The ‘GH Raw Cup’ was presented to the Natal Football Association by Mr GH Raw in 1889, to promote the playing of football. Mainly Pietermaritzburg and Durban clubs participated, and the two high schools, Maritzburg College and DHS, competed for it in the inaugural year, 1889.
College won and (as show in the photograph below) – that triumphant team was captained by Arthur Hime seen holding the Raw Cup itself. This is College’s oldest known team photo.
For 62 years the Cup moved all around KZN as different clubs won the trophy year by year until the competition fell away. In 2008, the Raw Cup was found on a table at a flea market and the archivist at DHS, Mr JJ Oddy (who, very appropriately, was educated at both College and DHS), persuaded the owner to donate it to “School”, so that the fixture of more than 100 years prior could be rekindled. Current College MIC of Soccer Mike Dibben and the 1st team coach Chemon Petersen played in that 2008 edition of the Raw Cup at DHS.
The 1889 College team was made up of young men, many of whom in later years achieved fame in the sporting world – as an article that appeared in The Natal Witness in 1925 informs us.
Arthur Hime represented Maritzburg at both soccer and rugby, and captained several Natal cricket teams. By 1925, he was a steward of the Durban Turf Club and the President of the City Sporting Club and is generally very popular. Despite the fact that he was one of the busiest men in town, he “always had had an ear for secretaries worried over club affairs”, and as chairman of the Maritzburg Sports Association he acted as a link between the Town Council and the sporting bodies, and exerted an important influence where it was necessary.
The follow is an extract from the article from 1925:
Mr Hime is one of the rapidly growing number of the older school who recognize the part which sport plays in the life of the community. Perhaps the next most prominent man in the first Raw’s Cup winning team was COH. Sewell, who better known as “Skilly” Sewell had a wonderful career in the sporting world. As a mere lad he topped the batting average of the South African team to visit England, and later played two seasons in the Gloucestershire XI with distinction. He was a fine bowler, a magnificent batsman and also well-known as a soccer player. “Skilly” is now resident in England, but one can wager he has a warm corner in his heart for Natal.
EJ Holgate, a well-known cricketer and footballer in his day, subsequently became chairman of the Durban Turf Club, a position he filled for some years. He is now a solicitor practicing in Durban.
GL Findlay, now a medical practitioner resident in England, was also a prominent cricketer in later years, and played with his more famous brother in Natal teams.
W McEwan, a fast winger who also played representative rugby, has now unfortunately been called to his fathers. He was a brother of a popular City sportsman, Mr J McEwan.
Harold Oates, now living in or near Harrismith, was another well-liked soccerite, who pulled his weight in the College team.
W Colenbrander, a member of a well-known Natal family, was a fine footballer, who somehow drifted out of the game after leaving College. He is now a surveyor in the Northern Districts.
J Raw, who also played in the winning team, was a nephew of the donor of the trophy, Mr George Raw. He is still resident in the City.
RM Lindsay, another soccer and rugby man, played cricket for Natal and was included in the first South African rugby team to meet the visiting Englishmen. He was a fine sprinter and one of the best all-round players in the town. He is now a farmer at Umzinto.
CM Patterson, still well-known in cricketing and shooting circles, played cricket for Natal during his career. He is now in Port Elizabeth.
Of Alf Scorgie, little can be learnt beyond the fact that he was a member of the College team.
Of the old school [i.e. College] team, it is gratifying to note that, with the exception of McEwan, each member is still enjoying good health, and long may they continue to enjoy it. This will be the wish of their many friends.
Maritzburg College archives
We wish our mighty 1st XI soccer team all the very best as they play DHS for the Raw Cup on Saturday 19 August on Barns’.