Before the curtain had fallen on the 1921 season, stark tragedy hit the Homestead club. Its captain and stalwart defender, Bill Lambert, was fatally injured in Hebburn Mine. Injured in a fall of coal, he fought for four days but died on the Saturday. ... Again Avis with 12 goals was the club's leading scorer.
The 1919 season was badly affected by the influenza epidemic and attendances at the Homestead were severely affected. However, Weston retained the Hemmings Cup by beating Cessnock in final by 2 to 1. Trouble marked the last 10 minutes of play. When Avis netted the winning goal, Cessnock appealed for "off-side". Arguments began and one Cessnock player was ordered off. The other Cessnock players left the field. Later the Cup was awarded to Weston and Cessnock reprimanded for its unsporting action. The club officials apologised.
In their quest to retain the Gardiner Cup, "The Geordies" went down gallantly. In sequence, Weston beat Balmain Caledonians (1 to 0), Canterbury (0 all) (9 to 0) in replay in semi-final 0 all v West Wallsend: beaten 3 to 0 in replay - forced to play second half with 10 players.
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 8 July 1918, page 7
TEAM ENTERTAINED.
After the game the Newcastle players and committee were entertained by the Maitland players. Mr. G. Avis was in the chair. The loyal toast of "The King" was the first honoured. Mr. Lambert proposed "The Visitors," and spoke of the progress the game had made. Mr. Tamlyn responded, and remarked that though many of them could not agree with Mr. Tweddle's decisions, yet he knew Mr. Tweddle was a fair man, and had, he felt sure, given his decisions in a fair and conscientious manner. Mr. Dickman, who is an old president of Weston Club, and a returned soldier, proposed the health of "The Soldiers at the Front," and stated that while in England he had organised a team, and out of the eleven chosen players nine of them represented Weston in the Gardiner Cup games played in 1914. Mention was also made that it had been reported that Davy Clarke, the popular wing player, had been killed in action. Messrs. Hedge, Buxton, and others contributed to the musical programme, while in a few remarks which Mr. Buxton made, he stated that on Merewether Advance roll of honour board 76 names of Soccer players from that district appeared.
Weston Albions
Bobby Austin, Dick Austin, A. Lambert, Hicks,
Tait, Strang, Reay, Wake, Jack Avis, Taylor, Tweddle, W. Smith, P. Austin
Weston Magpies
War conditions altered competitions in 1916 and the "All Aged" was the top ranking series.
Weston entered two teams. "A" and "B", and after seven series Weston "B" topped on 13 points, Weston "A" on 11. Newcastle on 10 and Wallsend on 9 -- which quartet qualified for semi-finals. In first semi-final, Weston "A" and Newcastle played 0 all draw but Weston won the replay by 2 to 0. In the second semi-final, Weston "B" outed Wallsend by 2 to 0.
What a sensation for the club - "A" v "B" in the final on the Homestead Ground. Gate was £78 at 6d. for males, ladies free. After 90 gruelling minutes, in which both contestants shared the honours - score NIL ALL. After the final whistle, referee J. Sanderson said, "I've never refereed a better game. Both sets of players gave of their best and the crowd cheered them on."
Teams were - "A": Herb Smith, Morgan, Campbell, Kell, Snedden, Duxfield, Clarke, Taylor, Johnson, Brunskill, Davis. "B" Wes Smith, Lambert, Henry, Taft, Hollingsworth, Dick Austen, Beverley, Gilbertson, R. Austen, McNaughton, Henry Tweddle - Avis was unavailable.
The replay was taken to Blackburn Oval to allow Newcastle fans to see these two great elevens in action. But nature deposed and the game was played under very wet conditions. It was a very overcast day and players had great difficulty in controlling the impish ball. Wes Smith was replaced in goal by Bob Austen and Jack Avis led the attack. It was well into the second half, when Avis netted the all important goal.
World War I saw many deflections by enlistments in A.I.F. Weston entered 2nd Grade series so Lambert, Gilmour, Ramage, Clarke, Mather joined West Wallsend. Despite the loss of this outstanding talent, Weston created much local enthusiasm by taking out the 2nd Grade title by beating a much fancied rival, Adamstown, by 5 to 2. The "Geordies" fielded brilliant newcomers in Jack Avis, Bob Austen, Duxfield, Herb Bellamy.
Many oldtimers tell how this final victory rekindled enthusiasm in Weston during the trying war years. Their final eleven comprised - Bob Austen, Hindmarsh, J. Henry, Dick Austen, J. Snedden, Duxfield, Avis, H. Bellamy, W. Beverley, J. Veitch, J. Bellamy. Scorers in that final were J. Bellamy (2), Avis (2), Beverley (1).
Taken from HH
“The strong Weston Club lost five of its
players to West Wallsend, through the lack of a decision as to what Weston was
going to do, Carry on, or disband till the War was over.
