John P. Metras Sports Museum
From it’s founding in 1878 to today, Western has grown from a small university of liberal arts and medical students to one of the most accomplished in Canada. Athletics is one of the strongest links spanning this time period. Students in 1900 played tennis, hockey and basketball just as they did in 1950, and just as they do today. The John P. Metras Sports Museum was founded in 1982 to chronicle the athletic history of Western University and is today the largest museum dedicated to university athletics in Canada.
From humble beginnings on the grounds of Huron College, to the grandstand of J.W. Little Stadium and the courts of Alumni Hall, athletics at Western has experienced unrivalled growth. Today, the Western Mustangs continue to be a powerful presence in university athletics and an important part of Western’s history. Along the way, many players, coaches, administrators and members of the public have made invaluable contributions to the sporting tradition of Western over the years.
The Early Years of Athletics at Western, 1878-1919
Athletics has always been a part of student life at Western. By Western’s founding in 1878, students were already playing tennis and soccer on the grounds of Huron College. These early years were largely unorganized and recreational in nature; it was not until the turn of the century that Huron and the Medical College began organizing teams to represent themselves in intra- and extramural competition. By 1908, both colleges had established athletic associations to ensure that their students had the facilities and structure to play competitively.
The rivalry between Huron, comprising of liberal arts and divinity students, and the Medical College, or ‘Meds’ as they were referred to, formed the basis for early competition at Western. The two competed against each other in a variety of sports including basketball, soccer, rugby football and hockey, as well as the annual Field Day festivities. Both colleges also contended against teams from London city leagues.
Athletic competition at Western changed significantly with the establishment of a unified Athletic Association in 1914. Afterwards, Western fielded mostly amalgamated teams in intercollegiate and city competition, although intramural sports remained popular.
Field Day
Western’s Field Day tradition took its inspiration from the city of London, which until around 1900 held track and field competitions at the city’s parks to celebrate civic holidays. The university version, which began sometime before 1896 and ended in the 1920s, took place annually and consisted of a variety of events, including dashes, jumps, throws and the ever popular tug-of-war.
Field Day was the most popular athletic activity of the year and formed the cornerstone of the rivalry between the Arts and Meds students. The two sides competed for the John D. Wilson Cup, which was awarded to the college with the most individual victories throughout the day.
Initially, participation was limited to male students and faculty, with women relegated to spectating and serving refreshments. In later years, women competed in increasingly larger numbers.
Unification
1907 was a historic year for athletics at Western. For the first time, a combined Arts and Medsteam entered the city soccer league representing Western University rather than their individual colleges. They saw immediate success, easily winning the championship with a record of five wins to a single loss.
This was an exception rather than the norm for most of the era. It was not until the 1910s that cooperation between the colleges increased and unified teams began appearing more regularly in the city leagues. This culminated with the merger of the athletic associations in January 1914, setting the stage for over a century of athletic success.
Women in Sport
Early athletics at Western were largely dominated by men. Low enrolment numbers, a lack of facilities and the prevailing attitudes of the day restricted opportunities for women to compete. For most of this era, women’s athletic activities were sporadic, and included a 1902 basketball game that was described in the university’s literary journal, In Cap and Gown, as well as extramural tennis matches against Alma College two years later.
It was not until 1915 that the administration finally recognized the importance of athletic competition for women. In the following year, Mary Manley, from the Oakhurst School for Girls, was hired to be the university’s first director of women’s athletics.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball program at Western is one of the university’s oldest, with the first organized varsity team appearing in the 1917-18 school year. That year, with growing pressure from the student body to better support women’s athletics, the Association helped establish a city league, providing Western women with local opponents. They would compete against teams from the Y.W.C.A. and local high schools.
The league was a success. Participation increased over the next several years and a number of talented players were developed. This experience would prove invaluable once intercollegiate play began in the 1920s.
“This year for the first time in the history of Western University Arts and Medicals were found side by side on the football field, fighting the battles of their common Alma Mater…Western has become a power to be reckoned with in the realm of sport.” – In Cap and Gown, 1907