additional proposal was amended to read: “That the ultimate responsibility for the selection and training of the first fifteen shall rest with the captain of the club.”
Several members expressed concern that the committee would have no jurisdiction over the composition of the 1st XV or their playing policy. Mr Harry Slade said it would put the captain in a position whereby he could alter the playing structure of the club without reference to the management committee, who were the people with their roots in the club.
Dr. Todd said that he had no directions during the past season, as the committee was selecting the side. He added: At the present moment I think it is just a ‘hotch pot’ of ideas, and I think it would be better if the team went on the field with one idea how to play the game. We must pick teams with that defined policy-how they are going to play. There would still be a selection committee, and therefore if the captain did not wish to accept the responsibility, he could leave it to the committee as at present.”
Additionally, there was resistance to the 1st XV Captain playing any part in the lower team selections, when he did not see any of their games.

Immediately following the Hylton Cleaver game, there was a somewhat ad hoc selection meeting for the Devonport Services match. There were hotly stated differences, which were to lead to a ‘fall out’ between Players and Committee. Feelings ran high, when following a poorly attended players’ meeting, skipper Allan Todd’s resignation was confirmed. The situation had apparently been simmering for a few years, and Players contemplated a ‘stand’ against the Committee. They came perilously close to refusing to play. However, their resolution faltered, following a direct appeal from the Club President Amor. Inevitably, it was a demoralised side for the following weeks.

More At AGM
Three former Committee men failed to gain re-election – J Bevan-Jones (Vice Chairman for the previous season, W E (Bill) Hancock, and N H Coates (Former Captain 1911-1913). The following were elected: Messrs B C Barber, C R Bailey, A L Cutler, H Crane, G B Jones, J Tolman, D Wilson, Mrs. R A Gerrard; new members: Messrs H G Slade, J Arnold, W Barrow and G Foster.

President Captain Amor reported that the Parks Department application for timber to restore huts on the Norwood Playing Fields had been turned down by the Board of Trade. The Committee were powerless to do anything about the position and players would have to change “behind walls”. “He complained that they were not allowed enough money to pay for labour to keep the playing fields in a proper condition-or make them in a proper condition-for either football or cricket.”

MANCOM 11/7/1949
Selection Committee to be comprised of 5 elected members along with the Captains of the three XV’s.
The elected members were Messrs. Arnold, Barber, Burrough, Davies and Simpkins.

Mr Mathews of the Chronicle to be invited to attend Committee.

BADGE AWARDS
17th December 1949. Prior to the War, Caps had been awarded to players participating in a required number of games. It was considered that caps were now outmoded, and there was a Committee decision to award blazer badges instead. The requirement was 15 First team appearances in the sane season or 20 appearances in more than one season. This was to be effective from the beginning of the current season.

Agreed, that players in all three teams purchase their own stockings.
Trial match 25th August.

MANCOM 29/8/1949
H B Toft to be asked to run the line at the Hylton Cleaver Memorial match.
Roy Harris also asked to run the line,and failing him – Harry Davies.
Letter from Harry Fiddes, thanking the Club for guaranteeing the £10 rent of Norwood for local rugby.
It was agreed not to withhold 1950-51 fixture list from Bath

MANCOM 31/10/1949
Plans for a new West Stand lodged with the Town & Country Planning Authority.

MANCOM 25/11/1949
Congratulations to S Porter on his selection for England Youth.

THE MAGIC SPONGE
“Just before this happened Harter had a shaking up and shortly afterwards the hooker, Francis, was in the wards, too. But the application of the magic sponge soon put these two sailors right.”
Two minutes later, a yawning gap ion the Bath defence allowed Cullen to score from half way without a hand being put upon him. Quine converted.
“The Bath forwards again came into their own for, following a five yards scrum, they pushed the Leicester eight over the line and Burcombe touched down for a deserved try which Sullivan, by converting, further helped to narrow the margin.”
“The game had become a tremendous struggle between the forwards and at some stages a ball seemed hardly necessary! The Leicester pack was as tough as that of Bath – which is saying a great deal.
Bath’s chances of saving the game disappeared almost right on time when Nicholas dribbled over the line and Sibson got the successful touch-down. Quine’s kick failed.”

THE BAGGAGE MAN
‘Baggage Man.’ The job title was prescribed by the R.F.U. The job description might be listed as carting the kit Despite the constant team changes there was a demonstrable longevity in the shape of the Club around, getting it cleaned and repaired, banging in replacement studs, being an ‘ever-ready’ to sort out a multitude of player problems; making sure all were present at point of departure for away games and all on board after the many official and unofficial stops en route.
He often doubled as the ‘sponge man,’ or might find himself running the line when no other touch judge was available.
The Club were allowed to make a nominal payment for these services. At this time, he often fulfilled what could loosely be described as a ‘Trainer’ role, but this was on a strictly voluntary basis.

The remuneration was so small, that no man would undertake such a commitment unless he was utterly devoted to the team cause. For this reason, the job tended to attract men of particularly stout countenance. Some notable men come to mind. There was Jack Cutting (who was killed in the blitz), Alby Hatherill for many years, and lately George Donaldson ‘had grown grey’ in service to the Club.
Time had brought change and the latest lynchpin was to be Alf Ball, brother of Bob Ball the United skipper. He commenced duties by travelling to the Cardiff game. “Like his predecessor, Alf Ball has had a prominent sporting career, and has played rugby, at centre three-quarter, for St. Mark’s and Bath Harlequins. His three brothers also played for these clubs.” For 10 years he was swimming instructor to Weymouth House School. In the Army, he was a Sergeant instructor in the Somerset Light Infantry. There were several more of this ilk that lay claim to a place of honour in the Bath history.

SPLIT PEA?
At one stage the game was stopped for the referee to repair his whistle. He borrowed a knife to get it working again.

MANCOM 13/3/1950
Club had minuted to subscribe to Llanelly’s Albert Jenkins Memorial Fund. The R.F.U. had later instructed that this was not allowed. Mr. Cyril Bailey proposed, and Mr Joe Bailey seconded, that subscriptions be invited on an individual basis.

13/4/1950 A Harry Slade XV included Jack Arnold, Jack Francis and Jim Vassiere from the Bath Club, in a special game to help launch the newly formed Oldfield Old Boys Club.

MANCOM 24/4/1950
It was decided to hold a meeting of regular players for the purpose of election of next year’s captain. Regular players was defined as those who had played 12 games for the 1st XV or 20 for the Club in that season.
(At a meeting of regular players on May 30th, Alec Lewis was elected for the coming season. This announcement was received with acclamation at the AGM)

MANCOM 15/5/1950
A letter received from the Town Clerk regarding the proposed Memorial Ground pitch for Junior rugby.