SOCCER FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 188, 9 August 1924, Page 21

SOCCER FOOTBALL.

j There is an aspect of the result of the matches against the Chinese team which does not seem to have been remarked and that is the standard of play of New Zealand teams, says a Wanganui critic. Unfortunately there has been no means of comparing our teams with Old Country teams except that during . the war some games were played, although not really representative in character. On these occasions our men held their New Zealand have demonstrated their superiority over Australia's representatives by winning two ; and drawing one in this country in 1922 and winning two and losing one in Australia in 1923. Australia has in turn defeated Canada's representatives this season, so that it is safe to say that we are the best of the Just how far we are below the Old Country standard, if at all, will be better told after the English team's visit next season. Chang Hsi En, who plays inside right for the Chinese Universities' team, was a very popular player with the Aussies in ihe last tour of the students. Ho i scored twenty goals out of sixty-two, ! and on one occasion he shot with such : speed that the ball went clean through the net. Another Meredith; what! Wong Rhen Cb .>og, half-back of the Chinese Universitif-s' team, is an allround athlete. He is possessed of great strength and ha;, won javelin and i discus throwing events. He stands ! sft llin and weighs 12st. 1 In place of a haka, the Chinese footballers, after shaking hands with their opponents, form a ring holding hands, then bend backwards and forwards, uttering their football cry. I Writing to the "Athletic News," Mr. i David Brooks, manager'of the Philajdelphia Soccer Football Club, says:— I "Soccer football is certainly fast comin"- to the front in America. Many ! American boys are taking to the game ; and showing great possibilities. The • public schools have formed leagues, and the colleges have included soccer as one ' of their major sports. Indeed, the game ' is fast coming to the point where it will 'be the American national winter ! pastime."