Here are a couple of articles I found in the Newcastle Herald when I was looking for information on the start of League in Newcastle.
Newcastle Herald 10/2/1908.
NEW SOUTH WALES LEAGUE
MEETING IN NEWCASTLE
A meeting of footballers was held at Pikes rooms, Bolton street, on Saturday evening for the purpose of making arrangements to form a branch of the New South Wales Football League in Newcastle. There was a fair attendance, included in those present being Mr. H. Hoyle, president, and Mr. J. J. Giltinan, secretary, or New South Wales League. Mr. W. A. Howard was voted to the chair.
Mr. H. Hoyle said he wanted to make it clear they were not there to say one unkind word of any person connected with the union. As an old organiser he could say that no organization had ever started without opposition. The eight-hour movement had met with opposition, as also had many other big political questions. The same thing applied to those who were working in the interests of the League. The movement, however, was humanitarian in its character. He had not come to tell them that they must do a certain thing, but was there to speak to them in an intelligent way. They were there to lay before them a clear statement on the game of football as far as the league was concerned. If they preferred to stay with the union, no harm would be done. They had been called professionals, but he would ask them if any of them could get their living from football. The charge of professionalism preferred against them was absolutely without foundation. They proposed to compensate players for the time they lost. It was only a reasonable thing when the players attracted a crowd that they should share in the proceeds. If a man met with an accident while playing, it was proposed to pay him two pounds a week for sixteen weeks, in addition to which he would receive the best medical attention. The New South Wales Union had such a cast-iron constitution that nothing could be done without the consent of the unions of other countries. It had frequently been proposed by the union delegates to adopt a similar rule to that adopted by the league, but on each occasion the motion had been ruled out of order. If a cricketer received 25 pounds for a test match, and seven shillings and sixpence when playing in another state, and five shillings a day when at home, what difference was there in what the league proposed to do? Most of those who played football were poor men, and the league said if they called upon them to go away they would be paid a sum up to ten shillings a day for loss of wages and seven shillings and sixpence a day for out-of-pocket expenses. The union, as they know, paid the players three shillings a day. If any of the Newcastle players were called upon to play in Sydney they would be paid there wages and hotel bills, in addition to which they would receive five shillings a day out-of-pocket expenses. The league proposed to put an end to the pooling of the gate receipts. Players who had been injured had frequently been told by the union that nothing could be done for them. One Balmain player had been injured, possibly for life, and the union had told him they could not help him. He knew of another instance where a player was permitted to remain in Moore Park without any assistance from the body with which he was allied. He took the man to St. Vincents Hospital, where it was found that several bones of one of his feet were broken. The league also proposed to give the clubs a percentage of the receipts after the expenses of the match were paid. Each of the clubs would take 33 1/3 per cent of the net proceeds, and the other 33 1/3 would go to the league. The players would also be provided with an outfit. Any club allowing a player improperly attired to go on to the field would be liable to a fine of ten shillings. It was only a fair thing to pay the playing expenses of players to and from the ground. With the 33 1/3 per cent the league received it had to form an assurance fund. The New South Wales union made a profit of two thousand pounds last season, and the league with money so obtained would form the assurance fund. The league also proposed to play the final match in Sydney, and give 33 1/3 per cent of the proceeds to the hospitals. A pension scheme was also provided for. The object of the league was not one to be scoffed at. There would be a country week, and the Newcastle league would be called on to send a team to Sydney, and the players would not have to go to the league cap in hand for the money to visit the country. Newcastle would be put to no expense if a Sydney team came here, and, furthermore, they would take all the gate receipts. It had been said the league was only a flash in the pan, but the same was said of the Labour Party. Public sympathy was with the league, which he felt sure was going to last. There was plenty of money behind it, and if they wanted twenty thousand pounds they could get it within twenty-four hours.
Mr. Giltinan also addressed the meeting, and stated that he and Victor Trumper had been instrumental in forming the league. He was not there to dictate to them, but the league was prepared to advance twenty five thousand pounds, if necessary. Each and every club would pay a capitation fee of sixpence per head per week, and that money would soon accumulate. He appealed to them to assist the league. It could boast of having sent the first Australian footballer home in Messenger, who would take an active part in the new movement upon his return. They hoped to give them in Newcastle the same facilities as they enjoyed in Sydney (waiting, waiting, waiting). Eight first grade clubs, equal to 33 teams, had been formed in Sydney. At Balmain they could not get a union team, and the same state of affairs prevailed at East and South Sydney. He could mention a number of players who intended going over to league, but it was not policy to do so. The legal authorities had told them that the constitution was purely an amateur one, and should there happen to be a disqualification, the league, if necessary, would take the matter up on behalf of the player.
