As well as the demands of the family business and running a country estate, Redmond enjoyed many other pastimes, notably football, with the Newark Advertiser reporting: “As a matter of fact, Mr. Cafferata, we believe, introduced Association football into Newark. Coming here as a young man from college, and very fond of the game, he persuaded a few friends to take it up, and formed a team.” (5)
The Nottinghamshire Guardian reported that Newark Football Association had been formed in 1868, playing its first game on Saturday 31st October between teams chosen from the members. Redmond scored a goal for his team, but ended up on the losing side. Some weeks later, in January 1869, Redmond featured in the Newark team that drew against Nottingham Forest. He continued playing for Newark regularly, playing alongside his elder brother William Madden Cafferata. The games included a one-goal loss against Hull in November 1869 and another match against a team of “Gentlemen Visitors”, in which Redmond scored.(6)In his obituary the Newark Advertiser summed up Redmond’s hobbies, saying
that he “was an exceedingly keen golfer, playing a good game, the last of which
he took part in six weeks ago, while as a billiard player he was wonderfully
proficient, and could hold his own with almost anyone. On one occasion at the
Hotel Russell, London, he made a 150 break, which was a fine performance for an
amateur…
The Hotal Russell, London
...Years ago he was a participant in cricket
matches but this did not appeal to him so much as the winter pastime did. Mr.
Cafferata was one of the earliest members of the Newark rowing club, and was a really capital
sculler a decade or two ago. It will therefore, be seen that he was a
thoroughly all-round sportsman, and was popular with colleagues and opponents
alike.” (5)
Showing agricultural horses was another of Redmond’s interests and he won several awards, including the Rose Ribbon for the best cart mare or gelding at the 1887 Newark Agricultural Show, won by his six year old roan, Captain.(7) He was also a regular winner at the Royal Agricultural Show, Islington.
Redmond and his family stayed at Irnham Hall until the early 1890s but by the time his youngest daughter, Dorothy, was born in 1893 the family had moved again, this time to Clumber Crescent South in The Park, a highly desirable area of the City of Nottingham, near the castle.