Sturt in Turmoil in 1961

[MagareyLegend]

Towards the end of 1961 Sturt Football Club was in turmoil. It had not won a premiership since 1940 - 21 years.
It only won one of its first 15 games of the season. It then won its next two but in round 18 on Saturday August 26 1961 at Norwood Oval it went down to Norwood by 77 points and the members wanted 'blood'.
The seventeen year period from 1945 to 1961 was one of unprecedented bleakness for the Sturt Football Club. The Blues contested the finals on only five occasions during that period, which coincidentally was the same number of times they ended up with the wooden spoon. All told, Sturt won just 34.75% of all matches played, a return which would have been even poorer were it not for the outstanding individual abilities of such as triple Magarey Medallist Len Fitzgerald, Wally May, John Halbert (who went on to win the 1961 Magarey Medal), Clayton 'Candles' Thompson, Tony Goodchild and Don Harris.

Anyway by Tuesday 29 August 1961 Sturt members had had enough and a Special General Meeting was called to put a vote of "no confidence" in the Committee of Management chaired by Ray Kutcher.

I am not a Sturt supporter but I thought it may be interesting to share some of the dialogue from that eventful meeting - the results of which eventually led to the replacement of Captain Coach Glynn Williams at season's end and the appointment of Jack Oatey for 1962 - the rest is history.

I hope this is of interest to many of you.

MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 29, 1961, AT 8 P.M.

Mr. Colin Dunnage MP (President): Ladies and Gentlemen, first of all I declare the meeting open, welcome you all, and say how nice it is to see such a crowd. It augurs well for football in this district when, even under these conditions, we can get a crowd like this together. It is many years since we have had a Special Meeting called of this type. As you all know-I think it was in the Press the other day-it was in 1922 that the last Special Meeting was called. It is very nice to see you.
First of all, and this is important, this is a Special Meeting, and it is called for one purpose only, and that is to discuss this petition that has been lodged. I will read it to you in a moment. The mover and seconder will speak. Somebody in opposition, I hope, will get up and speak, and from then on I will try and get one from one side and one from the other. Now I hope that will meet with your approval. Whether it does or not, that is what I am going to do, gentlemen, and I want to read you the petition first of all. Here it is. You can see it. It has 80 signatures to it. It reads-and this is what we are going to discuss; we are not going to discuss any personalities, or any think like that at all; we are going to stick to this-

"We, the undersigned members of the Sturt Football Club Inc., hereby make written application for the holding of a Special General Meeting of the Club. We desire the calling of the meeting to give the opportunity to members to discuss the following motion that the Committee of Management of the Sturt Football Club no longer holds the confidence of the general membership."

Now that is what we are going to discuss, gentlemen-that last little bit-"that the Committee of Management of the Sturt Football Club no longer holds the confidence of the general membership."
All right; I presume somebody is ready to move it, and I will ask for the gentleman who is going to move it. Mr. Norm Sanders, gentlemen.
Mr. Sanders: Mr. Chairman, before I do get down to tintacks on this matter, I would like to express my personal regrets to Mr. Ray Kutcher, and I am sure I am safe in saying that you all join with me in saying how sorry we are to have learned of the accident to his son, and we certainly hope that he will have a very speedy recovery.
Mr. Chairman, I have been asked by some of the members of the Sturt Football Club to formally move the motion, which is to be put to this meeting tonight, but before doing so, I would like to say-and I am sure that you, with your innate love of the true democratic way of life, will agree with me-that the ballot on this motion should be taken secretly. I, therefore, ask you for a direction.
Mr. Dunnage: Well, I will give my direction. It is my intention, ladies and gentlemen, to call for a show of hands first of all, and then, following the usual Parliamentary procedure, if I am not able to judge the numbers by that, I will call for a division, or I expect someone will call for a division, and the Ayes will go to the right, and the Noes to the left of the chair. That is what I intend to do, Mr. Sanders.
Order, please! That is what we are going to do. Mr. Sanders: Mr. Chairman, I think that that procedure is highly irregular and undemocratic, and we certainly do not agree.
Mr. Murray: Mr. Chairman, I have risen on a point of order: The meeting was called to discuss a particular motion, and I ask the mover of the motion to move it, and make his points about voting later until such time as a motion is moved there should be no discussion on this, or any other matter.
Mr. Sanders: Mr. Chairman, I disagree. I think we should clear about how a ballot should be taken first, before we discuss the motion.

