Friday, September 19 – 1884
This club opened for the season on the 19th inst., with a supper at the Blue Anchor Hotel, provided by Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Hughes. Sharpley Bainbridge, Esq., J.P., President of the Club presided, and the vice-chair was occupied by Mr. W. Mortimer, Vice-President.
About fifty gentlemen assembled, amongst others present being Messrs. Richard Whitton, G.R. Trafford, Walter Ashley, F.W. Shaw (Hon. Sec. of the Lindum Cricket Club), F. Peel, J. Weston, &c. Supper over, and the usual loyal toasts having been given from the chair.
The Chairman proposed the toast of the evening “The City Club.” In doing so he said the Club had been formed for the benefit of football generally throughout the city, and they had got the nucleus of a very good club indeed. As they knew, the Club had entered for the Lincolnshire ties, and they intended to win the cup, if possible. Not only that, they were drawn against Hull for the English Cup, and with some little practice he thought they would be well able to beat them, and probably get some considerable distance into the English team. As an old football player he would give one word of advice, particularly to the younger members of the club, and that was, “Whenever you play do not play for the gallery.” When he said that he meant “Do not play selfish.” (Hear, hear.) If they were to be a good and strong team and to produce a team able to win the Lincolnshire Cup, and the other cup too, they must sink all selfishness and play simply for one object, and that he honour of the Club and the honour of the city; and that he had no doubt they would do their utmost ability. He had great pleasure in proposing “Our City Club,” and in coupling with the toast the name of one of their vice-presidents – Mr. Mortimer. (Applause.)
In responding, Mr. Mortimer said he naturally took a great interest in the Club, and he could only try and impress upon the players the good advice given them by Chairman. When they strove to form that Club their desire was to establish a club that should be an honour to the city and a credit to the county of which it was the capital. The only way to achieve that success was by each man considering the whole credit of the club rested upon his own exertions, and not to play selfishly, but with a full determination to win every match. He saw some gentleman had favoured the Lincolnshire Chronicle with football notes, signed “Umpire,” and he had received the distinguished honour of being put down as the author. If he had been so he should not have worded them in the way they were. He should never for one minute suppose they were challenging clubs they did not feel able to compete with, and that successfully.
“Umpire” said they were challenging clubs they did not anticipate they should cope with successfully. He (Mr. Mortimer) was sure if the teams selected by the committee of that club did their best they would be able to beat the clubs they had challenged, and whose matches they had accepted. (Applause.) The team would only consist of eleven men, and they alone could not make the club’s success. They looked to the other members to assist them in obtaining members, and in getting them good audiences – (hear, hear), – and then the team would be encouraged to their best, and not play quite so much to the “gallery,” as when they had just a few of their own partisans. He sincerely hoped at the end of the season they would all be able to give a good account of themselves. (Applause.)
The Chairman next gave the toast of “The Visitors,” which was acknowledged by Mr. J. Weston.
Mr. H. White then proposed the health of the Chairman, who, he said, had always been a good friend to sport of every kind in Lincoln, and had always subscribed liberally and backed them up by his help as well as by his money. (Applause.) Mr. Bainbridge and Mr. Mortimer probably were the founders of a very good club in Lincoln, and if did turn out a good club it would be all the more credit to those gentlemen; they had worked hard for it, and it was now for the members to do their portion, and show themselves grateful by making the Club prosperous. (Hear, hear.)
The Chairman, in acknowledging the compliment, said it was true he had for many, many years taken an interest, not only in football, but in other sports as well. As an old football player, nothing would rejoice him more than to see the City Club in the proud position not only of the winners of the Lincolnshire Cup, but in taking a good position in the English Cup. As he had said before, he had no doubt they had the nucleus of a club of that description in Lincoln which would accomplish much if they only gave their united efforts to it. He sincerely hoped that the result of those united efforts would be able to congratulate themselves at the close upon a very successful season. (Applause.)
Mr. Richard Whitton said he thought there was just one other toast they ought to propose, and that was the health of a gentleman present, to whom, when they heard his name, he was sure they would all heartily drink. He had very great pleasure in proposing the health of their secretary, Mr. John Strawson. (Applause.) They had now established that City Club, which he was sure was in a very fair way to prosper, but as a ship would not go without a rudder, so the club would not go without a secretary, and he had therefore great pleasure in proposing the health of Mr. Strawson. On behalf of the committee he could say Mr. Strawson had worked wonderfully well up to the present time, and he had not the slightest doubt that at the end of the season they would be able to say he had done well for them throughout. (Applause.)
Mr. Strawson thanked the company for the compliment paid him, and remarked that whatever he had done for the club was out of pure love for football, and he hoped those who had known him in connection with other clubs would give him credit for sacrificing a good deal of feeling in their clubs for the benefit of the city itself.
The toast of “The Host and Hostess,” was given from the Chair, and responded to by Mr. Hughes, ended the toast list, and the remainder of the evening was given up to harmony, capital songs being rendered by Messrs. A. Thorpe, E.D. Teesdale, West, and others.
(Lincolnshire Chronicle, 26-09-1884)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 