The reminiscences of A.W.Cocks
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In a large book the property of Mr. A. W. Cocks, of Lefevre terrace, North Adelaide, which was handed to the proprietors of The Register, are many clippings, written references, and programmes of sporting fixtures of bygone days. These will be dealt with in The Register each Friday during the next few weeks.
Mr. Cocks was once a member of the firm of Messrs. Main, Sells, & Co., and after managing Wilgena Station for a number of years, he subsequently purchased the property. While there he often covered long distances on foot. Some of his performances are worthy of special mention.
Mr. Cocks was born at St. John's Wood, London, in 1860. He came to Australia when eight years old. As a boy he was phenomenally speedy, and his records date back to the period when he was seven years old. It was at a boarding school at Epsom, England, that he won a foot race for boys under 10 years. All started from scratch. Young Cocks was the junior of the school, but he won the event in tolerably easy fashion. Soon after landing in Sydney the lad was sent to Adelaide, and he resumed his education at St. Peter's College.
First Intercollegiate match
The first intercollegiate match between Saints and Princes was played in 1871, and, of course, young Cocks was present. His companion was Alex Murray, now a director of Elder, Smith, & Co. Both boys were intensely interested in the game, which was played in a vastly different fashion from that which obtains at the present time. There were no umpires then. The conditions of the game were inaugurated by the St. Peter's Collegiate Committee, and they were agreed to by all the players of the colleges, and those who played the game elsewhere.
The St. Peter's team was captained by E. N. Twopenny, and among others who wore the blue and white guernsey were W. Gwynne, J. and H. Acraman. C. Paterson, Ned Colley, G. Bagot, R. Ross, W. Upton, C. Hughes, 'Buck' Chapman, and Melville Jay. For Princes, A. S. Langsford, the Melroses, the Evans's, and Sunter (captain), were prominent players. The ball was kicked off from the centre of the ground. The captains tossed for choice of direction. The players stood behind their respective skippers, and after the 'bounce' they ran to their places. Each side was composed of 22 players.
To secure a goal it was necessary for the ball to be kicked over a bar about seven feet from the ground, and under a rope stretcher across from each goal post at an additional height of about ten feet. If a player secured possession and did not bounce the ball, the opposing side was allowed to hack, trip, sling, or practically do anything they chose, but if he were bouncing it every five yards they we're only allowed to "shoulder' him or to knock the ball out of his hands. If the sphere went out of bounds the player whose fault it was, was penalized, and his immediate opponent was allowed a free kick at right angles from the boundary. When the ball was kicked or driven behind there was a rush to touch it. One side had the right to kick off 15 yards from the, line, or the opposing players could decide which one was to have a shot for goal at 25 yards distance from the goal in a straight line from where it was touched. In some cases a player stood still in the field and bounced the ball so cleverly that it was a most difficult matter to obtain possession of it.
New rules
In 1873 the rules were somewhat altered and 20 players were allowed on each side. At that time the Kensington Club was formed, and the new conditions were adopted by the principal clubs. The following year the Adelaide Club was founded, and in 1875 football began to advance in public interest. Mr. R. E. N. Twopenny then took interest in the game and the association began to take definite shape.
First team from Melbourne
The first team to visit Adelaide from Melbourne was St. Kilda, which came across at the invitation of the Adelaides. Only two halves were played, three-quarters of an hour each, practically all the field followed the ball, and if one player posted himself in from of the goal he was termed a 'sneak.' and was therefore somewhat held in contempt by his fellow players. Subsequently, several notable players in Melbourne were induced to cross the border and play in Adelaide. Among them were Messrs. J. R. Osborn, J. Pollock, L. Suhard, and S. McMichael.
Footnotes
Title: Mr. A. W. Cocks. An Interesting career. Early football history recalled.
Author: Rosscommon
Publisher: The Register (Adelaide, SA: 1901-1929)
Date: Friday 13 June 1924
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