TO BE CONTINUED.....

[Bluedemon]

it is interesting to read a Mr Sanders moving the motion back in 61 to replace the board. A Mr Phil Sanders moved the motion back in the early 90's for Sturt not to merge with North. I wonder if that is a father son combination.

[sturtpeter]

Phil Sanders did a fantastic job for Sturt.

I'll find out at our next VP Meeting in 2 weeks mate.

[Bluedemon]

Phil Sanders did a fantastic job for Sturt.

I'll find out at our next VP Meeting in 2 weeks mate.

would be good to find out.

[sturtpeter]

No problems. Cheers!

[therisingblues]

Interesting read there Magarey. Where did you get this from? Thanks for posting it.

[MagareyLegend]

Rising - this is from the '61 Annual Report verbatim. It is about 1/4 of the transcript and it gets even juicier - I just haven't had time to scan more in to post it here but will do shortly.
John Halbert gets involved and he doesn't hold back.

[MagareyLegend]

..... continued

Mr. Page: Mr. Chairman, a point of order has already been raised, and I now rise in reference to a further point of order. You have called upon the speaker to move a motion, and I submit, Sir, that the motion should be put now. If there is anything further to be put later about procedure, that is the time to put it. The motion should be put now.
Mr. Dunnage: That is my ruling, Mr. Sanders. We will have the motion first.
Mr. Sanders: Mr. Chairman, will you agree to allow a motion on the ballot later?
Mr. Dunnage: No, I have given my ruling. I hold to that. That is the usual procedure, gentlemen. All right, Mr. Sanders, we will discuss that. Order, please!
We have got the constitution before us, gentlemen. There is no doubt about it. It is in the constitution. Mr. Sanders must know of it; he must have a copy. I will read it. "The Chairman shall, in taking the vote on any motion or amendment, put the question first in the affirmative and then in the negative, and he may do so as often as is necessary to enable him to declare the result of the voting, and every member present shall at the call of the Chairman vote thereon." Now what is wrong with that? That is what we are going to do, gentlemen, and I am asking Mr. Sanders to get on with the motion.
Mr. Lockwood: My point of order, Mr. Chairman, is that I intend to move that we suspend Standing Orders to permit a motion, and Standing Orders can be suspended in regard to this to permit a motion to be moved that a secret ballot in this particular instance be held. I believe, Sir, that it is the only possible way. It doesn't matter what thoughts anyone has. We always stand up, and we have a minute's silence for something we fought for-freedom-and yet some people here don't want to hold to that great Australian ideal of freedom apparently, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Dunnage: Let me read the Standing Order to you, Mr. Lock- wood. "Any member moving for suspension of any Standing Orders shall state shortly the reason~." Now we haven't had any motion yet to decide what we are going to do. Mr. Sanders has not even moved the resolution yet, which is going to be discussed.
Now we want to hear them.
Mr. Sanders: I move that the Committee of Management of the Sturt Football Club Inc. no longer holds the confidence of the general membership.
Mr. Dunnage: All right; well, go on.
Mr. Sanders: And believe me, Sir, it does not give me any pleasure to do so, and I think I am safe in saying that all of the members whose names appear on that petition feel the same way about this matter as I do. We deeply deplore the fact that it ever had to be contemplated, let alone deemed necessary. Let me also hasten to assure you that no personalities are considered; no thought of any self-aggrandisement has entered into the minds of any of those signatories. We expect to get nothing-nothing but the hope that something will be done to lift this grand old club of ours and make it a power to be reckoned with in South Australian football. I think it goes without saying, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, that your members are deeply concerned at the inability of the team to win more games, and it must be freely admitted that over the last three years the fortunes or this club have gone down and down and down, until in this dismal year they have really reached rock bottom.
A Member: They reached rock bottom four years ago, too.
Mr. Sanders: Another matter of great concern to all members is the matter of a comprehensive and farseeing plan for team building. It must be remembered that only three years ago Sturt Senior Colts were under the able coaching of Mr. Don Bartlett and were almost invincible. Indeed, they won 30 games in succession. Now, if that isn't a firm enough foundation to build a strong combination on, I would like to know what is. The physical fitness or the physical strength of many of the members of the team is also the great concern of many of you people here tonight. I know that. Their consequent inability to play 100 minutes of hard, tough football, and keep right alongside their opponents resulted in their becoming leaden footed and slow, and although they played some excellent football at times, and I feel they are capable of excellent football, they more often than not faded right out of the picture.
I venture to say, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, that at no other time in the history of this club has the club spirit been so low.
