ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 900, 20 August 1910, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(By Centhe-Uam.) ■

"In Statu Oluo," . All things considered, it was just .as veil that the Postponement Committee of the Wellington Football Association saw fit to cancel nil fixtures set down tor Saturday Inst. It was a vilo.day-a day for a..book, a pipe, and the fireside; a .pair of skates and th<S polished floor of the 'rink; for anything but the playing fields. The machinations of .the Clerk of •the Weather have, of course, thrown the 'season's programme rather- out of gear, the position of affairs ■' being, shortly, "Two of tho Charity Cu'i) matches' have ■been played-Swifts defeating Hovers and Thistle drawing with XM.C.A. Until either Thistle, or t.M.C.A. is defeated, the other, senior teams—Diamonds, Eamblers, Swifts—must mark time, as there, are no byes allowed' for tho second round under the rules of the Charity Cup competition.' The other divisional competitions are "as you were"—the third division, of.- course, is now closed—and must be held over until to-day week. The "Star" Event. ■ .-.■,■ The "star" event of tho present season is, without a doubt, the Brown Shield representative mutch between Wellington and Otago, to be played at the Basin Reserve this afternoon, in the presence of his Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) and the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward). The last occasion upon which a big "soccer", event was honoured by .the presence of the Governor was the New Zealand international inntch,' England v. Scotland, played at Miramar to-, wards the 'end: of > September, 1907, between . representatives of those countries resident in Wellington. ■ From the footballers' point of view, the Otago-Welling-ton'game to-day. should provide the assembled sports with one of : the best exhibitions of the Association game yet seen in Wellington.- It is whispered among the knowing ones that . the Wellington men are about to experience the worst defeat' of recent times.' ._ But there aru .contrary opinions. ■'.'.'!•'■■■ . ; What Otagi) Thinks. . According to a recent issue of tne "OtagoDaily Times," which sums up tho chosen of the selectors very dispassionately, of tho Otago men "it 'is not certain whether two of the forwards chosen—Chadwiclc and Forbes—will ,bo able to make the trip.' Although thu selection might have been slightly different had other players been available, the eleven is. thoroughly representative of Otago's. present strength. The team is notable tor the strong defensive qualities of the backs] but the selection of two full-backs as wing-halves is an experiment the wisdom of which will not be demonstrated until the match has been played. Both are powerful defenders, however, and may adapt themselves to the require-, ments of tho new position. In the forward lino Ritchie, who has been playing inside-left,- has been placed -inside-right. ■Both wings are speedy, and the elements of combination aro present in the front division." " i ■ It would fhus appear that in tlie Otasco representative team.of 1910, the defenders of the Brown. Shield have not very much to fear-4ious verrous. The Wellington Men, • As regards the ■ chosen of Wellington, there is not much to cavil at, with the exception of- the selection of Webster as goalkeeper. We ourselves would ruther have seen Rowan, who has been doing .magnificent work for Thistle this "year, appointed lo the custodianship of the Wellington goal. All the same,' we do not doubt that Webster will respond •whenever he is called upon. It is to be hoped that the public of AVellington will give its hearty support to the gamo this afternoon. As has previously been announced; 'the match is a-charity event, half tho proceeds being destined for the Children's Hospital Fund. A "Nippy" Curtain-Raiser. -' The public ehonld also note that !i very "nippy" little curtain-raker, tho second division, tie between Menial Hospital and Wanderers, will be one of thu main features of -the afternoon sports. Botli teams are as keen as mustard, and out for a win. There is a healthy rivalry betwten the two which betokens a vigorous contest. The kick-oft" is timed for 1.15 p.m-, Stray Notes. At.the annual meeting of the English Football Association held recently, the finance committee reported that .£12,791 6s. 9d. was available for division among tho clubs competing in the semi-final and final stages dt the F.A Cup and F.A. Amateur Cnp competitions of last season pro rata as to tho receipts derived from their matches, the amounts working out as follow.—F.A. Cud; Newcastle United

(winners), .£4301 9s. 2d.; Barnsley, £5380 | 9s. Bd.i Swindon, .£'B3l 18s. Cd.; Evcrton, ,£l9lO 19s. Id. I'.A. Amateur (.'up: K.M.L.I. (Gosport) (winners), JEI2I 10s. 10d.; South Bank, .C 133 2s. id.; Clapton, .CM Us. id.j.Tufnell Park, .£SO 2s. 10il. The amounts ■ paid to the professional clubs gives to colonials an idea of U«; 'jxtraordinary popularity of tho Association game in England. Tho first scheme for International "Soccer" matches between England and Australia was projected 25 years ago, when it was 'proposed to send an Australian team to England; A. committee was appointed by the. Southern British Association (Sydney)''to witness matches in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland with a view lo selecting the team. It was then hoped that the Australian teaui of -1885 would prove a great success in England, especially as it was intended to include two or three aboriginals! The proposal, however, fell through. Discoursing on tho main events of the recent South African-tour, "Tityrus," in the "Athletic News," opines that tho good. folks of tho newest Commonwealth will have an accurate idea of the possibilities of Association football when played by a team which is in unison, and which possesses the spirit of a side animated by one desire. The Englishmen were naturally much superior iif method to their opponents, and the sooner all teams recognise that method and brain play a great part in football, the better will be the standard of play.