POACHING EVIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 192, 15 August 1929, Page 19

POACHING EVIL.

ALARM AMONGST CLUBS. EYES TURNED TO NEXT SEASON. TE A A [-BUILD IXG ALEE AD Y .STARTED.

Some clubs are great believers in taking iiiue by the forelock. Already, ere tlie season has run its course, there are very active efforts in the direction of team-building for 1930. At tiie meeting of the senior division management on -Tuesday several delegates complained that players had been already approached to join other clubs next season, lu several cases the players approached belonged to elubs that have not been too successful, and, of course, the players that were being sought after were some of their best. The result is that there are clubs that are very anxious regarding next season. It was stated that there were instances where players of other clubs—not officials—had made overtures to win players from one team to another, and the need for the legislation that has been already suggested and referred to in the "Star" was emphasised. There is a further proposal regarding the signing ;i on of: players and the matter of transfer, and that is that a player should, when lie attaches his name to a form, be signed "for the term of his natural life,' so to speak. Transfers under this proposal would be granted provided reasonable cause was shown. With certain reservations such a scheme might work perfectly, but it would not obviate the greatest evil of to-dav, namely, poaching. If. transfers were to be provided on application by either club or player, ifc would mean that a player could be approached by a club during the. season. If'this could not be done. and\there was to be a "close season," there appears to be no cause for making a signature a bond for all time. It would be just-aa well to make the player a free agent for some part of the season. In amateur football it appears to be an extreme, measure to hold a signature binding- " for an indefinite period. In professional circles a player generally enters into a legal contract for a stipulated time,-but something much more elastic is required to meet local conditions. What is, however, absolutely essential for the ' smoothrunning of the game here is the immediate application of laws that will protect teams, especially teams that appear to be doomed to relegation, from having their players appfoached and in some cases imbued with discontent in the, vital closing stages of the season. The senior committee acted wisely in setting aside a whole evening to fully discuss necessary reforms.

It was highly satisfactory to the promoters of the meeting of Soccer old boys on Tuesday evening to meet with such an encouraging response to their invitation to veterans of the game. The whole history and progress of the coda in the Dominion was represented by those present from as far back as almost 40 years ago, while there were also men. who have played the game in the highest flights iu Britain. Such an organisation could do incalculable good, and, looking over the meeting, one was struck with the number of "strange faces —• strange, that is to say, so far as present day attendances are concerned- The meeting did not in any way remind one of a Chelsea veterans' muster. There was a. majority of men apparently in their heydey, and one could not but recall the serious scarcity of efficient and respected referees. It seemed as though many Sbccerites had been guilty of hiding their light under the proverbial bushel during a time when the game was sorely tried for lack of workers. Now that the Old Boys' Association is an accomplished fact, and its sphere of activity and usefulness is admittedly .-wide, its influence for the advancement of the code will be welcome and eagerly awaited.