SOCCER v. RUGBY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15022, 17 July 1914, Page 9

SOCCER v. RUGBY.

TO, T__ ED-T6B OV "TE__ P.ESS." Sir,—Tho discussion at the Rugby Union meeting, as reported in your issue of th© 15th inst., has caused much surprise in local football circles, and oho cannot but hape that in the process. <if sub-oditihg, tho.prociso ..haae of meaping of the various .fceakera waa altered. For a "prince of Sportsmen" lik6 Mr E. E. Crawshaw to say, and to mean, that, ''tho committee" should not enoourago Association foothill," is, on the faoe of it, extraordinary. Surely all forma of healthy and wholoGoino sport should be encouraged whoie- . .artodly by every right-minded section of the community. -That the Rugnv, Union should Ueo every en' deayour to strenuously forward tho interest- of thohr particular branch of sport- is,--of course/ perfectly 1 correct; indeed," it is thei. bdunden ditty. Tho method of advancorhent is tho only point at. issue,-and surely the only proper method is to provide good fare for their- patrons. To adopt a ''dog-in-the-manger" policy,- as was _iiggei»ted at Tuesday's _ioeth.g, by refusing- the use of LancasteV Park, when not required by tho Union, or by granting its uso on prohibitive terms, fc rarely contrary to overy oanon of sport. Mr E. E. Crawsliaw proceeded to say that if tho public saw good Soccer games, Rugby" might los<- patrons. I <1_ inclined on this point to agree vitn hira, despite Mr Kesteven's statement that "but for tho Rug_y games th© Brown Shield match, played recently, would havo had a poor gato." All tho__ who were.present at that match will, doubtlessly, agree ''that Mr Kestoven : s labouring under a. delusion as to -the games that uToved the "draw," foi the' Soccer, was watched, and apparently with, great interest, by . the vast majority of tho spectators, added to which Soccer alone could be enjoyed from the stand, which wa. well filled with spectators. Mr S: F. Wilson is to. bo congratulated on tho broad-nuhdod •way" in which ho approached the matter, and deserves the thanks of football enthusiasts, whichever game they follow. It is, of courso, flattering to the Football Association that the Rugby Committee should consider that Soccei would prove a sufßeient attraction to make a'mate*, on August loth a financial success for tho Association on the basis of their receiving two-thirds of tho net gato, considering that as Mr F. S. Wilson remarked, "That would be Grand National Day, and tbo Union could not get many people sit tho Park," that "you won't get a 'gato . on that day; all tho people will be atthe races." To sum up, it is most do<sirab!o for all parties to realise that Soccer has como to stay, and that it is to the best interest"of football and of sport generally that the Union and the' Association should work amicably together to advance both branches. whilst in its own sphere it strenuously endeavours to raise the tone and attractiveness of its own branch.—Yours, etc., . ..'... P. L. DAVIES. j July 16+h- . !