PRESIDENT OF 35 YEARS

The splendid spirit of goodwill and sportsmanship which exists between supporters, directors, and players of Association football was happily exemplified at the dinner in celebration of the official opening of the Linfield Football Club's new stand and pavilion at Windsor Park, Belfast, and the visit of the world-famous Glasgow Rangers.

The dinner followed a match between the Scottish Blues and the Irish Blues at the above ground, where many thousands saw a fine exhibition of football. The result was a scoreless draw.

Sir Robert Baird, D.L., kicked off, and during the interval he performed the opening ceremony and unfurled the club's new flag.

Mr. John Warwick, President of Linfield F.C., presided at the interval and called upon Sir Robert Baird to declare the new stand, pavilion and dressing rooms officially open.

PAVILION COMMITTEE'S ENTERPRISE

This club was, he thought, always at its best when tackling some big project. It bonded the members together in even stronger ties of interest and loyalty, and he believed he was correct in saying that Linfield's big membership, both at home and overseas, was imbued with the one great ambition to have the balance of the £10,000 cleared off in record time.

The best monument to Linfield progressiveness was to be seen by looking round, and he thought they were entitled to congratulate the architects and the builders. He also congratulated the directors and all the officials of the club and the Pavilion Club Committee upon their energy and enterprise, and to express the hope that the highest success would attend all their progressive endeavours.

Welcoming the Rangers' team Sir Robert! said: "If we have not yet a ground here equal to Ibrox Park we are going as near to it as possible, and perhaps some day—for Linfield is not finished yet—we may have the pleasure of asking our Glasgow friends over and be able to point to this enclosure and say 'What better have you at your place ? ' At all events they won't mind us having such an ambition, for it is always a good thing to have a high ideal."

PROJECT NEARING COMPLETION

Mr. John Warwick, president of Linfield F.C. said that as he, looked back over the long road which the Linfield Club had travelled, and the many bright pages which it had written in football history, of the difficulties which it had surmounted, and contrast its present magnificent home and surroundings with its first modest beginning's, he realised what men who were united about common purposes and had a passionate love of their club could do.

The great project now nearing completion would put Linfield Club in a most satisfactory and enviable position, and, great as was the loyalty and devotion to it in bygone days, it seemed to have rallied around it again a band of enthusiastic supporters, whose labours and eagerness would well stand comparison with those of the happy band of eager spirits that first brought the club into the limelight.

They were now housed in a comfortable position, and there seemed no reason why they should not go on to achieve even better things than they had done in the past. Sport without comradeship, good-fellowship, and friendly feeling was not worthy of the name.

PRESENTATION TO MR. WARWICK

At a later stage in the proceedings, Captain Wilton, on behalf of the club, presented Mr. Warwick, who has been president of the club for the past 35 years, with his painting in oils, and paid an eloquent tribute to Mr, Warwick's services to football in general, and to the Linfield Club in particular. His name, he said, would be remembered as long as that club was in existence.

Mr. Warwick, who received an ovation, said it really was difficult for him to find language which would adequately convey how much their presentation and kind remarks impressed him. He thanked them most sincerely and heartily, and would treasure the portrait as a very happy reminder of his long associations with the Linfield Football Club.

"I have been for 35 years your president," he added, "and in all that period I was only absent from your meeting upon two occasions. As I look back over the long road which the Linfield Club has travelled; of the many bright pages which it has written in football history; of the difficulties which it has encountered and surmounted; and contrast its present magnificent home and surroundings with its first modest beginnings, I realise what men who are united about a common purpose, and have a passionate love of their club can do."

The great project now nearing completion, he continued, would put Linfield Club in a most satisfactory and enviable position, and, great as was the loyalty and devotion to it in bygone days it seemed to have rallied around it again a band of enthusiastic supporters, whose labours and eagerness would well stand comparison with those of the happy hand of eager spirits that first brought the club into the limelight of publicity. The Linfield Club had a record of successes in all the various competitions that would bear comparison.

SPORTSMEN FIRST

They set up a standard of sport which had for its outstanding feature to be sportsmen first, and successful only in so far as they were good sports. They took their victories without any unfair or unmanly elation and their defeats - without any whimpering, whining, or apologies. He, never wanted to see other clubs lose, but he would not be honest if he did not say that he always wanted to see Linfield win, provided that it was the better team.

They were now housed in a comfortable position and there seemed no reason why they should not go on to achieve even greater things than they had done in the past.

The portrait with which he had been presented, said Mr. "Warwick in conclusion, was an expression of the qualities of comradeship, good fellowship and friendly feelings in sport, and he thanked them all for their friendship and for the gift, and was very happy now, as always, in his cordial, relationships with the club, and of all those who wish well to Linfield.