 
Te Aroha News
6 March 2009
Cobras
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| Eric Hancock & John Carter |
Eric Hancock and John Carter are two of Cobras' true pioneers. From the ashes of the old Te Aroha United club, Mr Hancock and the late Paul Carroll set up COB.
The first clubrooms were a storeroom behind what is now Unichem Pharmacy in Whitaker St (in those days also a pharmacy run by Cobras' player Logan Packer), with an entrance off Rewi St.
Mr Hancock remembers some complaints from players' mothers over the supply of liquor. "We went dry for a month, lemonade and cold pies."
A strong connection with the United club and a desire to forge a link with the new college spurred Mr Hancock's interest in forming COB.
Links with the Carter family also saw Mr Hancock "encourage" a teenage John Carter to join the first committee. Mr Carter had just left secondary school and was working across the road from Mr Hancock's business. "What Eric said, went," Mr Carter said. He remembers approaching the first committee about running a dance the club had 35 pounds in the bank and organising the dance would cost 65 pounds. "They said I could give it a go," said Mr Carter. "We made 35 pounds."
In those first clubrooms it was not uncommon for 50-60 members to gather and listen to test matches on the radio. Work commitments and a young family saw Mr Hancock step aside at Cobras in its early seasons. However, Mr Carter said his old friend's input played a key part in establishing the club. While the first clubrooms were being built at Boyd Park, the committee moved its meeting place to the old Bonnie Glen boarding house (on a site now occupied by Woolworths in Whitaker St south).
Mr Carter remained on the committee, was later club captain and president. He was part of the original sports foundation involving representatives of COB and the tennis and squash club. In the new club's first season he played in the third grade (U21), juniors (Senior B) the following year and then seniors (Cobras' first) in his third season. A halfback, he went on to become and All Black trialist and North Island representative, making his provincial debut for Thames Valley in 1963. Mr Carter was part of Cobras' golden playing years, winning Thames Valley club championships in 1965 and 1967.
In 1968 he led the club on its first overseas' tour, to Fiji. He retired in 1970 after playing in that year's inaugural quadrangular Easter tournament. Coach of the Te Aroha sub-union Peace Cup side, he was also selector for a Goldfields invitation team which toured Europe. He was instrumental in bringing out Argentine great Hugo Porta for the Waihou Rugby & Sports Club centenary. A life member of Cobras joined by his late wife Sheryl he is the current patron.
By Piako Post
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