Mr Chambers moved, and Mr. Smith seconded, That it is desirable to form a Northern District League, and with that object in view those present form themselves into a committee to make arrangements for holding a public meeting. Upon being put to the meeting, the motion was declared to have been lost.
Newcastle Herald 16/4/1910
RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
ADDRESS BY MR. E. R. LARKIN
A meeting of the northern branch of the New South Wales Rugby Football League was held in the Masonic Hall, Wolfe Street, Newcastle, when an address was delivered by Mr. E. R. Larkin, secretary of the parent body. Mr. A. Boa, president of the branch, presided over a very large gathering.
The chairman in opening the meeting said that during the past six months the executive, after being unable to secure the Agricultural Ground, tried to secure the Cricket Ground, but also without success, both grounds having been secured by their friends on the other side. The executive however, determined to obtain a ground if possible so that the public should have an opportunity of deciding on the merits of the league game. They had eventually leased an areaof land from the A.A. Company for a period of seven years, with the option of renewal. The executive, notwithstanding the little set backs they had experienced, had made good progress with the work of the league. They had entered four teams in a competition for a valuable shield, six teams in the second grade, six teams in the next grade, and four teams in the Wednesday afternoon competition.
Mr. Larkin said he had been asked to come and give the league a helping hand in the Newcastle district, but after hearing Mr. Boa he almost felt that no help was needed, for they were doing so well already. In pushing the game in various centres he had sometimes to encounter big obstacles in the form of misrepresentation. The league was a branch of the Northern Union in England, which was the strongest Rugby union in the world. He explained the circumstances which led up to the northern counties of England separating from the southern counties and forming the Northern Union. Some people thought that union was not an amateur body, but he wished to give that an emphatic denial. It was an amateur body, and was recognised as such, but although that was so, it made allowance for professionals to play in the same way as did the Cricket Association. The union was formed because players who could not play without losing their days wage were reimbursed when they did play, for the loss they incurred in wages. The union that had thus been formed had made such rapid strides that its players were now recognised as the best in the world. The league in Australia was formed in the same way as the union. The league was not a professional body in any sense of the word, but it is said that any man injured while playing should be paid while he is absent from work. It also provided that any man who lost his wages while playing, should receive ten shillings a day. During last season a sum of 350 pounds was paid on account of injuries to players. In addition to the 10 shillings a day for loss of time allowed to players, when they were travelling expenses were also allowed. He referred to the combine that was effected with the object of downing the league, and expressed his pleasure at being able to say that that attempt had fallen to the ground. Only last Saturday, at a League match, he was pleased to say, the Redfern Harriers ran a race at halftime. Last season the League had met with much opposition, and experienced many difficulties, but in the coming season they would have many more teams playing, and would have more grounds. He was also glad to announce that the best team of footballers in the world was coming out to play them. He referred to a team from the Northern Union, England, which had sailed that day. The League was in a very sound position, both numerically and financially, and was going to boom right along. It was not going to confine its attention to senior football. Arrangements had been made for a combined junior team to visit Queensland during the coming season. Thanks to the support accorded by enthusiasts in Sydney, several valuable trophies would be competed for in the various grades. Mr. Andrew Fisher, who would shortly be Prime Minister of Australia, was a League enthusiast, and there were many other gentlemen holding prominent positions who were either League players or supporters. In Sydney now they had players who would hold their own with any players in the world, the Wallabies and the Kangaroos now being on the same pasture.
At this stage Mr. D. Watkins, M.H.R., patron of the League, entered the hall, and was greeted with cheers and applause.
Mr. Larkin, on behalf of the League, which, he said, was a large democratic body, and Labour almost to a man, took that opportunity of congratulating Mr. Watkins on his re-election, and on the success of his party. In addition to the junior team that would be sent to Queensland, a senior team would be sent there. An Australasian team would be pitted against the Englishmen, and an Australian team would be sent to New Zealand. These were, however, only a few items of a big and comprehensive programme. The object of the League was to afford the fullest possible opportunities to every player to reach the highest point in football. The records showed that Newcastle possessed some splendid footballers, and he urged them to do their best to uphold the prestige of the district. The League offered the fairest conditions, and he urged them to accord it their support. The League stood in the world of sport, where the Labour party stood in the world of politics.
The chairman, on behalf of the League, extended his hearty congratulations to Mr. Watkins on his re-election by such an overwhelming majority.
Mr. Watkins, in acknowledging the congratulations extended by Mr. Larkins and Mr. Boa, said he had always been a lover of good, clean sport, and had always done his best to help it on. He regarded football and other outdoor games as a splendid means for the development of physique. Anything he could do to help the League during the coming season he would do readily.
Mr. Larkin, in reply to a question, said that all claims from injured players received last season were paid.
Mr. G. Billett proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Watkins and Mr. Larkin for their attendance.