Mr. Dunnage: Order, gentlemen! Mr. Sanders: At no other time has it been so low, nor has there been less atmosphere and less enthusiasm amongst supporters than there is today. That is well proven by the fact of your meagre attendances at the games on this own oval of ours. Moreover, I think even more eloquent of that situation is the fact that on training nights out here you are lucky if you see half a dozen people here watching the team train. As a matter of fact, I came here six or seven weeks ago, walked up to the oval, and I was the only person there. That is a very sad state of affairs and something that should be really considered and remedied.
Members of the Sturt Football Club, this club is yours. It is up to you to take a very keen and intense interest in all its doings. You should make sure that you elect to your committee men who are willing to sink all their personal likings and dislikings, and all their prejudices; men who will recognise that the club and the players of that club are the No.1 consideration, and that they are of paramount importance. I think that everybody connected with this club should make this motto his own-
A Member: Get behind the present committee.
Mr. Sanders: "No one for himself, but all for the club." Mr. Chairman, there are no doubt many other people who want to talk on this motion tonight. I will yield to them with the fervent hope that whatever comes from this meeting tonight it will see the beginning of the ascendancy of this grand old club of ours, an ascendancy that will take it to a premiership in the not too distant future. I thank you for your indulgence, Mr. Chairman, and I will ask you for the right to reply, as the mover of the motion.
Mr. Dunnage: Yes, you have a right to reply. Now for a seconder of the motion. Who is going to second it? You, Frank? Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Frank Golding.
Mr. Golding: Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, first of all, will you bear with me in reference to my own case? I have been a member of this club since 1909. That goes back 52 years ago. It is a long while, but I have enjoyed every moment of it, and before seconding the motion I would say this: there is an old adage, "Where there's smoke there's fire." Now I hope you are going to bear with me for a few minutes before seconding the motion.
Recently, I went to Perth to see the final of the football game over there. Now players-you of the Sturt Football Club-when that team won the premiership there last year, they got £10 for every match they played, and when they won the premiership they got £402 each from the supporters, and on top of that there was 118 gallons of beer- kegs of beer.
Mr. Dunnage: Order! You needn't think it's going to be here, tonight, because it isn't.
Mr. Golding: They were beer drinking Saturday night, all day Sunday, until the early hours of Monday morning. On top of that £402, they each got a suit of clothes, a pair of shoes, and a new hat, and if they weren't married-well, put it this way-in addition to each player getting a suit of clothes, a pair of shoes, and a new hat, they also got a £15 grocery shop order if they weren't married. Now I ask you! What a phenomenal success that was for a team of premiers.
Now when you look at Perth in comparison to our figures here, their finance is a long way below our finance here, and yet they can pay £10 per match. It is phenomenal, but still, that is by the way.
Now coming to the Committee, I am going to say something here, gentlemen. What has politics got to do with football? Now when I say that, I am referring to our Premier (Sir Thomas Playford). What a man, what a leader! He had the respect, the confidence, the admiration and inspiration of the whole of the people in South .Australia.
Mr. Dunnage: Order, gentlemen! Now we are getting on politics, and I don't want that. I don't want it, arid we want to keep it right out of this, if we possibly can. I want you to speak on the Committee.
Mr. Golding: Why I mentioned it is this: why can't we get the same thing in our Committee - admiration, respect, and confidence in them.
A Member: Nothing to stop you!
Mr. Golding: Now, gentlemen, before I do second the motion finally, you have heard Mr. Sanders lay the foundation of the motion, and I do want to say this to you, one and all-this game of ours is greater than any man; therefore, I will second the motion submitted by Mr. Sanders.
Mr. Dunnage: Thank you, Mr. Golding. Now look, gentlemen; out of deference to Frank and his career, I allowed him to tell you of those other things that he did, but from now on with further speakers, we are going to talk about the Committee and the votes of no-confidence in the Committee. Now, we want a speaker for the opposition. Who is going to speak for the opposition?
Mr. Page: I am.
Mr. Dunnage: Mr. Page, the ex-Mayor of Unley.
Mr. Page: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good evening every- body. I am somewhat amazed since I came here tonight, first, to see the crowd; second, to see the enthusiasm, but thirdly, to hear the unadulterated rubbish that I have heard up to date.
Mr. Dunnage: Order!
