SOCCER

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 68, 29 September 1928, Page 22

SOCCER

BY VANGUARD"

CHALLENGE CUP WON BY PFTONE POSITIONS OF TEAMS Petone wound up the season at Association Park last Saturday by defeating Institute for the Challenge Cup by four goals to nil. The weather conditions that prevailed for the ,'amc could hot have been-:much worst. Ball control was rendered ; exceedingly diffi cult by reason of the pools of muddy water which Covered the greater part of the ground, especially the centre of the field and in front of the goal mouths. Throughout the first half and for a part of tho second it was a keenlycontested game. Superior forward play had given Petone a '2-0 load at half-time, and at the start of the second spell Institute niacte a desperate rally to catch up. In this they almost succeeded, both Byng and -Dickenson being unlucky not. to score, 'After that the Petone men had things mUch their own way, finishing the game with four goals to their opponents' nil; M'Vean, in gpal, was probably the best Petone player. The Institue forwards were ■ very persistent at times, and a weaker custodian might have been overwhelmed.- ;The -backs, were a sound pair, and Campbell"' and Farquhar were, as usual, outstanding among the halves. The three ..inside" men, Cleverley, M'Kensie, and Leslie, were the best of the forwards,- the inside right and centre each scoring two goals. • : ". ■ . Rogers played well in goal for Institute. • Ho did^ excellent work in the last part of the game against the almost constant Petone attack. Bell and Gill; the full-backs, were also very creditable performers. 'They fully maintained their reputation as a solid defensive pair. Terry was the best of tho halves. , Maddoc'fcs and Dickenson were the best of, the forwards,. with Brownlee, Smith, and Byng giving\good support. For Institute it could be said that their efforts were worth at least three goals. Petone, with more careful play, might easily have increased their total to six or seven. As it. was, it stood to the credit of both sides that they gave a not uninteresting' display on a ground totally unfitted for first-class football., HUTT VALLEY LEAGUE. , : Goals Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts St. Thomas's ... 12 10 1 1 47 9 21 'Anglican 12 8 2 2 40 14 18 Trentham 12 8 3 1 34 11 17 Lower Hutt .... 12 7 4 1 42 26 15 Moora A ....... 12 4 7 1 23 23 9 Moera B , 12 0 12 0 3 33 0 -Petone* , 12 2 10; 0 2 28 .4 *Petono had two wins by default against . Moera- B. LOWER GRADE TABLES. Fourth A. Goals Ch. T. W; _ D. F. A. Pts. Waterside. 13 10 3 — 32 11 20 Miramar Rangers 13 8 4 1 21 15 17 Soatoun 13 7 3 1 25 16 15 Instltuto 12 7- 4 1 19 19 15 Petone 11 6 4. 1 23 16 13 Johnsonville ... 12 5 7'— 12 18 10 Marist ,13.2 1-1 — 2 42 .4 Fourth B. Goals Cli. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Midland ....... 15"13 1 1 31- 12 ,27 Marist ....'...'.- J. 5.:.'13' -2 0 35 11 26 Hutt A .*' 15 6 li 3 18 15 15 Wadestown .... 13 li 5 2 33 13 14 South- Wellington 13 6; ; C .2 21 23 11 Stop Out ....... 14 4:7' 3 14 20 11 Trentham) ...... 14 3 7 4 18 32 10 Hutt B 13 1 11 1 7 35 3 sth Division. " „ ' Goals Ch. P. W. li. D. F.. A. Pts. Midland ....... 10 9 — 1 35 7 19 Marist B ....... 10 6 — 4 26 11 16 Petono ......... 10 6 2 2.32 14 14 Marist. A ....... 10 6 4 — 32,17 12 Miramar Rangers 10 5 4 1 14 17 11 South Wellington 10 5. '4 3, 20 15 11 Seatoun ...... 10 '4 3 3 29 16 11 Swifts ........ 10 4., 5 .1 18 18 9 Institute 10 2 8 —, 7 39 4 Wadestown ..... 10 1 8-1 10 31 3 Island Bay 10 — 10..— . 4 48 0 6th Division. . • .-. Goals Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Marlst (N.) .... 13 12. — 1 56 3 25 Marlst- (T.) 14 12 2 — 49 11 24 Seatoun 14 8-4 2. 49 22 18 Stop Out ...... 13 8 4 1 32' 22 17 Swifts 11.3 8 — 14 29.6 Miramar Bangers 13 2.92 11 44 6 V.M.C.A .13 2 9 2 10 64 6 Instltuto 14 1 11 2 10 36 4 7th Division. Goals Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Seatoun ...... 13 12 —.1 82 6 25 Marlst (N.) .... 14 9 2 3 54 14 21 Stop Out A .... 13 7 3 4 48.11 18 Midland ....... 14 7 5 2 40 18 1G Institute ...... 14 4 6 4 14 33 12 Marlst <T.) .:.. 14 3 7 4 23 25 10 Stop Out B ... 14 2 11 1 12 79 5 South Wellington 14- — 13 1 7 76 1 ;' ath Division. -•■Goals Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Marlst (N.)'.... 14, 12 a 1 44 10 25 Miramar Rangers 13 10 2.1. 50 15 21 Maflst (T)' .... 14 7 S, 2 37 24 16 Midland ....^ 14 5 '5 4 26 22 14 Seatoun . 13 '5 5 3 ,21 24 IS Stop Out ....... 13 .3:. 4. 8 23 .17 12 Institute ...... 14 3 8 3, 9. 41 9 V/.M.C.A ■•■ .14. —-. 12 .'2 .8 59 2 Olympic -Football. '■ .At a meeting of the International Olympic Council- held at Amsterdam on 4th August, the question of the elimination of football was discussed at some length (states an exchange). It was finally decided that the full question would come up on the agenda of the Berlin Congress in 1930, when the Council would draft a full definition of what constitutes amateurism. If at this time the International Football Association has framed its rulo allowing indemnities to bo paid to footballers for broken. time, then there will be no new objection to football being included in the .programme of future Olympic gatherings. . Scottish Players. Few Scottish footballers have come into English football during the close season. It, has been told how tho Arsenal failed in their attempt to secure M'Grory, the Coltic centreforward, though they offered £8000 for bis transfer, and the only notable Scot who has boon persuaded to leave home has boon another Celtic forward, Tom M'lnafly. He is to appear in the Sunderland sido. Sunderland will be mainly Scottish. They appointed a Scotsman to succeed Robert Kyle as manager and all the new; men he-has signod on he brought with him. This is a dangerous policy. It is likely to lead to two campS in the club, and there may not be tho essential harmony. „ The northern club were in a bad way last. ..season.. -Indeed, for the final match they went to Middlesbrough knowing that unless they won they would lose their position in the senior competition. They pulled through all right, but it was a desperately narrow escape. "Shamateurism." Tho first and most obvious objection to the preservation of the distinction betweon amateur and professional is that it inevitably invites dishonesty, writes Gerald Gould, in the "Sunday Chronicle," Whon a law has no solid

