The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1872-04-30 00:00:00

DOILCH6STER FOOTBALL CLUB.

The first season of the Dorchester Football Club was
brought to •close le • very agreeable way on Wednesday
last, • *snatch match among the members occupying the
afternoon, end a very Numerously attended sapper at
the Antelope hotel eteeluding the keening. e. e may
Cote that the club °owlets of 38 honorary member., in
eluding four ladies and 67 playing members. Ceder
the *Odin,' of Mr. G. J. WlHums Attire wt., Cce
club ha, won 8 out of Ili matches, a very honourable
roma for so_ young • club, and is fleeting credit on a'l,
but esi.ecially on the captain and hon. trraturer
(Mr.?. Coombs, jun.,) who are experienced players and
geothmen that have manifested the gre t it z al in
promoting the secoesia of VA club. 1.7.0kr tie ir auspices
and with the excellent suppers given Inth by pl., ing
and honorary members, we cannot doubt but that the
Society will continue to li.mrieb.
T6O eel ng match, as we have said, was between
scratch teams, selected from members of t...e club, Mr.
Andrews and Mr. Coombs being Captaiu.. Tee former
won the tam and gots slight advantage in the erlection.
but after about half an hour's play, Mr. Coombs suc-
ceeded In getting for his ski* • "touch down." This
was the only point they could minim and noon alter a
goal was MA tined by Mr. C. G. Eamon for Captain
Andrews's team. Sides were then changed. when Mr.
Andrews's party had the wind in their favour mil got
several " touch down.," but no goal, and after a Genital
game, ploy was finished about haU.past six.
The supper was provided at the Ant •lope Hotel,
and between 50 and GO assembled. The Rev. H.
E t (Rector of Holy Trinity) oecupied the chair is ,
the most genial and Fleming manner, aril there were
also present—G. J. Andrews, Say.' A. Pope'
E. Burnett, Keg, IL P. Cookeram. Keg., and Mr. T. '
Coakeram. Captain Aldreers, A. hums. Eiej.,
mad Mr. C. G. Emson. Dr. Heidi', Dr. Robinson,
Mr. 0. J. Williams Andrew., ( rept& it of
the club) Mni T. Coombs, Jun., (hon. enc.) Mr.
Councillor G. J. G. Gregory :-From WeyrnoutL-Dermty
Captain J. Andre.., Mr. Cross. Mr. rooks, Mr.
Crlckmay, Mr. Style, Mr. W. Dyer, Mr. Ross, Mr.
Dunn, Mr. A. Rolls, Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Prentice,
Mr. Aylesbury, Mr. Hint :—And of liotcheater- Mr. C.
Parmiter, Mr. A. Davis. 111 r. F. G. Davis, Mr. G.
Saw, Mr. Duke Ur. Hooking, Mr. W. W. Mestere,
Mr. It. Fudge, dr. A. Denise, Kr. J. D. Robinson,
Mr. A. Atkins. Mr. Ike-hey, Mr. Hayman, Mr. J.
Rowe. Mr. J. Sly, Mr. A. Maskew, Mr. E. Bennett,
Mr. 11. Mallnedine, Mr. F. J. A. Carole, Mr. Scott,
Mr. W. Hattie, Mr. E. Goodridge, Mr. 11. Goodell's.,
Mr. Curtis, Mr. Shettle, Mr. C. Card, Mr. W. Charkee,
.ko. After &seaming the good things provided by Mr.
and Mrs. Sly, the coompany of scums expected the
usual wearisome routine of toasts and speech-making.
but they were pleaeur•bly deoeimsd,for tee taut list was
short and all speeches brief. Let us follow no good an
example.
On rising to propose the first toast, the NUMMI=
was heartily greeted. He said that two things in eon.
nectioa with the meeting greatly surprised him—let,
that such • number of gentlemen should come
there to support the Football Club, though
be was exceedingly pleased to see it; and
2nd, that the list of tomts whisk had been ph teed before
him,which he was not pleased t (Laughter): had he
known it he might bare come with speeches prepared
for the mouton. Under the circumstances be might
perhaps r lopt the Frenchman's dtrect'ou f.r writing •
love letter—" begin without knowing what you err go.
lug to say, and end without knowing what you have
said"—(laughter); or be might adopt the maxim of
Sydney Smith as to oonversation—" begin with a few
plain weeds, and trust for the test to something turn-
ing up r would at any rate begin with a few plain
ant very ell words, and give them a toast which needed
no elogeencoto bring home to the hearts of all Eaglish-
snes—" the health lef Her Gracious Majesty the
Quilme—(6PellilLve).
The band of the 3rd D,R.V., under Mr. Wellspring,
stationed near the dining-room played the national
enthuse, and interspersed anita!le muds between the
toast* with* followed.
-

