City rugby club’s history toasts 140 years of play
A LONG-TIME member of a renowned rugby club has written a book chronicling its 140-year history.
That Great Little Team on the Other Side of the Bridge is a comprehensive history of Canton Rugby Football Club.
The book was written by retired police officer and former coach and captain Terry Budd, 75. Mr Budd joined the club in 1961. He said: “It’s the 140th anniversary and people have said to me, ‘why not wait until 150?’ but I may not be around then. I thought this would be the ideal time to do it.
“It was very much a team effort. Putting it together has taken between 18 months and two years. It runs right up until the present time, when the club is enjoying a fair measure of success.
“The book entails the history from day one.
“I went through the libraries, The Western Mail and the South Wales Echo with game reports from the early history.
“I also spoke to people whose fathers and grandfathers have played for the club, there is quite a bit of hereditary history.”
The book is anything but a dry account of results. It also includes little anecdotes from Cardiff’s past.
“Apart from the history, what we have tried to achieve is to have a light-hearted story or two,” said Mr Budd.
“In the days at the Butchers Arms we were known for singing and we still have a male voice choir. They have sung at the Royal Albert Hall.”
What makes the book even more impressive is that Mr Budd handwrote the book and it was typed up with help from friends.
The stories from the past include the story of Glen Webbe, one of the first black players to play for Wales, who began at Canton Youth.
The book chronicles the life of William Stadden, known as “The Lost Son of Canton”, who strangled his wife in 1906 and then took his own life.
Mr Budd said a lot of hard work went on behind the scenes at the club.
He said: “You have to take your hats off to the committees. I know it is the players that give their blood on the pitch but we have always had strong committees and a social side.”
The book will be launched on Friday at 7.30pm at the club’s Lawrenny Avenue clubhouse.