Newspaper Reports concerning Sidney Foster

Physique at the Zoo.

Perhaps you fancy there is little interest about a tug-of-war. Over 4,000 people thought otherwise, very much so, at Halifax Zoo on Saturday night, and only wild horses could have dragged them from the spectacle presented. They looked on, fascinated, for more than two solid hours. The authorities had offered a first prize valued five guineas, and a second worth £3 10s; gold medals for the victors, silver ones with gold centres for their followers, it being understood that the recipients might, if desired, exchange these for anything of equal value. AAA rules were observed, and Mr Sydney Foster, by that body, was judge, and proved a perfectly fair one. The pull was 12 feet, six each side of the centre tape, this being over the centre line at the start, the rope taut, and the competitors outside side lines. The site had been prepared. Music was interspersed by the band, and the evening being balmy, besides delightfully clear, most who attended must have greatly enjoyed the relaxation. Seven teams entered, each for the best two pulls out of three, and it was the invariable rule that the winner of the toss chose by the way of the pull

Players as Bearers – Funeral of Mr Sidney Foster

The funeral of Mr Sidney Foster, the secretary-manager of Halifax Rugby League Football Club, who died in Rochdale Infirmary on Good Friday [3rd April 1931], following a seizure while attending the semi-final at Rochdale week before, took place at Lister Lane Cemetery, Halifax, to-day.

A large number of people assembled to watch the funeral procession, and several hundreds followed the mourners to service in St Mary's Church, which was conducted Bishop Frodsham, vicar of Halifax.

The Halifax players attended in full force, and Rees, Higgins, Bland, Newman, Norcliffe and Renton acted as bearers.

Former players present were: George F. Dickinson, Archie Percy Emmett, Miss Eugenie and C. E. Hadwen, W. R. Wedgwood, T. Nicholl, A. Akroyd, J. C. Stacey, Frank Williams and C. Garforth.

From the Rugby League were: W. J. Lingard, John Wilson (secretary), W. Popplewell, A. Townend, Miss Eugenie and J. Lewthwaite and W. Waid (Australia).

From the Halifax Club Committee were: C. Sheldrake (president), S. Latham, H. Wagstaff, George Walker, H. H. Nuttall and D. Ollerenshaw.

Among numerous old friends present were: Mr H. H. Waller (a former player and president of the League), Mr G. P. Wilkinson, Mr A. Peel, Mr A. Lingard, Mr C. E. Heydon, E. Abbey, J. Johnson, C. E. Horsfall. C. Hind and Broadbent, and from the Huddersfield R. L. Club were: R. Lockwood, H. Brooke, F. Wright and G. Reynard (secretary)