ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27011, 10 April 1953, Page 5

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

TALK BY TOMMY TRINDER

An outline of Association football activities in England was given by the British comedian, Tommy Trinder, in an address to the Canterbury Football Association last evening. Mr Trinder, who has been associated with the game since he was a small boy, said that he hoped to be able to bring an English team to New Zealand one day. The last time he had played was in 1939, at Villa Park in a charity game, Mr Trinder said. The referee was Jimmy Hogan, the man who had gone to the Continent and taught the players there the English methods. Mr Trinder is the managing director of the Fulham Association Football Club, which is at present playing in the second division. The club started in the third division in 1932, and was promoted to first division in 1949. He had eventually become the largest shareholder in the Fulham Club. “I have got ulcers to prove it. When there is a football season at home. I go abroad,” he said.

Every endeavour was made by the Football Association to see that the tickets for the Cup final at Wembley were allocated to Association football enthusiasts. One of the greatest disappointments he had experienced was when he was watching a final, and the woman next to him had remarked: "I did not know they only had 11 players.” Some overseas persons had said to him that it did not seem right that professional players should be bought and sold, but the player always had the right to say what club he would transfer to. The Fulham Club had 44 professional players. The maximum payment they received was £l4 a week, with £2 extra for a win, and £1 for a draw. In the off season they were paid a maximum of £l2 a week. “The professional footballer’s life is not hard,” he said. They reported for about two hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and the team travelled on a Friday if an away match was being played. A maximum bonus payment of £750 ,for each five years’ service was also paid. If a player left the club during the period he received a portion of the bonus. The tour of Australia by the English Football Association team had not done the good that had been expected, Mr Trinder said. Damage to the game had been done by beating teams 12-0, and 14-0. His club had toured Canada the year before last, and had met with great success. Fulham, which included nine internationals, had started the tour by being beaten by the weakest side in the Dominion, Victoria. As a result the game had received a great boost. “I am a little worried about Soccer in Australia,” Mr Trinder said. The British immigrants were not at fault,- and he thought the trouble lay with the Continental immigrants. He was once asked to broadcast the description of a game. He finished up by giving a description of a fight.

TEAMS FOR TOMORROW WESTERN CLUB Ist Div. v. Nomads. English Park, 1 p.m. Austin, Bradley, Cole, Deakin, Eggelston, N.; Ewing, Guillen, Mackie, Olley, Ralph, Smith, R.; Shardlow, White. 2nd Div. v. Rangers. Linwood Park, 2.45 p.m. Boyd, Fox, J.; Glasson, D.; Glasson, L.; Hamblin, M.; Hinchley, B.: Hinchley, J.; Lomax. Laffey, Russell, Schuyl, Wilkie, Saunderson, J. Snr. Reserve v. Rangers. Elmwood Park, 2.45 p.m. Auld, Bell, Dunnage, Ferguson, Gray, King, Keys, A.; Moore, Smith, W.; Stuart. Tuyn, Woot, G. Junior v. Varsity, Hagley 11, 2.45 _p.m. Beattie. Black. Cain, Fox, A.; Jack, Kluts, McComb, McKendry, Neaves, Platts, Samson, Salkeld, Stanbridge, Walker, Finn, 4th Grade v. Celtic, Hagley 11, 1 p.m. Adams, D.: Brownlee, I.; Brownlee, E.; Box, T.; Falloon, Graham, Hayes, Hamblin, C.; Kirk, Laby, Lawson. Offard, Richardson, Robbins, J.; Smith, J.; Tin-Hove, Read, Rickard, James, Ditfort, Phelan, J. sth Grade v. City, Elmwood, 1 p.m. Adams, K.; Benson, Duckworth, Fiebig, Green, S.; Hamilton, Hazeldine, Henderson, Holmes; Horne. Kininmonth, Liddell, C.: Maloney, McGowan, T.; Phelan, P.: Pugh, Robbins, T.; Scott. 6th Grade B v. City, Elmwood Park, 10.15 a.m. Auld, J.; Dow, Gray, B.; Sharps B.; Sheppard, K.; Stanton, Turner, B Way, D.: Whitty, B.; Smith, K. 7th Grade v. Celtic, Hagley I, 9 a.m. Davies, Ginn, Gosney, Harris, P.; Kennedy, Kington, Laby, I.; Lucock, Martin, L.; McGowan, Rowe, Trotter, Wilson, M Bth Grade II v. Celtic 11, Hagley, 10.15 a.m. Boulton, Bullock, Cox, Comley, Daniel, Darby, Dunnage, Gordon, Henderson, Liddell, Gray, D.; Neil, Reyland, Robertson. Sheppard, C.; Smith, B.; Tointon. Way, G.; White. Any players not available oi' any player whose names does not appear, please secretary (dial 41-400, subs 87605).

Members are reminded of the cake and produce stall to be held on Thursday, April 16, at the Scottish Hall, Gloucester street. Your support for this stall .is requested. Goods (cakes, jams, produce, etc.) can be left at the Scottish Hall on the day of sale between 10 am. and 1 pm * Advt.