[THIS BLOG STARTS FROM HERE]
This club had its beginning in the late '50's when a group of teenagers from St. Mary's School, Sandakan, North Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia) came together and formed a football team and named it after the then reigning FC in England -- Tottenham Hotspur. It was just 10 years after the end of World War II, and kids then had limited access to other modes of entertainment. It was natural that most would congregate at the main town padang (playing field) and play football.
Thus, a group of skinny school boys, with the moral and financial supports from some parents and their friends, braving those ancient heavy leather soccer balls of the immediate post WWII era, embarked on a mission to establish a strong football team in Sandakan. When the club finally ended in the late 60’s, due mainly to members leaving overseas for higher education, the team had indeed made an impact on the football scene in Sandakan.
The Sandakan Town Padang serves as a second home to many Spurs members
L-R (Back Row)Lee Sai Ming, Peter Kan, Willy Tong, Tay Muk Nyen, William Koh, Felix Chin (Front Row) Stephen Tan, John Leong, David Chan, Henry Chan, David Kan and Alfred Funk
In the mid 60’s, the team made a highly successful tour to play matches with teams in various districts in the West Coast of North Borneo. They soundly trounced all their opponents.
LADY SECTION
Up to 1962, the club was a “boys only” affair. Serious discussions were held in 1963 on the admission of lady members. One of the aims was for the promotion of “Social understanding amongst fellow members”. With the introduction of this new section, the club was transformed into a “sports club” as football was still an inappropriate game for girls then. Lady members could participate in activities like athletics, basketball, table tennis and others.
(BACK ROW, L-R) LEE SAI MING, FELIX CHIN, JAMES CHAW, JOHN LEONG, JOHN LIAW, WILLIAM LIAU, PATRICK CHIN, MAUREEN LIEW, KAN KAM YING, ELIZABETH CHONG, VIRGINIA TSAM
(FRONT) HENRY CHAN, FELIX CHUNG, TAY MOK NYEN, STEPHEN TAN, DAVID KAN, DAVID CHAN, SOH KOK WAI, (..), PETER KAN, (..)
The first activity involving lady members took place on 8 August 1963 (photo above). A picnic outing was organized. The destination was the swimming pool at Mile 5 owned by Man Woo Loong (MWL). This was a private pool and due written permission for the usage of the pool was obtained from MWL. Unfortunately, when the eager participants arrived at the pool there was disappointment. Apparently, the pool had just been cleaned out and the water had not been replenished to the suitable level for swimming purposes. Nevertheless, members could still splash about and have a lot of fun.
ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP GATHERINGS
First Anniversary (1962)
The club celebrated its first anniversary on a grand scale on 10 April 1962. It was held at the official residence of Peter Kan’s father, who was a senior police officer under the British Administration of North Borneo. Practically all the members, then numbering more than 20 turned up for the occasion.
Mr. Kan’s house had a spacious sitting room well suited for the function. A colonial-day structure, it was constructed mainly of timber, and raised above ground on stilts. It was located at a lush valley, with a pristine stream nearby. Spotted around the compound were several local fruit trees. All these provided us plenty of opportunities to let off our teenage energy. The house could be accessed from the highway which was the first section of the North and Labuk Road. Because of its proximity to the town centre (about 5 minutes’ walk), the house was in an ideal gathering place for members to participate in off-the-field activities.
SUBSEQUENT FELLOWSHIP GATHERINGS (PIX ONLY)
2002 - SANDAKAN
2003 - SANDAKAN
2004 KOTA KINABALU (GAYANA RESORT)
2005 - KOTA KINABALU
2006 - SANDAKAN
(A spin-off event in Kota Kinabalu)
2007 - TAWAU
2008 - SANDAKAN
*2009 KK/ACTIVITY PHOTOS*
** Fellowship at Likas Square Condotel
** Buffet Dinner at No. 56 Taman Golden City
** Main Dinner at Lucky Restaurant, Penampang
** Visit to Holy Family Home, Papar
** Farewell Breakfast Gathering
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More activity photos at:
http://fpwillkoh.fotopages.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10669109@N03/sets/
**CURRENT NEWS/EVENTS
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Photo Shoot
While doing my "Down Memory Lane" photo project in Sandakan last November, P Kan and I bumped into Henry Chan (our goal keeper), who was strolling with his wife. All of us in fact were in Sandakan for the same purpose. i.e. to attend the wedding function of the daughter of Philip & Irene Wu. Henry's wife took over his camera for the shot below.
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Wedding (June 2009) -- Son of Leonard Lau and Daughter of Edward Kan
Peter Kan met up with Leonard Lau Pui Wan after a lapse of more than 40 years and thousands of miles from Sandakan. Pix above, taken in Toronto, Canada shows Peter (centre) with Leonard (2nd right) and Edward Kan Siew Ching (right). It must be the first set of marriage between the children of fellow Spur members. Edward and Leonard are now “chanka”.
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PHOTOS FROM THE GLORIOUS PAST
Photos in this section are dug out from the albums kept by club members.
*****Miscellaneous Photos during Training
*****St. Mary's Senior A Team won the Shim Ching Ho Shield for Inter-School Football Tournament in 1964. 7 of the team members in the pix below are from Hotspur Club
*****West Coast Invasion:
*****Social Activities:
Chung K T, D Kan, A Funk and W Liau posing near the Reliance Electrical Shop during Chinese New Year 1962
Walking around the town was a favourite past-time in those days. Photo at left shows Spurs members stopping outside the Liat & Co. next to the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank. Also in the picture is Thomas Chan (scouter, teacher, badminton champion...).
Another past time was "yam cha" session. Most walks would ultimately end up at "Silver Star" or some other popular coffee houses.
*******A Meeting in Progress*******
Date: 23 January, 1965
Venue: Si Yip Association, Sandakan
This series of photographs were taken during the last time I attended the meeting of the club. Soon I would be on my way to Auckland, New Zealand, and Peter Kan would leave for Melbourne, Australia.
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