(Photos via Google Images) |
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Stoddart (pictured left) was a talented all round sportsman who also played in ten rugby union internationals for England. During his footballing career, he was at the forefront of many rugby firsts. In 1888, he took part in the first British Lions rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand. In this the team played 55 matches, winning 27 of 35 rugby union games and also 6 out of 19 matches, with one drawn, under Australian rules. He took over the captaincy of the Lions early in the tour due to the captain's injury. In 1890 he again showed his openness to new ventures, when he became a founding member and the first captain of the Barbarians, the invitational rugby club. Later, over the ten year period from 1897, the year his captaincy of England ended, to 1907, Stoddart was to become President of the Stoics. Sadly, in failing health and burdened by debt, he committed suicide, by firearm, in London in 1915. A street in South Shields, his birthplace, is named after him.
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Born in South Shields, County Durham, he was the youngest son of a wine merchant, who had moved the whole family to Marylebone, London, in 1877. Stoddart had made his reputation in club cricket and was playing for Middlesex by 1885. He played 16 test matches, captaining England in 8 games of which he won 3, lost 4 and drew 1. He was a flamboyant right-handed batsman and a medium fast bowler. His figures in the batting averages for the Hampstead Club were - Innings 20, Not out 0, Total 1,655 Highest 485 Average 82.15.
As a direct result of the massive score and the prolonged innings in the Hampstead match the Stoics club made representations, which were adopted, to introduce Rule 14, the law of declaration, into the game.
In the three seasons which followed the Hampstead match, Stoics had no fewer than twelve centuries scored against them, four in 1887, six in 1888 and two in 1889. Living well and truly up to the principles behind their club name, their enthusiasm for the game remained undiminished for, in the 1893 season, the club mounted an extensive and ambitious fixture list of thirty-three matches in addition to a Sussex tour with six matches and a 'home' week with a further six matches.
Another low point in the club's fortunes during this period was reflected in the Secretary's report in 1898 when it was observed that that season 'had been if not the most disastrous certainly one of the most disastrous seasons in the history of the Club' causing the Vice Captain, Mr Rammell to remark of the want of support from members. The balance sheet laid before members in the following year showed that the bank overdraft had been reduced to £26 18s 9d indicating that the finances were moving slowly in the right direction. However, later that year the London Joint Stock Bank called up the overdraft of £24 14s 9d and, to meet that liability, Messrs Hoares had agreed to advance the Club £25 at 5% interest per annum provided that the committee signed a paper holding themselves responsible for the amount. The matter was discussed at some length when Mr Gadsdon stated that he was willing to advance the £25. It was therefore proposed by W I Haycraft and seconded by B Rennie that Mr Gadsdon's proposition should be accepted and that the amount should be repaid within three years together with 5% interest per annum. The motion was carried. This marked the end of the pressing financial problems because within a relatively short period the Club's finances were formally put into the black.
Another interesting entry in the minutes in 1900 recorded a decision by the committee to employ an umpire, a Mr E Gregory, to officiate for the Sussex tour at £4 for the week and also to recommend him to the Manager of the Midland tour in August at 11 shillings per diem, plus travelling expenses and luncheons. In 1900-01 five monthly dinners were held appearing to be for the social rather than for a financial benefit.
Throughout this period the club had established and maintained an impressive fixture list. In the last two years of this period they had, in 1901, played a total of 37 matches, losing 19. In their anniversary year, 1902, they improved upon this by playing 38 games, losing 8. During this celebratory season seven centuries were scored for the club and two bowling hat-tricks were also recorded for them - one by T M Drew against Northamptonshire and one by P E Morris against Reigate Priory, where Morris actually took four wickets in four balls.
As a direct result of the massive score and the prolonged innings in the Hampstead match the Stoics club made representations, which were adopted, to introduce Rule 14, the law of declaration, into the game.
In the three seasons which followed the Hampstead match, Stoics had no fewer than twelve centuries scored against them, four in 1887, six in 1888 and two in 1889. Living well and truly up to the principles behind their club name, their enthusiasm for the game remained undiminished for, in the 1893 season, the club mounted an extensive and ambitious fixture list of thirty-three matches in addition to a Sussex tour with six matches and a 'home' week with a further six matches.
Another low point in the club's fortunes during this period was reflected in the Secretary's report in 1898 when it was observed that that season 'had been if not the most disastrous certainly one of the most disastrous seasons in the history of the Club' causing the Vice Captain, Mr Rammell to remark of the want of support from members. The balance sheet laid before members in the following year showed that the bank overdraft had been reduced to £26 18s 9d indicating that the finances were moving slowly in the right direction. However, later that year the London Joint Stock Bank called up the overdraft of £24 14s 9d and, to meet that liability, Messrs Hoares had agreed to advance the Club £25 at 5% interest per annum provided that the committee signed a paper holding themselves responsible for the amount. The matter was discussed at some length when Mr Gadsdon stated that he was willing to advance the £25. It was therefore proposed by W I Haycraft and seconded by B Rennie that Mr Gadsdon's proposition should be accepted and that the amount should be repaid within three years together with 5% interest per annum. The motion was carried. This marked the end of the pressing financial problems because within a relatively short period the Club's finances were formally put into the black.
Another interesting entry in the minutes in 1900 recorded a decision by the committee to employ an umpire, a Mr E Gregory, to officiate for the Sussex tour at £4 for the week and also to recommend him to the Manager of the Midland tour in August at 11 shillings per diem, plus travelling expenses and luncheons. In 1900-01 five monthly dinners were held appearing to be for the social rather than for a financial benefit.
Throughout this period the club had established and maintained an impressive fixture list. In the last two years of this period they had, in 1901, played a total of 37 matches, losing 19. In their anniversary year, 1902, they improved upon this by playing 38 games, losing 8. During this celebratory season seven centuries were scored for the club and two bowling hat-tricks were also recorded for them - one by T M Drew against Northamptonshire and one by P E Morris against Reigate Priory, where Morris actually took four wickets in four balls.
(Photo extracted from the club's 75th Anniversary brochure)