Mr. J. Bartley seconded the motion, which was carried.
Newcastle Herald 10/2/1908.
NEW SOUTH WALES LEAGUE
MEETING IN NEWCASTLE
A meeting of footballers was held at Pikes rooms, Bolton street, on Saturday evening for the purpose of making arrangements to form a branch of the New South Wales Football League in Newcastle. There was a fair attendance, included in those present being Mr. H. Hoyle, president, and Mr. J. J. Giltinan, secretary, or New South Wales League. Mr. W. A. Howard was voted to the chair.
Mr. H. Hoyle said he wanted to make it clear they were not there to say one unkind word of any person connected with the union. As an old organiser he could say that no organization had ever started without opposition. The eight-hour movement had met with opposition, as also had many other big political questions. The same thing applied to those who were working in the interests of the League. The movement, however, was humanitarian in its character. He had not come to tell them that they must do a certain thing, but was there to speak to them in an intelligent way. They were there to lay before them a clear statement on the game of football as far as the league was concerned. If they preferred to stay with the union, no harm would be done. They had been called professionals, but he would ask them if any of them could get their living from football. The charge of professionalism preferred against them was absolutely without foundation. They proposed to compensate players for the time they lost. It was only a reasonable thing when the players attracted a crowd that they should share in the proceeds. If a man met with an accident while playing, it was proposed to pay him two pounds a week for sixteen weeks, in addition to which he would receive the best medical attention. The New South Wales Union had such a cast-iron constitution that nothing could be done without the consent of the unions of other countries. It had frequently been proposed by the union delegates to adopt a similar rule to that adopted by the league, but on each occasion the motion had been ruled out of order. If a cricketer received 25 pounds for a test match, and seven shillings and sixpence when playing in another state, and five shillings a day when at home, what difference was there in what the league proposed to do? Most of those who played football were poor men, and the league said if they called upon them to go away they would be paid a sum up to ten shillings a day for loss of wages and seven shillings and sixpence a day for out-of-pocket expenses. The union, as they know, paid the players three shillings a day. If any of the Newcastle players were called upon to play in Sydney they would be paid there wages and hotel bills, in addition to which they would receive five shillings a day out-of-pocket expenses. The league proposed to put an end to the pooling of the gate receipts. Players who had been injured had frequently been told by the union that nothing could be done for them. One Balmain player had been injured, possibly for life, and the union had told him they could not help him. He knew of another instance where a player was permitted to remain in Moore Park without any assistance from the body with which he was allied. He took the man to St. Vincents Hospital, where it was found that several bones of one of his feet were broken. The league also proposed to give the clubs a percentage of the receipts after the expenses of the match were paid. Each of the clubs would take 33 1/3 per cent of the net proceeds, and the other 33 1/3 would go to the league. The players would also be provided with an outfit. Any club allowing a player improperly attired to go on to the field would be liable to a fine of ten shillings. It was only a fair thing to pay the playing expenses of players to and from the ground. With the 33 1/3 per cent the league received it had to form an assurance fund. The New South Wales union made a profit of two thousand pounds last season, and the league with money so obtained would form the assurance fund. The league also proposed to play the final match in Sydney, and give 33 1/3 per cent of the proceeds to the hospitals. A pension scheme was also provided for. The object of the league was not one to be scoffed at. There would be a country week, and the Newcastle league would be called on to send a team to Sydney, and the players would not have to go to the league cap in hand for the money to visit the country. Newcastle would be put to no expense if a Sydney team came here, and, furthermore, they would take all the gate receipts. It had been said the league was only a flash in the pan, but the same was said of the Labour Party. Public sympathy was with the league, which he felt sure was going to last. There was plenty of money behind it, and if they wanted twenty thousand pounds they could get it within twenty-four hours.
Mr. Giltinan also addressed the meeting, and stated that he and Victor Trumper had been instrumental in forming the league. He was not there to dictate to them, but the league was prepared to advance twenty five thousand pounds, if necessary. Each and every club would pay a capitation fee of sixpence per head per week, and that money would soon accumulate. He appealed to them to assist the league. It could boast of having sent the first Australian footballer home in Messenger, who would take an active part in the new movement upon his return. They hoped to give them in Newcastle the same facilities as they enjoyed in Sydney (waiting, waiting, waiting). Eight first grade clubs, equal to 33 teams, had been formed in Sydney. At Balmain they could not get a union team, and the same state of affairs prevailed at East and South Sydney. He could mention a number of players who intended going over to league, but it was not policy to do so. The legal authorities had told them that the constitution was purely an amateur one, and should there happen to be a disqualification, the league, if necessary, would take the matter up on behalf of the player.
Mr Chambers moved, and Mr. Smith seconded, That it is desirable to form a Northern District League, and with that object in view those present form themselves into a committee to make arrangements for holding a public meeting. Upon being put to the meeting, the motion was declared to have been lost.
