Association

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 241, 12 July 1928, Page 8

Association

By

“Goalie”

SENIOR CLUBS AND RESERVES

The question of senior dubs flaying reserve teams to draw upon is raised in a letter to the AA’.F.A. from Mr. A. G Barnett, one of the leading boccer enthusiasts of Wellington, and who has been prominently identified with the game in many ways and has served on the W.F.A. and the New Zealand Council, being a vice-president of both bodies. Tlie proposal contained in his letter is something akin to that brought forward by the Diamonds Cb'b nt the last annual meeting, and while Mr. Barnett mav not get entire support for bis contentions, there is a lot that is worthy of consideration. The letter is as follows:—

•‘As one who is interested ni (he progress of the soceer game iu Wellington and as an officer of the association, I would like to bring under the notice of the executive committee one or two matters that I suggest require the earnest eonsideratiou of the committee. I Uke it that it is the desire of the executive committee to obtain the best and most spectacular football in the senior A division teams. To do this effectively a senior A team must have some means of hlling vacancies caused by sickness, casualties and players leaving Wellington. Even it the second A division were allowed to be regarded as a reserve.division the present limitation of the division to eight teams would prevent some of the senior A teams froni calling on it for reserves.. 11ns means that, not being able, to field its full eleven senior players it has to either (a) play short or default; (b) call on its juniors; (c) fill up with old players who have retired from active football. Then again, the position is made more difiicult by the present rules in regard to transfers and to tlie interpretation ot the rules bv the executive committee. By refusing transfers after the first rounn a senior A team has only the above -alternatives. For instance, an- active player belonging to another club who has not played football during the season is, under the ruling of the executive committee, ;not allowed to plav except Lor bis old dub. i “Admitting that transfers should not be permitted after the first round between teams in the senior A division, there docs not seem to bo uuy reason at all Kvhy a last year’s player, providing he is financial to bls old club, should uot be allowed to start playing for a new dub after the first round. As a matter of fact, it is usually not until after the first round that teams, owing to casualties, find it sometimes difficult to keep their teams up to standard... . I “The necessity for transfer rules is undoubted in some cases, but in the opinion of the writer the operation of the rule and the action of the committee iu turning down all transfers after the first round, Irrespective'of circumstances, tends to do exactly what the committee does not desire to-do—that is, reduce the standard of play of the senior A football, playing in which should be made as easy as possible. “My interest in the game is iny excuse for bringing under the notice of the committee the above points, whidi have come under my notice and which I think warrant the consideration of the executive. It should be obvious to all that in order to keep up the standard of play, easier facilities should be available for tlie tilling of unavoidable vacancies. Trusting that the above letter will bo accepted in the spirit in which it is intended, in the best interests of the game in ‘Wellington.— Yours truly, A. G. Barnett.” . The Lofter Discussed. .

Mr/ AV. Auld thought the letter was the outcome of Fwing's ease, mid the transfers which thu Diamonds Club had failed to secure, and he disagreed with the proposal iii regard to transfers. Another point raised was that of players who did not wish to continue playing for their old club, and were ou the bank for the first half of the following season. AVas it not a hardship not to grant them a transfer? This, however, was in the player’s hands. If at the cud of this season he did not wish to play for his present club he could obtain what was called an open transfer provided, lie was financial with his old club. He could next season at any time, even after completion of tlie first round of the championship—provided he had not played for any club —obtain the completion of the transfer to any club desiring ’his services. The chairman, Mr. AV. Dunean, said he realised that there was something in flic proposal to establish a reserve team to the seniors, and he intended to bring a proposal before the AV.If.A. in the near future with a view to submitting a scheme to the next annual meeting. Referees’ Association.

The report of the referees’ meeting published last Friday, although officially forwarded, did not give a correct record of what occurred, and had led the public to think that relations in the association are not harmonious. This is not af all the' case. The Association is working smoothly. The secretary, Mr. N. Greig, was compelled to retire owing to pressure of business. The committee: had not resigned, the fact being that one vacancy had occurred owing to a member being unable to attend, and the special meeting was for the purpose of electing a new secretary mid a committeeman to till the vacancy. Tho AVellington Referees’ Association to-day is as sound as it has been in the last 20 years, although there have been several incidents this season which are not encouraging. A General Survey.

As the season afivaqces, so do the fortunes of the various clubs Change. In the second round of the championships, a number of surprises have had to be recorded week by week, and this has had the effect of keeping the battle for the premier club honour in a most interesting state. Diamonds started the season splendidly, but the last three weeks have seen a reversal in the form of this club. However, their good beginning has enablthem to have a point or two to spare when most needed, which is now. They are just in front by a nose now, but on recent form it is highly problematical whether they will recover sufficiently in (he next (hree games to hold the one point lead. Diamonds have to pass two extremely hard hurdles in Marist and Petone, whom they have yet to meet for the second time. At the top of their form they just managed to win. Petone at the present time is playing much better than in the earlier games, an<J if they can reproduce the form of the other week, when thev so thoroughly trounced Y.M.C.A); they' will certainly upset Diamonds’ apple-cart. ■ Two weeks ago Diamonds. could do no better than share the points’ with Seatoun, the bottom dogs, while last Saturday Petone defeated Institute, a place higher up the table than 'Seatoun, by 10' goals to 1— a big difference which does not spell too rosy a time for the leaders when they meet Petone. . Petone, with nine points, have no hope of the championship, although two games behind, but they certainly will not be far away at the finish. Tliqir big bid for fame will be in the Chatham Cup competition, in which they meet Marist in the local final. Y.M.C.A., through their defeat of Marist on Saturday, now occupy second place, Marist going down to third position. Towards the end of tho first round, last year’s champions gave the impression that they would not be in the hunt this yearj but since defeating Diamonds the first time they have steadily improved, qnd now are in an excellent position to challenge Diamonds for the supremacy of 1928. While on the subject of improvement, Hospital must come under that category on account of their win last Saturday. Taking it all through there is ndt it great disparity in the ability of the six first teams of the A division. Even Seatoun. although at the bottom of the table, and ticketed for the senior B division next year, arc not out-and-out novices. There are two men in their front line. Kershaw and McKenzie, who, against Thistle last. Saturday, on the Seatoun ground, gave evidence of something more than the average ability, especially in the finer points of the game. Science is the thing needed to lighten up a game, not the heavy, lumbering style of vlay one often sees week after week. These two Seatoun men made things hard indeed for the Thistle halves and backs, Just a little better: shooting