Mr. Page: I am more than surprised to hear the statements that have been made. Nothing has been said against the Committee up to date-not a thing. The only thing that I have taken note of up to date is this fact, that years ago we were right up on the top and today we are on the bottom. Four years ago, gentlemen, you were in the identical position, and if there is one man that has assisted this club and brought it forward, it is your present Coach.
Mr. Dunnage: Order! Yes, Mr. Dixon?
Mr. Dixon: You mentioned that no names or personalities should be spoken of.
Mr. Dunnage: I was just going to get up and stop him. That is what I am trying to do. That is the position. I am trying to be as fair as I can, and I shall just stop anyone, and was just going to stop Mr. Page, when you jumped up. I am asking Mr. Page to stick to the Committee.
Mr. Page: I didn't mention any names; I mentioned the coach. I did that deliberately because I felt that the speaker, in putting his motion, mentioned the fact, and made his remarks point to the Coach, to the effect that he was responsible for the present position of the club being at the bottom of the list.
Mr. Dunnage: Order! Keep the Coach right out of it, Mr. Page. It is the Committee we are dealing with.
Mr. Page: -Now, man for man-and I would say without any hesitation and even chancing the Chairman's looking at me sideways - man for man, the Sturt footballers are as good as any other footballers in the game. I want to say this with reference to the Committee that they have done a remarkably good job. Oh, yes, they have. It 'is all very well for you to sit back there and throw brickbats, but the Committee have done a very good job this year. You have had more amenities, and you have had better service than ever before in this last 12 months. The oval is ever so much better than it ever was. That is due to the Committee. Don't forget that. It just didn't happen; it is due to the Committee.
But I want to say this without any hesitation that if we were to show the same enthusiasm and get behind the Committee as we should have done, then we would be in a better position. If we can only inspire this Committee and inspire the men on the field, things would be better. One of the worst things I have seen out here, Saturday after Saturday, is the dead silence, even when a goal is kicked. What a wonderful thing it is for a team out on the field when they know that they have got the support of the members. You have been divided, and why have you been divided? Because you have been running round getting signatures and dividing up your membership. I want to say about that sort of thing that if you showed the same enthusiasm for inspiring the men on the field and getting behind the Committee, things would be different. Frank Golding said just now what they have done in Western Australia. Well, they have possibly done something else in Timbuctoo, but if you can do the same and get behind the Committee, which has done a remarkably good job, this club would have been in a better position today, and we would be higher on the premiership list. There is no bull about it. That is a fact, and you can't get away from it. There was a fair number of you here at your Annual Meeting when your Committee was appointed, and I made these remarks then-whatever we do, whether we win or whether we lose, we should stand man to man behind the Committee, and if we do that then this Club is going to go forward, and if we can only do it from now on, we can become the strongest club in the League. But, gentlemen, it is no earthly good dividing yourselves and letting the men go out on the field with nobody even giving them a bit of a cheer.
A Member: What about me?
Mr. Page: I do hope that following this meeting we will become a united body, and that we will get right behind the Committee of Management which you appointed, and which you should be giving every ounce of your confidence to.
A Member: Which half of the Committee do we give it to?
Mr. Page: The whole of the Committee which you appointed. There is no division on the Committee, and there is no division with your players. Give those men the support that they need, and this Club will go forward and become one of the best clubs In the League. If you only do that, and I trust that you will do it and that this division will stop, and stop now, we will not go out of this place as a divided body. If you do, 1962 is just going to be the same. This is the time to weld yourselves together and to mould yourselves into the type of club that we need in Sturt. If you only do that, our boys can go out and win games, if they know the crowd round the pickets are on their side. I will tell you why the other clubs are so successful-the Port Adelaide and the Torrens, and so on-they say, "My club, right or wrong." That is their attitude-"My club, right or wrong." What is it here in Sturt? The ins want to be outs and the outs want to be ins. That is the whole trouble, and I do hope, gentlemen, that tonight you will go forward with the full and certain knowledge that if you want to make this club the type of club it should be, and could be, stand behind the Committee of Management; stand behind them and give them the type of loyalty that you should be giving them, and then we will go forward into the next season with the sure and certain know- ledge that we are going to be top of the League, and not bottom.
Mr. Dunnage: A speaker from the other side now, gentlemen. Mr. Percy Wragg. Will you come out here, please?

... to be continued