A small but significant milestone in Wanganui sport was recognised yesterday as April 30 represented the 100th anniversary of the amalgamation of the Wanganui Football Club and the Collegiate Old Boys Football Club.
Done in the shadow of World War I, it was decided at the AGM of Wanganui Footballon April 23, 1915 that the two clubs should amalgamate, as records showed 19 club members had enlisted to fight.
"The combined club in future will be known as the Wanganui - Old Football Club, the colours being Red and Black," the Wanganui Chronicle reported at the time.
John Thurlow provided the research in the old newspapers for what eventually became Wanganui & Old Boys Rugby Football Club.
"Chronicle records [papers past], monitored closely the Wanganui Football Club from its establishment in 1872 [and] its involvement with Collegiate School in the founding of the Wanganui Rugby Union," Thurlow said.