in front of goal and it would be more than worth while to put them in a representative team. At the present time we are particularly well off for forwards, but Kershaw and McKenzie are close ou tlie heels of the best. Another Scatoun man who added Io Thistle's difficulties was AVyatt, the goalkeeper. Earlier in the season he attraetefi the eye of the sole selector and found a place in a “rep.” side. AVyatt is quite young yet, and I do not: think be lias readied his best. That may be revealed next season, although it is a pity he will not have the same opportunity, as his team will be playing in tlie senior B competition then. There is no doubt that Seatoun will bo back again in senior A ranks by the 1930 season. Professionals or Amateurs?

Tin; following, which appeared in a. recent issue of the Christchurch "Sun.” raised the question of professionalism in New Zealand' Soccer: —

Is New Zealand Association football laying itself open to a charge of professionalism because it allows players who have received money in England for playing to belong to clubs and to play without reinstatement? This is a question which must, sooner or later, be answered if the code is to progress steadily in the Dominion. Inquiries, show that there arc some players in the first-grade competition in Christchurch who have received money in England for their services in lower grade teams. One player states that they were paid only for Saturdays. They received 7s. fid. if they lost, 10s.* if they drew, and if they won 12s. fid. They had pot been reinstated as amateurs before playing for their present C 1 AVhen questioned with regard to this, Mr. R. Bunt, secretary to the Canterbury Football Association, admitted that there was no rale providing for the reinstatement of English professionals who might wisii to: play in New Zealand. No professionals, in the sense of men who had earned their living at the game, had yet offered themselves, and so far fin New Zealand Association had allowed players Io join up regardless of whether they had played for money or not in England. No player had ever been paid to play Soccer in the Dominion. There Was a rule which definitely forbade that. “Until a' few years ago,” added Mr. Bunt, "representative players had to pay their own expenses. Even now, they are not paid travelling allowances.”

Professionalism was not so strong in England as many, people thought. There wqre about 750,000 Soccer players in England, and very few’ of these were professionals It was only the stronger clubs who could afford to employ prof jsionals. These clubs had each a manager whose duty it was to sec that the club obtained the best players’ offering. . Managers kept an eye ’ on the lower-grade _ and schoo teams, and if they saw a likely player, they would approach him, and perhaps ask him to turn out for the big club for a trial. The club would pay his expenses, and possibly he might be given wbut was called a bonus. If a player showed sufficiently good form, he iiiigbt be induced to sign up; then again, he might not play another match for the big club ,but return to his former amateur one. , . This practice was quite usual in England. . “As for some of .these players - who came Out here and claim that in E,ngland they were professionals, well there are a good many miles between here, and England, and there is no one here to contradict them. You can draw your own conclusions.” New Zealand was not likely, for some t. '.• yet, to have to face the question of professionals coming from Horae, and wanting to play for amateur clubs. AVheu the situation arose, doubtless the association would be able to meet it. About Flayers. Hail Y.M.U.A. forwaids played against Petoue like they did against Marist last Saturday, Y.M.C.A, might have been in the Jocai final of the Chatham up. Rigby aud Lack J were at the top cl llieir form. Revling does not go alter Hie ball enough at centre half. He should jump to it more. . .' McGirr was nearly caught napping once or twice by the nippy Marist forwards when he thought he had plenty of time to clear, but hadn’t. Hickey had the admiration 01. the crowd for the way in which he handled the hail of shots which were fired at hnu. Lucas only gets the ball awa.v a short distance when he takes tho goal putting Hie ball over the line, or at the feet of the opposing forwards. AVhy don’t the backs take the goal kicks. . Cud by, at inside-left, was an improvement in the Marist forward line, but the team will have to do much better to bent Burke was a great help to the forwards, and was often helping the defence at crucial moments. Marchmont’s goal was a good un. ho were Rigby’s. Mr. Caisley handled the game well, but stopped play once or twice whcn.it would have been better for the non-offending side to have gone ou as they were. It is desirable to keep strict control, but neither Marist jior Y.M.C.A. are teams which get Out of hand, Grimstone, the Seatoun winger, is w-ortli keeping an eye on as a possible le McLeilan, the fine, dashing Thistle right half-back, is still on the injured list. H, Smith, was also an absentee in the Thistle team last Saturday. ’ Houston was in good form against.feeatoun on Saturday. s ' Lotliian, the Thistle eentre-lorward, was not: in scoring mood last Saturday. The defence against him was very sound. He was always ready, and in position, though. , Campbell is, perhaps, the most finished aiid scientific forward iu the Thistle team, but needs a little of McLellans and McKenzie, two Seatoun front rankers, pleased the spectators by their excellent play at Seatoun I ark on Saturday, . . Smythe, the speedy Seatoun winger, was on the line last Saturday. He. has not quite recovered from a knee injury, but may be out next week-end.