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BUSBRIDGE RETIRES.
Close of Fine Career.
A Big Testimonial.
Ho wns smiling when I met W. Bus-
brldgo.'tho EaHondon hero, on Wednes
day, after walking along Flinders
street. The merry look was, doubt-
loss, duo to the feelim? of xntisfnrtinn
at being able to get about after his In-
Jury of Saturday, when It looked as If
ho would bo laid up for n long spoil.
"I went up for a mark," he said, "and
I was very tired. In coming down I
brought buck the old Injury to my knee.
Ono of our men said to mo Just before
this, 'Oh, easo ofT: wo'ru beaten!' But
I thought It would bo a bud oxnmplo to
others, nnd I was determined to finish
as well as I could, especially on a day
when the team was playing badly, it
la all In tho game. 1 -suppose, but It Is
my last appearance." Busbrldgo went
down ivIUi flying colors, nnd one emi
nently' satisfactory thing about tho mls-
fortuno was tho outburst of cheers
from the' spectators, as an ex.
prosslon of tholr sympathy with the
man, who had played brilliantly from
tho tlmo tho nuitch vvun started until
ho was put out of action, HIh absoncn
from tho Hold will mean a eevoro Iobb to
Essendon nnd to tbe game, which for po
long ho has played honorably and
val|, Esoendon, In appreciation of
Busbriclgo's lino services to tho club for
nlno years, has decided to present him
with a testimonial. Tho commiltco has
given 2fi guineas, and subscription lists
will bo Issued at to-morrow's match.
Mr C. E. Cuthbcrt, of Chancery lane,
writes:— Having been a patron of foot
ball since tho days ot ouch hcroon as?
Nick Loitghimu, Charley Forrester,
George Coulthard, Robertson, and many
other heroes loo numerous to mention,
I must say that wo havo not hud a
flnor or moro manly pluyor than Bus-
bridge, of Essendon, who, I regret to
Bay, Is retiring from the game. Ho has
been n model player, and I feci suro
that thoro nro thousands as well ns
myself who would llko to contribute to
some sort of a fund to mako n presen
tation to this sterling player. I would
suggest a 1/' subscription, and forward
herewith!/ to start tho snowball rolling,
(Postal noto.rccolvod.— Ed. "H,")
$