Glebe District Rugby League Club Formed

9th January 1908

When the push for the formation of a new professional rugby league competition began, Glebe was one of the areas considered for the formation of a new breakaway team.

A largely-attended meeting of the New South Wales Rugby Football League was held in the Glebe Town Hall last evening. The Mayor (Alderman Lucas) presided, and amongst those on the platform were Messrs. H. Hoyle (president), Knox (vice-president), J. Giltinan (secretary), G. Boss and H. Odbird (Referees' Association), A. Burden, C. Hedley, P. Moir, V. Harris, J. Conlan (Glebe), A. McNamara and A. Weymark (Joint secretaries of the Glebe Club), T. J. McCabe (Lancashire), G. Hammill, F. Cheadle (Newtown), A. Hennessy, S. Fry (South Sydney), and A. Dobbs(Balmain).

The chairman said that the more opportunities given to young men in open field sports the more likelihood there was of their being made into good citizens and fathers. Football was a manly sport when properly carried out, and taught young men to conduct themselves in conditions of great excitement in a cool and collected manner. He was not going to say anything about amateurism or professionalism. He would leave those points to men who know more about the technicalities of the game, and were thus better able to advise the course they should adopt. (Applause)

Mr. H. Hoyle said it was remarkable that a section of the press—more particularly the so-called sporting section—had shown a most un- reasonable antagonism to men who tried to introduce something new and better in existing conditions. Those present had seen what the N.S.W. Rugby Football League officials had been doing, and the hearty response in numbers was a reply direct enough to show their confidence in the league and their willingness to go on with the movement. The league was formed because it was believed that the set of conditions controlling the Football Union were not suitable to the democracy and social conditions of the Australian people. Did they propose professionalism? Certainly not. The idea was absolutely absurd. The officials pro- posed that the men should play the game without loss to themselves, and in a manner that would make it better and more brilliant than ever. If any of the men lost their time the gates that they would draw as footballers would have to make up their wages. (Applause) If they were hurt whilst playing, they would receive £2 a week for 14 weeks, with free doctor and medicine until they had recovered. There was nothing wrong about that. The money obtained at the gates would be used to perfect football. The gate-money would be disposed of in the following way: — After paying the ground fees and other expenses the balance would be disbursed by giving both the clubs and the controlling body 33 1-3 per cent. each. It was proposed to not only treat the players as men, but when they were going away to another State, they would be able to maintain their dignity by having money in their pockets for expenses, at the rate of 5s, and in some cases 7s 6d a day, as well as being paid up to 10s a day for loss of wages. He knew of many players who had gone to Queensland and had paid away the 3s allowed by the Rugby Union in one "shout." They must remember that they could not take a drink if they were worthy of the name of "men" without reciprocating.

Mr. Giltinan displayed a cablegram he had received from England, which, he stated, was an invitation for an Australian team to visit that country. The sum of £7000 was in the bank there as a guarantee, and the N.S.W. Rugby Union would receive 70 per cent, of the gate money. (Applause)

It was resolved to form a Glebe District Football Club, to be affiliated with the New South Wales Football League. The following were elected as office-bearers:— Patron, Mr. W. M. Hughes, M.P.; president, Alderman P. C. Lucas (Mayor); vice-presidents. Alderman L. L. Earl, Messrs. A. Buckle, R. Burden, and J. Sheerin; acting hon. secretaries, Messrs. A. Weymark and A. L. H. McNamara; acting treasurer, Mr. R. Burden; provisional com- mittee, Messrs. F. Bourke, P. Coleman, V. Harris, A. Burden, P. Moir, H Griffiths, L. Edwards, C. Hedley, T. J. M'Cabe.

Amid a scene of great enthusiasm J. Conlon signed the roll as the first member of the new club, and nearly all those present followed suit.

As with the local rugby team, the new rugby league club chose to play in maroon-coloured jerseys; a tradition that had been established by other sporting clubs in the Glebe area over many years.

Meetings are to be held at Newtown and South Sydney early next week for a similar purpose.

And the rivalry with Glebe began

Ref - FN-17 / HRLC


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