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Part 4
1916
The Mosgiel Rangers club met on April 13th for their AGM. John Caldwell chaired while the office bearers were selected and to review the previous years activity. Despite the difficult times, the club had at least broken even. The following Tuesday a meeting was set for all to find out what the OFA had decided for the coming season in view of the dwindling numbers of senior players.
The proposal was to have senior teams, but only with players under the military age of 20 years. And if the clubs felt that they could field a competitive team despite this restriction then they should do so. The OFA felt that they could not sanction a competition that involved fit and healthy men that could be serving and at the same time believed the physical activity for the young men would stand them in good stead when they were called up.
At this point, Mosgiel Rangers had already sent eight players to the front, but felt able to enter one team in the second grade. As it happened, we found ourselves in the 'A' Grade with 5 other teams. The 'A' and 'B' grades were run on a 'friendly' basis, there being no trophies awarded to the victors but the 'C' and 'D' grades, being competed for by youths, remained competitive,
The team had a good start. Travelling to Kaitangata for a pre season friendly on Good Friday, they returned with a 3 – 2 victory.
The season proper was not so enjoyable though and just three games were played, all losses. The ODT report on Mosgiels last match, in June, told of the absence of Mosgiels goalkeeper at the Gardens ground. An 'unpracticed spectator' had to be seconded for the custodians role and at the end of 90 minutes had collected the ball from his net 10 times. The writer kindly wrote, at the point at which we were 7 down; 'A less courageous team might have been daunted by such crushing odds, but Rangers plugged on briskly, and refused to acknowledge defeat until the final whistle, declining to agree to a proposed curtailment of the game because of failing light.'. Dave Hanlin managed to score twice to narrow the gap to 9 – 2 before Northern put the tenth away on full time.
The Borough council had granted us the use of the Recreation Ground again but it only saw the one match against Southern. At least, for the first time, we know who all the Mosgiel goalscorers were for the season; H. McLean, John Whitson and Dave Hanlin (2)!
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