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Dunsandel Football Club and its use of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library 1900-1929 Part 2
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TitleDunsandel Football Club and its use of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library 1900-1929 Part 2
DescriptionIn June 1900 the Lyttleton Times reported that a general meeting [12] of all those interested in forming (maybe they should have used the term "reforming") a football club at Dunsandel was held in the Dunsandel Library.
J.S. Boag presided, so there was some continuity with the failed club. After voting to form a club, a full complement of officers was elected.
That club must have failed again as in 16 May 1902 there was another well-attended meeting [13] of those interested in football held in the library at Dunsandel, again with J.S. Boag presiding.
It was decided to form a club, and again a full complement of officers was elected.
While there are many records of the Dunsandel Football Club playing home and away through-out 1902 to 1914, records of use of the Dunsandel Hall/Library for meetings are few. The March 1910 and 1911 annual meetings [14,15] were recorded but no venue was stated.
It is however possible that the hall/library was used as the 1912 AGM is recorded [16] as being held in the library.
J.S. Boag continued to be elected president on the three occasions.
The club held its annual dance in the hall on Friday night in August 1912 [17].
The dance was a great success, there being fifty couples present. The music was supplied by Wells's band.
In the same month in 1914 another similar dance was held [18] with about forty-five couples being present. On this occasion the music was supplied by McDonald's Band.
In August 1915, rather than raising its own funds, the football club held a progressive euchre party and dance [19] in aid of the Red Cross.
There was a fair attendance and "an enjoyable evening was spent". The music for the dance was supplied by Messrs S. Bell, W. Chappell, and M. O'Brien.
Given that many young men were overseas during WW1 it is not surprising that clubs such as the football club would have gone into recess.
The unusual thing about a meeting in 1917 to consider the re-forming of the Football Club was that it was held in Mr W.J. Stephens's billiard-room and not the hall [20].
Mr C. Skinner presided over a large muster of young men. The following were elected a committee: —Messrs C. Skinner, W.J. Stephens, W. Stewart, F. Rapley, W. Washbourne, A.J. Sheat and A. Good, with A. McPherson as treasurer and H.A. Brown secretary.
The election of captain and vice-captain was deferred.
Mr C. Skinner offered a medal to the most improved player at the end of the season.
Following WW1, the football club again reformed and held its annual meeting [21] in April 1918 but still with J.S. Boag as president. The article did not specify the venue, however the March 1920 AGM was held in the library [22] with a large attendance that voted H.F. Wright as president.
As Fred Lill had been delegate to the union and referee for 24 years he was elected patron along with two local politicians.
A well-attended special general meeting was called in May 1921 [23] as Ralph Chatterton, again had the misfortune to break a leg while playing football. This was the second occasion on which the unfortunate player had to meet medical, hospital and other expenses through injury on the football field.
It was decided to hold a benefit concert and dance some time in June and ask the other football clubs in the Sub-union to support the project by purchasing tickets.
There was a record attendance at the concert held in the hall at the end of June with the Farmers’ Co-operative Party from Christchurch [24,25]. Owing to tyre trouble on the journey out, some of the performers were late in arriving, and the services of Messrs A. Sheat and L.W. Wilson were welcomed by the performers who had arrived on time.
After the concert a dance was held, the music being supplied by Misses M. and R. Lill and Messrs Lill and Chappell.
The annual ball in September [26] was also marred by the non-appearance of the musicians who were engaged for the dance, and who did not appear until after the grand march and first dance were completed. W. Chappell stepped in.
The weather and the hall floor were in exceptional condition for dancing and the good things provided for supper were heartily enjoyed by the dancers.
A ball was also held [27] mid-July 1922 with Wood’s Band.
In November 1922, a group of locals called the All-Star Variety Company, appeared at a concert for the third time.
There was a large attendance, and the programme submitted by the company was well received [28].
The funds from the concert were for the Dunsandel Football Clubs’ injured players.