Newcastle Herald 16/4/1910
RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
ADDRESS BY MR. E. R. LARKIN
A meeting of the northern branch of the New South Wales Rugby Football League was held in the Masonic Hall, Wolfe Street, Newcastle, when an address was delivered by Mr. E. R. Larkin, secretary of the parent body. Mr. A. Boa, president of the branch, presided over a very large gathering.
The chairman in opening the meeting said that during the past six months the executive, after being unable to secure the Agricultural Ground, tried to secure the Cricket Ground, but also without success, both grounds having been secured by their friends on the other side. The executive however, determined to obtain a ground if possible so that the public should have an opportunity of deciding on the merits of the league game. They had eventually leased an areaof land from the A.A. Company for a period of seven years, with the option of renewal. The executive, notwithstanding the little set backs they had experienced, had made good progress with the work of the league. They had entered four teams in a competition for a valuable shield, six teams in the second grade, six teams in the next grade, and four teams in the Wednesday afternoon competition.
Mr. Larkin said he had been asked to come and give the league a helping hand in the Newcastle district, but after hearing Mr. Boa he almost felt that no help was needed, for they were doing so well already. In pushing the game in various centres he had sometimes to encounter big obstacles in the form of misrepresentation. The league was a branch of the Northern Union in England, which was the strongest Rugby union in the world. He explained the circumstances which led up to the northern counties of England separating from the southern counties and forming the Northern Union. Some people thought that union was not an amateur body, but he wished to give that an emphatic denial. It was an amateur body, and was recognised as such, but although that was so, it made allowance for professionals to play in the same way as did the Cricket Association. The union was formed because players who could not play without losing their days wage were reimbursed when they did play, for the loss they incurred in wages. The union that had thus been formed had made such rapid strides that its players were now recognised as the best in the world. The league in Australia was formed in the same way as the union. The league was not a professional body in any sense of the word, but it is said that any man injured while playing should be paid while he is absent from work. It also provided that any man who lost his wages while playing, should receive ten shillings a day. During last season a sum of 350 pounds was paid on account of injuries to players. In addition to the 10 shillings a day for loss of time allowed to players, when they were travelling expenses were also allowed. He referred to the combine that was effected with the object of downing the league, and expressed his pleasure at being able to say that that attempt had fallen to the ground. Only last Saturday, at a League match, he was pleased to say, the Redfern Harriers ran a race at halftime. Last season the League had met with much opposition, and experienced many difficulties, but in the coming season they would have many more teams playing, and would have more grounds. He was also glad to announce that the best team of footballers in the world was coming out to play them. He referred to a team from the Northern Union, England, which had sailed that day. The League was in a very sound position, both numerically and financially, and was going to boom right along. It was not going to confine its attention to senior football. Arrangements had been made for a combined junior team to visit Queensland during the coming season. Thanks to the support accorded by enthusiasts in Sydney, several valuable trophies would be competed for in the various grades. Mr. Andrew Fisher, who would shortly be Prime Minister of Australia, was a League enthusiast, and there were many other gentlemen holding prominent positions who were either League players or supporters. In Sydney now they had players who would hold their own with any players in the world, the Wallabies and the Kangaroos now being on the same pasture.
At this stage Mr. D. Watkins, M.H.R., patron of the League, entered the hall, and was greeted with cheers and applause.
Mr. Larkin, on behalf of the League, which, he said, was a large democratic body, and Labour almost to a man, took that opportunity of congratulating Mr. Watkins on his re-election, and on the success of his party. In addition to the junior team that would be sent to Queensland, a senior team would be sent there. An Australasian team would be pitted against the Englishmen, and an Australian team would be sent to New Zealand. These were, however, only a few items of a big and comprehensive programme. The object of the League was to afford the fullest possible opportunities to every player to reach the highest point in football. The records showed that Newcastle possessed some splendid footballers, and he urged them to do their best to uphold the prestige of the district. The League offered the fairest conditions, and he urged them to accord it their support. The League stood in the world of sport, where the Labour party stood in the world of politics.
The chairman, on behalf of the League, extended his hearty congratulations to Mr. Watkins on his re-election by such an overwhelming majority.
Mr. Watkins, in acknowledging the congratulations extended by Mr. Larkins and Mr. Boa, said he had always been a lover of good, clean sport, and had always done his best to help it on. He regarded football and other outdoor games as a splendid means for the development of physique. Anything he could do to help the League during the coming season he would do readily.
Mr. Larkin, in reply to a question, said that all claims from injured players received last season were paid.
Mr. G. Billett proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Watkins and Mr. Larkin for their attendance.
Mr. J. Bartley seconded the motion, which was carried.
