ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 112, 13 May 1911, Page 14

ASSOCIATION.

+ (By "Vanguard.") Soccerites had, on {Saturday afternoon, their first taste this season of the Basin Reserve, and doubtless their impression of it was a favourable one. Of all grounds it is bett suited for the . Wellington Association, and for several reasons. The Basin is the most central and accessible sports' ground in the city, and it is kept in first-class condition. Naturally, therefore, it is popular with playei'b, but of far greater nnpoitance to the welfare of soccer is its popularity with the onlooking section of the public. No matter from what point of view it is surveyed, this fact would almost seem to be surmountable — that no sport or, strictly speaking, game, in which active participation is denied to the majority, can ever "hope to attain real success unless it has the great body of the public behind it. And can this be 4>aid of association in Wellington, or indeed, in any other town in the Dominion ? For convincing aswer in the negative, stroll on to any of the local playing grounds some Saturday afternoon when a soccer game is in progress. Does one, arriving after the commencement, have to mn the gantlet — of thousands of eyes. Furthermore, does a resounding yell of applause immediately direct a Jate-comer's attention to some exciting piece of play he may perhays be just m'time to witness? No, unfortunately— not that applause and opprobrium (for this latter is not an unknown quantity by any means) are the bulwarks of a sport. At Duppastreet, Newtown, and Kelburno Parks, and . Miramar — Porirua is excused — the spectators can sometimes be numbered on the fingers of one- pair of hands. Of course, there are occasions when the attendance runs well up into double figures, but soccer seldoms scores a "century" in this respect. _ The Basin Reserve is, of course, a bit of an exception, but even there not many score put in an appearance-. The reason for this state of affairs may take some explaining, but 'all competent to express an opinion know this — that the game itself, is not at fault. When it is understood, its merits and attractions, both from a player's as well as a spectator's view-point, can only be over-estimated by the ultra-enthusiastic. The question of grounds is at> once recognised to be at the root of the trouble. It is not so much the lack of sufficient numbers of grounds -for senior teams, as the need for Just one ground to call its own — or, at least, to depend upon as its permanent headquarters — that is so keenly felt. Rugby has its Athletic Park, and "Soccer," too, wants its week-end Mecca. It requires some ground, not too far removed from the thickly-populated parts of the city, where it can establish it-self for all time, and cater on up-to-date lines for the general public. Once a place of the sort is got, Association football, just as is at present such an important nval to Rugby in the matter of attracting players, will assuredly prove a, dangerous competitor for the patronage of the public at its matches. With 'the acquirement, say, of the Basin, the problem would be solved, but this possibility is remote, on v account of the consideration that is due to other athletic bodies. However, there mu&i be "other fish in the sea," and "where there's a will there's a way !" It is a big undertaking— one for realisation in.' the distant future, perhaps — but let those who hold tho strings put on their thinking caps. Each year's delay will accentuate the difficulty. Progress must certainly be on steady rational lines, but at the outset the whole , question should be gone into exhaustively, and some definite scheme and purpose fixed upon. Those at present in office have Hone much good work in more than on© direction, notably in fostering football amongst the juveniles; the question of grounds, however, has yet to be faced in a manner commensurate with its importance. The purpose of this article would bebut half accomplished, if the point, already referred to earlier, about the influence on the game of the patronage of onlookers and enthusiasts was not dealt with a little more fully. If the game is to be made universally x popular, tho public require to be educated in its finer points and therefore in its potentialities as a sport and means of recreation. The proces* of conversion to the rules of Association will take time, but it is only by attending and following the game closely that people will rid themselves of their present prejudice towards soccer. Parents have a big say with regard to the spoTt their chudren should indulge in. Obviously, then, it is to the advantage- of the Association game generally to secure as many adult followers as possible, even though they may be only barrackers. Turning to last Saturday's matches, Mental Hospital's initial victory of the season is perhaps worthy of further mention. Always a strong junior team, this eleven should be none the less an important factor, in a short time to come, m the senior lists. The men from the_ _ hospital, have, however, .special facilities for improving their lot. For one thing they are conceited the advantage of always 'playing on their own ground — ©very nook anct cottier of which they are doubtless familiar with. In losing their match against Ramblers, Wanderers demonstrated, among other things, the futility of expecting light- players, especially backs, to hold their own against much heavier opponents. A percentage of light men are w> be met with in every team, but at least two positions in Wanderer's eleven might be filled to better advantage by heavier players. Than Rogers, for instance, no one works harder, buu he is too small for senior soccer. Much the same can be said of Hatcher— the left half Contrary to expectations, Swifts found St. John's a rather tougher customer than they had anticipated at Miramar last Saturday. Swifts might have added a few more points ..to their score hi the first spell had their shooting only been a little better. It improved,_ however, in the second half. One thing St. John's must learn is not to appeal too often to the referee for his decision, but to wait for and accept it. Matters during most of the first spell were fairly even j in the second spell, however, Swifts livened up considerably, as did St. John's for a while, but not enough to stop the reds from increasing their lead by three points. Pye-Smith, as usual, played an excellent game for tho winners, . whose forward line also did very good work. Shaw was always there at the right moment for St. John's, and almost did the work ot two men. Dick, Ctosney, and Egley also helped theii side considerably. Individual play was the outstanding feature of tho Diamond v. V.M.C.A. fixture on Saturday last. It was pleasant to not© the unanimity with which ST.M.C.A. got on to tho heels of a player when ho took charge of tho ball, and it was interesting to note, too, how { invariably someone — Roberts or Barnett, foi instance, because they did a lot of work in that direction — relieved tho pressure. Diamonds were nothing like so good in combination. Tune and a^ain they should have had a score registered against them, but Y.M.U.A. mis not shorn? in individuals to back up ltj combination, aud the blacks won without overmuch trbuble. Diamonds, however, must aspire to greater combination ; otherwise they will easily go further and- .fare, much Ayorsfr . ' ,