After the concert, the hall was cleared and a dance was held to music supplied by Misses R and M. Lill and Messrs Lill and Chappell.
Mr. R. Claydon, vice-captain of the club acted as M.C.
The 1925 annual ball was also a great success, except as the Ellesmere Guardian was at pains to point out “the hall is far too small” [29,30].
The bareness of the hall was relieved in effective fashion by the use of a liberal supply of black and blue streamers —-the Club's colours.
An excellent supper was served under Mrs Gibson's supervision.
Dancing continued until the early hours of the morning.
1925 was the first year in the 18 years that the first-grade shield of the Ellesmere Rugby Sub-union has been competed for that Dunsandel was the victor [31].
As a result, the residents of the district got together and decided to give a dinner in honour of the team. And such a dinner as it turned out to be had not been given in Dunsandel for many a long day, if indeed, a spread of such quantity and quality, has ever before been served in the hall.
All the leading lights of the district were there, dressed in their Sunday best and wearing smiles that nothing could remove.
There were over 100 people at the dinner. Upon long tables, tastefully decorated with beautiful spring flowers, all manner of good things were served—sucking pig, poultry, ham, fruit salad, trifles, jellies, pastry and other dainties.
Among the several speeches that followed was a toast by Patron, George Sheat, to the victorious team.
He recalled his last appearance, when in an old-timers' match he and the late J.S. Boag were appointed full-backs, because it was considered the ball would not get past them.
Mr C. A. Wright explained what had led up to the holding of the banquet and paid a generous tribute to the ladies for their work. "When the ladies take anything in hand they invariably do it well," said James Walker.
This concluded the formal part of the proceedings.
The tables were removed and a dance took place to music provided by Misses Lill and others. Mrs W. N. Walker contributed a song and Misses Lill a duet. Altogether the function was a brilliant success,
Always one of the principal social functions of the winter season, the footballers’ ball was then held every year in the first hall until its demise [32-34].
Mike Noonan
Dunandel Historic Society
Date1900-1929SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandel
DescriptionIn June 1900 the Lyttleton Times reported that a general meeting [12] of all those interested in forming (maybe they should have used the term "reforming") a football club at Dunsandel was held in the Dunsandel Library. J.S. Boag presided, so there was some continuity with the failed club. After voting to form a club, a full complement of officers was elected.
That club must have failed again as in 16 May 1902 there was another well-attended meeting [13] of those interested in football held in the library at Dunsandel, again with J.S. Boag presiding.
It was decided to form a club, and again a full complement of officers was elected.
While there are many records of the Dunsandel Football Club playing home and away through-out 1902 to 1914, records of use of the Dunsandel Hall/Library for meetings are few. The March 1910 and 1911 annual meetings [14,15] were recorded but no venue was stated.
It is however possible that the hall/library was used as the 1912 AGM is recorded [16] as being held in the library.
J.S. Boag continued to be elected president on the three occasions.
The club held its annual dance in the hall on Friday night in August 1912 [17].
The dance was a great success, there being fifty couples present. The music was supplied by Wells's band.
In the same month in 1914 another similar dance was held [18] with about forty-five couples being present. On this occasion the music was supplied by McDonald's Band.
In August 1915, rather than raising its own funds, the football club held a progressive euchre party and dance [19] in aid of the Red Cross.
There was a fair attendance and "an enjoyable evening was spent". The music for the dance was supplied by Messrs S. Bell, W. Chappell, and M. O'Brien.
Given that many young men were overseas during WW1 it is not surprising that clubs such as the football club would have gone into recess.
The unusual thing about a meeting in 1917 to consider the re-forming of the Football Club was that it was held in Mr W.J. Stephens's billiard-room and not the hall [20].
Mr C. Skinner presided over a large muster of young men. The following were elected a committee: —Messrs C. Skinner, W.J. Stephens, W. Stewart, F. Rapley, W. Washbourne, A.J. Sheat and A. Good, with A. McPherson as treasurer and H.A. Brown secretary.
