ANECDOTES 1926-27
BATH CHRONICLE 3RD JULY 1926
Reported on the Annual Meeting, which included an outline of the previous season’s poor playing record, and prospects for the 1926-27 season. A number of young players had been introduced and the Club could look forward to a period of team building.
It was announced that S G U Considine had passed his final examination of the Law Society. He was articled to Mr. W F Long.
MANCOM 6/8/1926
Joint Committee established to deal with grants to Junior Clubs, and Mr. Lace to interview Combe Down re their application for a loan. (£5 loaned)
CHRONICLE 9th August 1926 reported that, three-quarter, George Nudds had suffered a facial injury while working at Stothert & Pitt
Training to commence on the following Tuesday and Thursday, on the Somerset Boys’ Home ground, Lower Bristol Road at 7pm.
BATH CHRONICLE 3RD JULY 1926
Reported on the Annual Meeting, which included an outline of the previous season’s poor playing record, and prospects for the 1926-27 season. A number of young players had been introduced and the Club could look forward to a period of team building.
It was announced that S G U Considine had passed his final examination of the Law Society. He was articled to Mr. W F Long.
Bill Hancock
It was Bill Hancock’s debut and he was not called upon until 10pm on the Friday. He still had to go into work and ask special permission to leave with the team. He had represented Weymouth House School at rugby, soccer, running and swimming.. He played a sound game and showed great promise for the future.
MANCOM 19/10/1926
Agreed to use Club Crest for advertisements.
Somerset made donation of £10 towards the new flag pole, on the condition that the Cricket Club be allowed to fly their colours at County Cricket matches in Bath. They also agreed to pay an annual rental of £3 for use of the flowerpot stands.
Lighting proposed for popular side on training nights.
MANCOM 23/11/26
Mr Wills reported that he had interviewed Major Longrigg and obtained the following certificate in respect of the Horse Show Ground: “I hereby certify that the Trustees of the Bath Football Club are entitled to 4/27th shares in the Bath Horse Show ground as representing a sum of £400 advanced by the purchase of such ground which is now held by Trustees for the persons who put up the purchase money in proportion to the money they put up.”
Signed George Longrigg.
The Trustees signed the following undertaking: “We the undersigned not to dispose of our interest in the said Horse Show ground until our debt to the Bath Recreation Ground Company has been repaid which debt now stands at £300.”
The Pitman case and resignation from Somerset Union.
“The Hon. Sec. read the correspondence concerning the “Pitman incident”, together with a requisition signed by over 100 members of the Club, asking for a special meeting of the Club, when the following resolution would be proposed: ‘That in consequence of the refusal of the Somerset Rugby Union Authorities to allow Mr. I J Pitman to play for the Bath Club after he had intimated his inability to play for the County, thus breaking the pledge given on behalf of the above union, that a player being unable to accept his place for Somerset, should be allowed to play for his own Club, the Bath F C forthwith resign their membership of the Somerset Rugby Union.”
There was an immediate demand for a special meeting, backed up by a requisition signed by 100 Club members. There was general condemnation of the County ruling, including a rather scathing article in The Times. (4th December)
After further discussion, it was agreed to withhold arrangements for a special meeting, pending submission of all details of the case both to Somerset and the Rugby Union.
This incident brings to mind a similar ban upon S.G.U. Considine, where the County ruling was subsequently reversed after appeal to the English Rugby Union.
I J Pitman refused to play again for any club affiliated with the Somerset County Rugby Union.
At a Management Meeting on 21st December, Bath formally withdrew from the Somerset County Union, pending the deletion of Rule 18 that had prevented him playing for his Club.
A Somerset spokesman felt that the facts had been distorted and he stressed: “the truth being that Mr. Pitman furnished no reason whatever, until after the event, to the Secretary of the Somerset Union for his refusal to play. If he had done so, as one would have supposed would have been natural and usual, no trouble would have arisen.
Finally, Mr. Pitman, as a good sportsman, should have accepted the expression of regret which the County Committee tendered for any misunderstanding, instead of which he has demanded, and continues to demand, their heads on a charger.”
In a response from a Bath spokesman, the iniquitous Rule 18 was described as: “a blot on the amateur game.” It was later reported that Oxford University, supported by Cambridge, were to table a motion to Rugby Union, which if carried: “will ensure that no county club shall have embodied in its rules such a regulation as that which has caused the present trouble.”.
SOME MUD
“When I saw the forwards come off I thought ‘What a pity they haven’t to walk through town to the ‘Angel’ as they used to do in the good old days of yore.’ What fun the boys and girls would have had with them. It was difficult to tell Dunscombe from Chaddock, Chaddock from Dunscombe, or Wake from anyone else. I cannot remember players getting in such a state. I have known them wet-it was raining a few seasons ago in Plymouth I remember, but on Saturday it was MUD and thick mud at that. I pitied the Services ‘bag man’ who had to pack up the kit and get it to the station. While whoever has had to do the washing this week has had something to do.”
