Football Club—On Monday this club closed the season by a hare and hounds race. The weather was beautifully fine, and at one o’clock hundreds assembled in the field used by the club. At 1.40 the two hares, Messrs N Gilbert and S Denton, were uncarted amidst the hearty plaudits of the crowd. They made their way across the Settlement Field, from the Newton-road to the Bedford-road, and the hares having had a quarter of an hour’s start, the hounds were laid on, the pack numbering 26 couples, under the able mastership of Mr F Knight. From the Bedford-road they took across to Wymington village, over the new railway up to Podington Hayes, through the wood to Hinwick village, along the bottom side, Bozeat to Grendon, and on towards Easton. Here they doubled, and ran back to Wollaston, through the village, and the park of H Hill Esq., across the fields to Irchester. From thence they went to Rushden, where they arrived at 4.50, followed at about the same time as they were allowed start by Messrs G Bull, W Freeman, W Denton, and H Billingham, in the order named. The hares were never sighted by the hounds, who ran well together until they reached Hinwick, after which point they became scattered, some of them not reaching home until an hour after the rest of the pack. The event caused quite a diversion among their shopmates, especially as it was Saint Monday. In the evening, between seven and eight o’clock, the members of the club and friends sat down to a first-rate supper, provided in the National School-room, by Mr Wood, of the Waggon and Horses Inn. The tables were very nicely decorated with spring flowers, &c. The Rev Canon Barker presided. Among those present were Messrs E Dickens, E Knight, D Percival, J Warren, C Lewis, and C Smart. Supper over, the Rev Chairman said he was sorry he could not spend the evening with them, but he had another engagement. Although he could not stay the evening through, he thought he had spent with them the best part of the holiday. He facetiously remarked that if the members could play football next year as well as they had eaten that evening, they would be the best club in the county. (Laughter) He had seen the report prepared by the secretary. It was a very modest one, as it set out the defeats of the club, while most reports set forth the victories, and said nothing of the defeats. He wished them every success in the manly game of football during the coming season, and he assured them if he could be of any use to them it would afford him great pleasure.—He then left the room amidst hearty applause.—The following is the report as prepared by the secretary (Mr C Claridge): “This being the first occasion on which the annual meeting of the Rushden Football club has been celebrated in the manner it has been tonight, it may not be uninteresting to the members, and we trust not out of place, to give a brief history of the club since its formation in 1877. Some of the members of the Rushden Cricket Club were very desirous of starting a football club in the place, as at that time no club was in existence. Those most interested in the scheme talked the matter over, and in the end a meeting of the members of the cricket club was convened in the Temperance |Hall for the express purpose of discussing the advisability of starting a football club. The result of the meeting was the formation of the Football Club in connection with the Rushden Cricket Club. The meeting was held on the 8th November 1877, so that, with the termination of the present season, the club had been in existence four seasons. It has made very satisfactory progress from the first, and we think we may safely say it has become stronger every season. During the first season we received a challenge from the Irthlingborough F.C., who at this time were considered a very strong club. We accepted the challenge, and played them on their own ground. As was to be expected, we were beaten, although we made a good fight, and had not one of our best men met with an accident necessitating his leaving the ground, doubtless a victory would have been averted. This was the only match played during the first season, as Irthlingborough could not come up to play the return match, and, though they have been coming up season after season since, they have not yet succeeded in getting here. Those who were fortunate enough to be selected to play against them this season need hardly to be reminded of this fact. During the second season, owing to our being unable to get matches arranged with Irthlingborough and Oundle Grammar School, no matches at all were played in the season 1878 and 1879. We were more fortunate in 1879 and 1880, for during this season we played seven matches, and of these five we won, one we lost, and one was drawn. Coming to the present season, we are able to report a very successful one, both as regards matches played and the strength of the club. We have played this season 14 matches. Of these we have won eight, lost five, and one has been drawn. Most of the matches played have been with some of the best clubs in the county as well as out of it, and we think we are to be congratulated on making a good match with such clubs as the Northampton Town, Leicester town, and others of a like character. The five matches lost this season have been with the Kettering Club, at Kettering; the Northampton Town, at Rushden; the Leicester; the Wanderers, at Northampton; and the Northampton Town at Northampton. The first match lost was with the Kettering Club. We forbear to make any remark upon the match, except to say it was of a most enjoyable nature, as all those who witnesses it well know. The next match lost was with the Northampton Town, at Rushden. This was a capitally contested match, and also a very enjoyable one. The result was: The Town, one goal; the Rushden, two tries. Leicester Town, on their own ground, was the next match we lost. Here we found the very strongest team, we think, that we have yet played. It was a splendid match, and very evenly contested, the result being: Leicester, one goal (kicked from a disputed try) and one try to nothing. In this match, more perhaps than in any other played since, we missed the services of our captain, who, since the town match, when he met with an accident, has been unable to play with us. All the members, we are sure, sincerely regret that he has not yet sufficiently recovered to be able to play, and join with us in the hope that soon he will be all right again. Had he and Mr Keep been able to play with us the result might have been different. In the match with the Wanderers we took a very weak team, reserving a much better one for Irthlingborough, who were to have played on the same day. The Wanderers, not forgetting their defeat at Rushden, put together a strong team against us, and in the end we were defeated by one try. The last match lost was the one with the Northampton Town Club last Saturday, where we were deprived of the services of two of our best forwards, who did not turn up. Northampton played very hard, and the result was one goal and one try to Northampton, to one goal to Rushden. This was the only club that beat us in both matches. In the 14 matches we obtained 18 goals and 20 tries, whilst our opponents have scored against us five goals (two disputed) and five tries. The following members have gained the tries in the various matches:- C Wilby 8, played in 5 matches; C Bull 8, played in 12 matches; G Mason 4, played in 13 matches; G Bull 4, plated in 10 matches; W Burgess 3, played in 11 matches; W Clayton 3, played in 11 matches. The following obtained one try each:- J Linnett, G Wagstaff, S Denton, and W Foreman. On the whole, we think there is much cause for congratulation on the matches played, and also with regard to the Club’s success financially. Although the expenses have been heavy, we have been able to report a balance in hand of £1 15s. 6d.; and, while we are speaking of money, it will not be out od place to explain why it was that a charge for admission was made at our principal home matches. Everyone knows that in playing football a player is likely to meet with an accident. Fortunately, we have had no very serious accident, but if one of our members had met with an accident we should have felt it to be our duty, as a club, to help him. The money not having been required for this purpose, we decided to help to bear the expenses of members in playing out matches, and in this way most of the money has been expended. We think hardly anyone will begrudge the payment of 2d. to see a good match, and we trust our remarks as to the way such money has been spent is sufficiently satisfactory. We would conclude with the earnest hope that the interest now shown in football may continue, and that the success of the Rushden Football Club in the future may be even greater than it has been this season.”

The report was considered very satisfactory, and unanimously adopted. The room was then cleared for dancing, and a very merry evening was spent. Votes of thanks were accorded Mr Wood for the excellent manner the supper was served up, to the secretary for his able report, and the proceedings terminated.