1914-10-22as

“There’ll be no more rowdyism connected with football games in Hamilton.”

Hamilton Herald.   October 22, 1914.

The Tigers from Hamilton played the Argonauts from Toronto  on October 17 1914. It was a home field tilt for the Tigers played at the H.A.A.A. grounds.

Toronto-Hamilton rivalry was always a tradition and the intensity was amplified when it came to football.

The game on October 17, 1914 was a particularly heated contest, but as noted in the Ottawa Free Press, the outburst of unruly behavior by the Hamilton fans after that game was typical:

“Hamilton rejoices in the title of the town with good football teams and roughneck crowds. To win on the football field at Hamilton usually means a bad battering up while traversing the thoroughfares en route to the hotel – for the winning team.

“Two years ago, the Ottawa team beat the Tigers in Hamilton. The referees were almost lynched, while the Ottawa players were punched and jostled all the way to their bus, then stoned the rest of the way to the hotel.

“The same treatment is said to have been handed Argonauts last Saturday. ‘Bout time they got over bush stuff of that kind in Hamilton”

-      reprinted in the Hamilton Herald, October 22, 1914.

There was a major contest scheduled for the H.A.A.A. grounds for Saturday, October 29, 1914 :

“The Tiger management has taken steps to prevent a recurrence of last Saturday’s tactics when a number of ‘well-dressed’ hoodlums followed the Argonaut tally-ho and shied stray bricks in its wake.

“The police who have hitherto been getting well paid for watching any such rowdyism have been instructed to hereafter pay strict attention to the visiting club, and to see that they get out of the field unharmed.

“Should Saturday’s affair be repeated, it is the intention of the Tigers to bar all youngsters from the field at all times. Visiting teams have had more than one narrow escape, and the yellow and black officials feel that only drastic measures will ensure them protection.”¹

¹ “No More Rowdyism at Local Rugby Games or Boys Will Be barred”

Hamilton Herald.   October 22, 1914.

The day before the Herald prominently carried the story of the uncontrolled, and abusive behavior of some Tigers at the H.A.A.A, grounds, the same subject dominated a meeting of the Hamilton Police Commissioners.

The H.A.A.A. grounds were in the middle of a densely packed neighbourhood, its boundaries being, roughly Queen to Reginald streets, Charlton Avenue to Bold street..

A letter from Mr. Norman, of Robinson street was read to police commissioners. In the letter, Mr. Norman complained that boys who were in the habit of taking a ‘fency’ position for the games trampled on his lawn and made themselves otherwise objectionable.”¹

Police Magistrate George Jelfs was clearly annoyed  about the situation at the H.A.A.A. grounds during Tiger games :

“ ‘While we are on this question, I might say that I was utterly disgusted with the actions of boys and some young men  last Saturday who threw stones and mud at the tally-ho in which the Argonauts were being conveyed from the grounds. The trouble commenced first when some  of the crowd became angry at the decisions of the referee. I will certainly punish severely any who come before me and are found guilty of such conduct,’ said the magistrate.

“ ‘Anyone who acts like that is not a sport,’ chipped in the mayor.”

Police Chief Smith noted those in charge of the H.A.A.A. grounds have pay for the officers on special duty at event. The chief was instructed to augment those officers and ensure that there would no more rowdyism at Hamilton football games.