A GLOOMY PICTURE
“The ground was shocking on one side and quite unfit for play. There were pools of water and the rest was mud. This was on the stand side. The other side did not look so bad. There were few spectators, the funeral of W Lewis taking place just before the start.”
“The homesters played with black bands, both sides lining up in front of the stand for a few moments silence prior to the match.”
“Throughout the game a gale of wind was blowing from the West.”
Llanelly were only one try up at half time, but although the forwards put up a good show, Bath were swamped, as Llanelly monopolised play in the second half.
On such an afternoon no one was sorry when the game was over, and the Llanelly people would, I fancy have been just as well pleased had they decided not to play at all, for there was only a poor crowd, and the conditions were dreadful.”
Several members and supporters were vexed and annoyed that Bath provided such a poor side.
WHY THEY DID NOT PLAY
It may be of interest to record the full non-availability and sick report:-
David James: Unable to leave business in Chippenham owing to staff influenza.
Skinner : Same circumstances.
Bill Gibbs: Having been away two days, he could not afford more days off work.
I J Pitman: Could not spend all day away from London duties.
Ralph Banks: Flu.
E Dunscombe: Flu.
H C Partridge: In London on a course.
H Wake: Could not getaway from Cheltenham.
Goold: Played for Oxford University against Blackheath.
Dick Chaddock: Cut head.
Harry Slade: Had been away in Southampton. Could have played if there had been a later train.
Nudds: In Bath, but declined. Did not want to risk accident, having just started in Navy.
(Collett, Matthews and Banks were down with Flu the following week)
A letter to the Editor asked: “Granted that the 1st XV threequarters were unavailable, why should a club of Bath’s standing have to search the city for substitutes? If the ‘A’ or ‘Extra’ players are not capable as reserves, of what use are they?”
SMALLPOX SCARE
NOTICE in CHRONICLE 18TH MARCH 1927
TOMORROW’S LOCAL MATCHES.
Having been advised that it would be dangerous, and running a big risk, to take the Bath side into Monmouthshire to play Cross keys to-morrow owing to the prevalence of smallpox in that district, officials of the Bath Club met on Thursday to discuss the matter.
It was decided that, in the interests of the city, the only thing to do was to cancel the match. Cross keys are accordingly so informed.
CHRONICLE 19/3/1927
LAWS REVIEW
An International Rugby Board announcement that there would be no major alterations to Laws for the next three years, and with continuing review on a three year basis. Alterations of a minor nature could be settled by the Board.
All matches in any country must be played under I.B. rules.
BATH MAN SELECTED FOR ENGLAND
Mr. E Haines, a Salford player, picked to play for England Rugby League side against Wales R L on April 16th. Haines was a Widcombe boy who had trials with Bath at the beginning of the season.
A League scout was at the trial and had offered him terms to move North.
A CHORAL INTRODUCTION
In brilliant sunshine, threequarters of an hour before the start, it was already evident that a bumper crowd would be at this derby. For the very first time, the match was preceded by organised community singing. A Mr. Joseph Jenkins, a former Llwynypia player, and conductor of the Bristol Harmonic Male Voice Choir, had been hired for 3 guineas to lead the entertainment and song sheets were circulated.
“Each one entering the ground could have a free copy of the songs, which comprised ‘Well, I’ve never, never,’ ‘John Brown’s Body,’ ‘Here we are, here we are,’ ‘D’ye ken John Peel,’ ‘By yon bonnie banks,’ the ‘Frothblowers Anthem,’ and ‘ Land of Hope and Glory.’
THE SOLDIERS’ SONG
The printed programme was preceded by the now famous song ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag,’ and then Mr. Jenkins, a conspicuous figure in immaculate white in the high rostrum, directed his scratch choir through the printed programme, The Bath Military Band (Mr. W. Clare, conductor), playing the opening bars of each song.
The spectators sang first in sections-Mr Jenkins endeavouring to introduce a bit of rivalry-and the mass of people on the popular side were easily the most vigorous in their rendering of the songs, there being a certain amount of coyness among those on the main stand side about letting their voices be heard. Collectively the community singing was a success, considering that it was the first organised open-air attempt, but a Bath crowd can do better.
The National Anthem and a round of cheers concluded the innovation as the players were about to appear within the enclosure, the songs having occupied about half and hour. If any song could be specially picked out, the ‘Frothblowers’ Anthem’ seemed to produce the best response from the crowd, of whom some 2000 had assembled three-quarters of an hour before the time of kick-off.”
Anecdotes
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