ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

(Bt Ceotke-Half.)

The Swifts-Diamonds Contest. Old ago is creeping over somo of tho Diamond players according to their showing last Saturday, and some radical changes will have to be effected in the team next season if the old combination does not show up 'to better advantage as the championship fixtures advance. The Blacks had plenty of opportunities against Swifts, but thoy rarely turned them to account. Marshall, in goal, is certainly a young player, but he is not at all a convincing custodian of tho posts. Fitzgerald and P. .Roberts, at full-back, were the soundest men in the Diamond ranks, the former doing particularly well in the second spell. Tho less, said about the half-back line tho better. Not ono of the trio was up to senior form. Of tho forwards, Lowe did somo good work occasionally, and Touge combined good and bad play, equally. His worst fault was a habit of stopping short just when ho should have been charging. Black could do nothing right in the first spell, and did not improve a great deal in the second term. '

The Swifts have the making of a fine team, and they should show somo really good football before the end of the season. The inclusion of Norman, formerly of Y.M.C.A., lias strengthened their forward line considerably, and another new forward, Ground, should develop into 'a dangerous man as soon as lie gets a little liiorc weight off. Graves broke up the 'Diamond rushes repeatedly, but lie could have used more judgment in placing the ball. This remark also applies to Guise. Wilson lumbered through at full-back with more or loss success, but at no stago of the game was his work stamped with crispnoss or confidence.

Positions of the Teams. Although Diamonds are still at the head of the championship list as far n* points scored are concerned, they are practically on the same mark as Swifts, who have played one match less than the leaders. On the present form of the two teams, Diamonds will have to improve a good deal to retain their lead much longer. Y.J1.0.A., who were up with the foremost at this time last year, have not done so well this season, but .Ramblera, who did nothing much last season, are now equal in points with S\vift6. although Swifts have

played a match less. The positions of the teams to date are: — S"2 . p dm' Team. g>> c a §"s *■£ £ 3 2 J'S OA< P k! p o^ Diamonds ... i 3 1 0 (i Swifts 3 2 10 4 Ramblers ... 4 2 2 0 4 Y.M.C.A 4 12 13 Thistle 4 12 13 Rovers' 3 0 12 2 "Wo want tho development of brains rather than feet among footballers. We havo too little intelligence in tho game because wo havo too little intelligence in those who play the .game. The trained mind of tho student is bound to toll its talo on tho game."—An English writer on the needs of tho day. "Football careers at the best are limited. Wo havo few Taylors and Needhams. Alongside football playing and training wo have too much idleness. Many receivo good wages and splendid benefits, but their habits of life havo caused too many to squander rather than to husband their resources. And when a man's football career is ended what does tho world offer a professional footballer? The idol of the crowd to-day is forgotten to-morrow. His trade lost to him, ho finds little chance of employment, because thcre is little he can do. Some become team managers and trainers, but too many drift' aimlessly into the world to join the unemployed. This is" no joke, but the most serious, disheartening, and distressing phase of prosont-dav professional football.' I —-Mr. C. E. Sutcliffe, in the "Athletic Nows," referring to a decision of tho Everton players to hold classes each week for the retention and improvement of their trade qualities and mental fitness.

"I was an interested spectator of an innovation in football," writes Mr. C. E. Sutcliffe, in the "Athletic Nows," commenting on the League match between Manchester United and Ererton. Tho writer continues:—"The referee and his two linesmen adopted a method of controlling and conducting the game which I have advocated years ago. Tho arrangement was not known to the crowd, and the linesmen were innocently the objects of good-natured chaff on the part of tho spectators. But let mo say at once that I have never seen a game so free from mistakes. The offside decisions wore accurate in every instance, and under the system; with three competent officials, it seems impossible to err. Its success is tho best argument in favour of its continuance and general acceptance. It would have been even better still if the linesmen had not conformed so rigidly to tho letter of tho scheme. Under such an arrangement a linesman would have good reason for trespassing in tho.other half if ho got back ready for the breakaway. Before deciding on putting tho scheme into practice the referee asked mo if ho had tho right to . adopt tlio course, and pointed out that as neither club had much at stake, and the result would not affect other clubs, tho proposal to keep a linesman in each half of the field might be given a trial. I readily assented, indicating that the referee was entitled to use- his linesmen in such way as he thought would best enable him to conduct and control the game. Tho result was that one of the linesmen could always give an accurate decision on off-side. One linesman was always up with the play,' the other always waiting for the breakaway. If there was any fault in the arrangement it was tho fact that the linesman omitted on any pretence and for any reason to go beyond the halfway flag. Hence tho good-natured chaff and banter of-tho crowd on tho popular side. If they had known of tho arrangement, and had been interested in its working, they must havo been struck with its success." The Swifts havo decided to drop Wilson (full-back) from their senior team and to make a few alterations in tho placing of the men. Saunders, who played for Swifts last season, will again bo seen in tlio fray.

Diamonds have obtained a transfor from first to second division for Tonge, and it is probable that the vacancy will bo filled by the promotion of F. Lowo, a second division player. There aro at least two Diamond seniors who might have been dropped before Tonge, who is a young player who only wants a little coaching to bring him on. No amount of coaching would improve tho men I have in mind. Tonge is certainly green, hut there are others in the team who are in the scro and yellow leaf as footballers.

Only two first division matches aro set down for to-day and it is probable that the same rule will have to be followed next Saturday. The- falling out of Wanderers and Potone at. the beginning of the season has necessitated tho departure from the' ordinary drawings.

Bound for South Africa. At last, after many disappointments, says the "Athletic News," the Football Association have completed their party for South Africa. The IS tourists will be:; — JJ. Lievesley, goalkeeper, Sheffield United. IJ. Looming, rcsorvo goalkeeper and back, Brighton. Backs. tR, Benson, Sheffield TJnited. JV. Hayes, Manchester United. +J. Bulcock, Crystal Palace. Half-Backs. R. .Duckworth, Manchester United. *AV. "Wedlock, Bristol Oity. ' AA\ A. Silto, Swindon Town. G. Richards, Derby County. A. Sturgcss, Sheffield United. Forwards. *tA. Berry, Evorten. tJ. E. R-ainc, Glossop. *H. J. Fleming, Swindon Town. *tA r . J: AVoodward, Chelsea. *W. Hibbcrt, Bury. *G. Hollev, Sunderland. *tE.G. D. Wright, Hull City. *G. AVall, Manchester United. * International player, t Amateur International. + Inter-League players.' The team is perhaps not so strong as tho Association would havo preferred to send over tho seas for their first missionary venture, but it is the best available. There are many versatile players who can take several positions, and there is no doubt that Joe Looming in his thirty-third year has been chosen as utility-lead. Tho backs arc probably the weakest section, but no criticism need bo offered concerning the halfbacks and forwards.

The attack.is remarkably powerful, and if South Africa can beat die best of this combination in the tost matches on June 29 in Durban, July 23 in Johannesburg, and July 30 in Cape Town wo shall look forward to the day when the enterprising South African Association will send a team to England. The English Association has decided that their players must havo two clear days' rest before each test, and that railway travelling is not to bo considered as rest.