James Nicolas: In the early 1970’s for the 100th time my plastic footy was kicked into the garden of the Edwardian house at the end of Willandra Ave, Canterbury. Out of the house came an elderly man who was not happy and said, “If you want to kick a footy around and wreck peoples gardens, why don’t ya go down to Canterbury footy club and have a kick”
He was a no nonsense type. He passed away a few years later and one day I was talking with a neighbour who said to me that this man Fred Horkings had been a legend of the Canterbury FC. I found his name on our Honour board as a Life member, and discovered that old Mr Horkings had started his involvement with the club in 1920 and was president of the club for 9 years. In those 9 years its three teams won a combination of 7 First Division flags.
He was for 40 years a member of the Grounds committee, and served for ten years as the president of the Canterbury Senior Citizens club. He finished as club president in 1960, and then became treasurer of the SESFL in 1964. At a time when many of the leagues committee were ex-Canterbury people.
Mr Fred Horkings is virtually forgotten by all at the club as his involvement ended over 50 years ago, but is a worthy nomination for president of the legends team.
Canterbury Reserves premiership team 1956. Mr Fred Horkings with hat at far right of picture.
In this picture is also Tank Hicks at rear in short sleeves a very popular player who died not many years after this photo, Kevin Woodford a Life member, seated middle row 3rd from left, who was a club trainer when I played at the club. His son was a very good full back at the time and now coaches Blackburn girls Under 16’s team. Of course the seniors also won the premiership in this year in a strong era for the club.
