ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 214, 9 September 1891, Page 5

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

(To the Editor.)

Sm.—As rlie untimely death of Mr Thomas George Sibbin through an accident ■ which occurred while playing the above game haa led to somo severe remarks as to t;ho nature of the play by many who do not know the game or its origin, I beg your permission to place the game bofore you as I know it. My reputation as a footballer was gained in a town whose population is computed by millions, and when I played in all the highest matches possible I played the Rugby game, representing , mostly my school, London Athletic Club, find Clapharn Rivers. I met with a very pevere injury playing on Ciapham Common, I was carried off the field to a doctor's residence, where I was kept, as I was only expoctad to linger through the night, as I was injured internally ; but I pulled through the ramo day. Six other accidents occurred. The result was that a number of prominent Rugby players, chiefly in business at London, decided to meet to consider rules for a higherclass game, and with less risk of injury to the players. The result was the framing of the Association rules for football. The first game played under these rules was the county of Middlesex v. the counties of Surrey and Kent. Twenty-four (now twenty two) of the most prominent ILunby dribblers were chosen to play the first j game, I representing Surrey. With such splendid teams, where one player could not surpass another, the game was an astonishing success. The second game played Kenc tackled Surrey—still a drawn game and great success. From those matches sprang a high-class scientioc game, wliere all risks oi injury were reduced as low as possible. The game was taken up by old and young players ; it was encouraged by London commercial houses; it spread through England and Scotland, whore to-day it is the national game, and so marked has been its progress with Scotchmen that 30,000 spectators is a common number to see an Association match. But the Scattish Association football players have made a wise and noble move.; they share their immense gate - takings with charitable institutions. It has made the game famous and a boon to charities, and well it might. A gentleman spoke to me at Potter's a few weeks ago about tho game, and said he was present at the Oval, London, when 28,000 people paid one shilling ab the gates and 3,000 two .shillings for the grand stand —£1,700 for one Association football match. Fortunately, I have newspaper reports of the first and second match, and the following are tho namea of that i chosen band of skilled players, who are the founders of a game of which they may well feel proud, and representing fourteen powerful ; Clubs : — Middlesex : W. C. Aicock (Wanderers), A. Baker (N.N. , 5.), W. J. Dixon (old Westminster), O. G. Kennedy (Harrow Chequers), J. H. Leo (Westminster .School), J. B. Martin (Crusaders), C. E. >_>*~ Nepean (Charterhouse School), J. C. Smith (Westminster School), E. W. \Vyi"'ie (old Westminster), H. Emanuel (N.N.'S.), a,)d E - U« Thornton (Wanderers) ,< Surrey and Kent :J. Cockerell (Crystal Palace), W. J. C. Cutvill (Crystal palace), C. C. Dacre (Ciapham Grammar School), K. G. Graham (Barnes Club), J. K.Vkpacriek (Civil Servics), W. B. Money i'Harrow Chequers), J. K. Barnes, P. Bodes (Wanderers), F. B. Loden '(" C.C.G. '"'), P.M. Thornton (Wanderers), C. J. Ti;ov:iton (Eton College), E. M. Thornton and B. W. Willis (Barnes Club). Ido not condemn Rugby. I have a strong claim on the first win on tho Auckland banner, but I maintain it requires two modiiications. JTirst, the practice of barracking should be .stopped, as it simply goads on tho players to play madly ana recklessly, and coilaring a man below the knee should be stopped. A runner may be caught, by one ankle while at full speed. By bho present rule Association football is pure football, no handling of tho ball or of the playerts is allowed ; it is simply skillful passing of the ball with tho foot, from player to player. Accidents will happen in a ball-room, cricket field, lawn tennis ground. 1 have only heard of a few slight accidents at the game, such as a sprained ankle. .Rugby forwards should be able to play the game. To the Rev. J. IS. Hill belongs the credit of starting the game in New Zealand. /.pologUing for occupying your valuable spaco*, —I am, etc., Chas. C. Dacke.