The election of captain and vice-captain was deferred.
Mr C. Skinner offered a medal to the most improved player at the end of the season.
Following WW1, the football club again reformed and held its annual meeting [21] in April 1918 but still with J.S. Boag as president. The article did not specify the venue, however the March 1920 AGM was held in the library [22] with a large attendance that voted H.F. Wright as president.
As Fred Lill had been delegate to the union and referee for 24 years he was elected patron along with two local politicians.
A well-attended special general meeting was called in May 1921 [23] as Ralph Chatterton, again had the misfortune to break a leg while playing football. This was the second occasion on which the unfortunate player had to meet medical, hospital and other expenses through injury on the football field.
It was decided to hold a benefit concert and dance some time in June and ask the other football clubs in the Sub-union to support the project by purchasing tickets.
There was a record attendance at the concert held in the hall at the end of June with the Farmers’ Co-operative Party from Christchurch [24,25]. Owing to tyre trouble on the journey out, some of the performers were late in arriving, and the services of Messrs A. Sheat and L.W. Wilson were welcomed by the performers who had arrived on time.
After the concert a dance was held, the music being supplied by Misses M. and R. Lill and Messrs Lill and Chappell.
The annual ball in September [26] was also marred by the non-appearance of the musicians who were engaged for the dance, and who did not appear until after the grand march and first dance were completed. W. Chappell stepped in.
The weather and the hall floor were in exceptional condition for dancing and the good things provided for supper were heartily enjoyed by the dancers.
A ball was also held [27] mid-July 1922 with Wood’s Band.
In November 1922, a group of locals called the All-Star Variety Company, appeared at a concert for the third time.
There was a large attendance, and the programme submitted by the company was well received [28].
The funds from the concert were for the Dunsandel Football Clubs’ injured players.
After the concert, the hall was cleared and a dance was held to music supplied by Misses R and M. Lill and Messrs Lill and Chappell.
Mr. R. Claydon, vice-captain of the club acted as M.C.
The 1925 annual ball was also a great success, except as the Ellesmere Guardian was at pains to point out “the hall is far too small” [29,30].
The bareness of the hall was relieved in effective fashion by the use of a liberal supply of black and blue streamers —-the Club's colours.
An excellent supper was served under Mrs Gibson's supervision.
Dancing continued until the early hours of the morning.
1925 was the first year in the 18 years that the first-grade shield of the Ellesmere Rugby Sub-union has been competed for that Dunsandel was the victor [31].
As a result, the residents of the district got together and decided to give a dinner in honour of the team. And such a dinner as it turned out to be had not been given in Dunsandel for many a long day, if indeed, a spread of such quantity and quality, has ever before been served in the hall.
All the leading lights of the district were there, dressed in their Sunday best and wearing smiles that nothing could remove.
There were over 100 people at the dinner. Upon long tables, tastefully decorated with beautiful spring flowers, all manner of good things were served—sucking pig, poultry, ham, fruit salad, trifles, jellies, pastry and other dainties.
Among the several speeches that followed was a toast by Patron, George Sheat, to the victorious team.
He recalled his last appearance, when in an old-timers' match he and the late J.S. Boag were appointed full-backs, because it was considered the ball would not get past them.
Mr C. A. Wright explained what had led up to the holding of the banquet and paid a generous tribute to the ladies for their work. "When the ladies take anything in hand they invariably do it well," said James Walker.
This concluded the formal part of the proceedings.
The tables were removed and a dance took place to music provided by Misses Lill and others. Mrs W. N. Walker contributed a song and Misses Lill a duet. Altogether the function was a brilliant success,
Always one of the principal social functions of the winter season, the footballers’ ball was then held every year in the first hall until its demise [32-34].
Mike Noonan
Dunandel Historic Society
Date1900-1929SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandelClick on the image to add
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Dunsandel Football Club and its use of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library 1900-1929 Part 2 (1900-1929). Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5519