Th—e 6i-r.llll- pee "the health of the Prince
and Prineer of Wales and the rest of the royal family,"
saying that tithe Prince showed by life and actions he
really felt the wonderful affection manife=ted towards
him during Ms illness arid gratitude for his recovery,
he would be ten thousand Voir more popular in the
country than before— (septum).
In giving "the Army, Navy, and Auxiliary Forms,"
the CHAIRMAN remarked they ware toll very ofton
England did not hold the mound position she need to
do. If that were the ease—though many might doubt
it—b• thought he might wary say it was no fault of
the army, navy, and auxiliary forms. U. was sure
Mat if called upon they would doe. they did in former
days—(4,lrue). With the tout he coupled the
names of Capt. Andrews and Capt. Burnett.
Capt. AMAIN' briefly returned thanks for the
army.
Capt. BOUM responded on behalf of the militia.
He was happy to say be belonged to the let Darnt,
and he we. sure that if ever the country required
their revises, that regiment would never disgrace the
number of their mats (No. l)—(applause).
The CHAIRMAN gave the tort of the evening
" Bram to the Borderer Football Club," coupled
with the name of their exeellent and indefatigable
Captain and Honorary Beeretary—(loud applause).
Mr. G. J. WHAtage ANDREWS neared thanks for
the hearty reception given to the toast and for their
kind recognition of his smell services. lie felt that
it must be gratifring to all the supporters of football
In Dorehaster and He neighbourhood to see the Dor-
shirtier *Mb in mob a flourishing condition, aod with
every poospect of going on preeperously—(applause).
Few clubs of one year's standing weld bout of such
• llat of members and, balance in hand at the end of
the sesson--(applause) —in both of which respects he
emaidered the slab to be happily situated; Their
mama had been greater, he thought, then the most
sanguine could have anticipated: they had WOll no
loge than eight out of the ten mambas Miry had played,
which he thought left no ground for °amplest—{hear).
The only thing lie regretted wari Met they were unable to
play the return match with Sherborne.Tbey had retrieved
their laurels with Minium*, and he thought if they
had had • Manes of trying again with Soerborne they
might have been sameesfal—(hear, bee). Neat season
he hoped they should do equally well, meet with a
similar amount of support, and at the close amenble
for their amond anniversary supper—(applaue). Before
he sat down he wished to propose a toast which he
was sure they would receive with every mirk of appro.
bstion—he meant the health of their President—
(eheors)—wbo had ably filled the chair that evening.
and proved the int••••• he felt in the Club by beeorniag
tie Preemies. It we. unnecessary to enlarger on Mr.
Everett's kindlier and isoortesy, and therefore he would
give the toast—the health of Moir excellent President
—(applanes).
The Rev. IL Evraarr said be wee exceedingly
obliged for the very kind way in which they had
received the mention of his name, and he assured them
he felt it to be a groat compliment when their honorery
secretary used him to be President for this year—
(applause). He hardly know what the duties of Presi
dent were—perhaps he should learn them by and bye,
but as he told Kr. Andrews at the time, and repeated
now—if he could do anything to farther such a good
object, he should be deighted to do It— (*beers). So
far as coming there to preside was wormed, is was
really very pleasant, sad if there was nothing more
irksome about the duties of the Presidency, be should
get on very well. tie had ream felt that anything
like • manly game, such as he believed football to be,
was one which all persons—whether clergy or laity
--abouldido their utmcieCto support. But hesiould not
help feeling that the pinion which England had held
amongst the nations, hischeen very much owing so the
many games which hive always been in vogue
amongst her soul, It was said if one wanted thoroughly
to understand the °barest/citric* of a nation one meet
study its ballads: he thrught it might be better known
by studying its games ant parlor and that it was in
oon-equence of the marly games, ',Lich had always
been popular amongst English boys and at public
schools, they might attribute in great measure the sue.
ore of English men and 3nglish arme in every part of
the world—(epploise.) lii was delighted when Mr.
Andrews asked him to betome an honorary member—
Le was sorry to say he we turbid S. join as a pitying
member: He thought tie establishment of a Football
Club likely loin a great alai of good. In •small town
like this we were apt to Meows exclusive and isolated,
and therefore a Football club or any one of • similar
*hurter, which would bs the moans of bringing men
together, must produce geoid result,. Another way of
looking at the club was that it helped some young
fellows out of a good dealt mbar( : and we did not
want to see young England growing op like young
America or young France, illsfileminreeelf-indulgeneem
We did not want to me our young men with stiff
joins., aces gooseiss, and psty fare— (epplause) ; but
that they should he frisk and upright, and manly,
and noble, lie though the tendency of this ,
dub was in that direction. and therefore he said that :
though this was the firs year of the Dorchester
Football Club he b. biped it would not be
1 the last. They had obtaind vary creditable moosee,
and he hoped the club wield flourish and Moreau,
And, now that their foothill had come to an end for
the INISIOD, he did not see why they should not start
a Oeileket Clab—(applame) be did not know whether
sash a thing had boa taco& at, but ha sadinted It