The Value of Sport

Over the long history of Concordia, sport has played an important role in the lives of students. Particularly during the early years of the College, boys lived, worked, studied and played together, almost as one big family. Games were always a highlight.
An article in the first issue of the Brown and Gold magazine in 1924 reminds readers of the importance of maintaining a balance between study and sport.

‘Who would deny a game of cricket or tennis or football to a young student whose head is ‘swimming’ after the long hours of mental toil, and whose face is pale and serious, when it is known that the fun and movement of the game will bring back colour to his cheek, smiles and laughter to his countenance, and brightness to his eye. The games are grand; they serve a most useful purpose at our College.’
‘But’, he continues, ‘there are boys who positively do not like sport. This is very remarkable. But it is no use quarrelling with people’s temperaments. There are some strange souls among us.’

The article concludes by pointing out that ‘sports are a danger if indulged in too much. Their very attractiveness, which makes them so useful as a tonic for a student’s mind, has drawn many a promising youth from his path of duty and made of him a worthless sports fiend.’

The 1905 tennis team is one of the oldest sports photos in the Heritage Centre archives.