From the end of 1892….under the auspices of the Blantyre Victoria Football Club an amateur concert was held in the Masonic Hall on Monday evening (28th November 1892), when there was a crowded attendance.
The hall at that time was at the junction of Forrest Street and Glasgow Road and this amazing photo of the early team the following year, potentially showing somewhere near that location.
A great description was put in the newspaper for that evening, the reporters in their usual Victorian flowery language describing the event. As follows,
“Major Ness (the schoolmaster) occupied the chair, supported right and left by the Rev. Mr Pryde and Mr William Smith. In his opening remarks, the chairman paid a high eulogy to the games, and tendered the audience, as it should be placed, by the introduction of the best of feeling and manners, and during the evening gave statistics relative to the position of the Blantyre club.”
“He also introduced the various performers in a racy style, which stamped him the right man in the right place. A lengthy programme of mixed selections, under the able guidance of Mr Walter Watson, constituted the evening’s programme, and was carried without a hitch, the various performers being Mrs Hamilton (soprano), Mr Charles Glen (baritone), Mr William Smith (tenor), Mr McCormick (comedian), Mr A. Steven (member of the Christy’s troupe, and banjo player), Mr Watson (reader), with Master R. Steven as accompanist, being warmly received, and in many instances encored. Mr Bard was also present, and gave selections at intervals. The customary votes of thanks to the performers, who willingly and gratuitously gave their services, and the chairman, closed a successful concert financially and otherwise.”
This was an early year for Blantyre Vics. Fundraising had never been so important and would have been reliant upon events like these.