ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 4 August 1923, Page 21

ASSOCIATION.

(By "LIGHT BLUE.")

Aseociation football is going well at Gisborne. There are now four teams in the competition. Quite a number of Home players are ibeing attracted to Canada "by the high rates of pay offering, and tho consequent result ie that the standard of play has considerably improved of late. Several first League teams have been touring there lately, giving » great impetus to the game. The projected Canadian tour here next year should do much to foster the game, and no doubt a very strong team will be' sent to represent the maple leaf.

Herewith J E. Braithwaite, the Auckland and New Zealand representative Soccer 'fullback, who during the recent tour of the New Zealanders in Au*> tralia enhanced his reputation. B r a i t hwaite learned the game in Otago, where ho gave early signs of promise, and he has blossomed out as a champi on ol the game hi the back line. Of medium height, lithe some, dark-eyed, though of calm die position, Braithwaite is a hard man to pass. And those kicks of his! He's the doyen of Fonsonby Club.

Association football devotee* and ine public generally deplored the sad accident at Devonport laet Saturday, when Mr. J. A. Fulman came into head collision with another player and died ac a result of hemorrhage of the foraiu on Sunday. Football fatalities of this kind are fortunately rare, but they nevertheless suggest a need for caution on the part of playere on the field. The late Mr. Pulman, in addition to being a tennis player of a.bility, was an ardent exponent of soccer and took a keen interest in tlie welfare of the North Shore Club for which he played as captain of the second division A team. He was a returned soldier and a qualified solicitor by profession. The following appeared in the Sydney Referee of June 20:—"The Soccer code Iβ destined to become the greatest eport in Australia," declared the Minister of Education (Mr. Bruntnell), at a dinner given to the New Zealand team. "I_ base my arguments/ continued the Minister of Education, "on the influx of Britishers to the Dominions, and to the popularity of the code amongst the primary schools, not only in New South Wales, but in other part* of the Cotnonwealth. It is a grand game," continued Mr. Bruntnell; "it is the only one that has a world-wide reputation. It is played by nearly every country in the universe." The New Zealandere were invited by Mr. Bruntnell to visit te trade school at Darlinghunet, which, he said, i was capa-ble. of ac<»mmodating 8000 scolars and to enjoy a harbour trip on board the Government steamer Premier. Mr. R. J. Greig, M.L.A.. endorsed Mr. j Bruntnell'e remarks, and he added that! lie was waiting for the day when a British team' would visit these shores. Quite a controversy lias recently lieen waged regarding the standard of play in the Dominion, as compared with the Old Country. Candidly speaking, foot-! bail here is on a par with what is j termed at Home "First-class Junior," j but the most important feature, and a very pleasing one, is that the standard of plas' is improving week by week. Alec Gibb, the captain of the Austrafianj I team, informed the writer last season ] that the Xe*r Zealand team would not win a. Test match when they visited the other side. Results have .proved the fallacy of his opinion. This little Dominion, with, as it u-ere, its handful of "Soccer' players, has not yet produced a player whose name will Igo down to posterity with those of l j other football ' : giants." 'Sam Hardy and I -James Browniie as goalkeepers." Bob iCrompton, Dan Doyle. Kick Smith I among the backs, and Ernest Needham, Alick Raisbeck, Arthur Wedlock, and Neilie Gibson are names to conjure with. Nevertheless, worthy successors to these great players in defence are probably to be found in the boys of today, for it must be remembered that great footballers are born, not made. J "Light Blue" is looking forward to the day when forwards of the G. O. Smith, Bobby Walker, Steve Bloomer, the brothers Lambie (what a combination!), Charley Athersmith, Jamie Quinn, or the "mighty atom," Alan Morton type, . will be seen delighting the New Zealand J public with their clever footwork. The jboys here have the speed and stamina, [and they only require proper coaching and opportunity to develpp into highI grade footballer*.