• moral basis, plenty of people will always be found to evade it. What is the situation in many sports, if not in most? A ' vast army of "amateurs" spend their whole time in playing a game, travelling from place to place, lavishing money on their equipment, on their hotel accommodation, and so forth. The conclusion is irresistible. Either they are all people of considerable private means, or else some of them manage, indirectly, to make their living out of their connection with the game. Hence arises what the Press is accustomed to call "the evil of concealed, professionalism." And, if it exists (as the public widely and naturally believes it to do),,it is an evil— a great evil. Not 'because it is professionalism, but because it is cone-al-ed. • • -' .Durham Council. . A solution of .the extraordinary-posi-tion- of affairs that was created by !:ht- action of the Council of the Dur ham.KA. in suspending thems, Ives was found at a specially convened meeting of the clubs in the county at Durham (states an English paper). It will be recalled that in July the Council, deeming they had been guilty of paying fiat rate for tea money at their cup final equally with the clubs who had been dealt with by a commission of the- .Football Association, suspended themselves," and tho meoting was to consider tho election of officers to carry 'on the association. "Prior to the meeting representatives of tho majority of the suspended clubs conferred and protested against the recommendation that Mr. Harry Walker, a member of the Football Association, should preside; and on the suggestion by Mr. F. J. "Wall, Major Priestly, of Sunderland, took the chair. Thus oil was poured on troubled waters. Major Priestly gave the meeting a good lead when he suggested that they should pass a resolution rescinding the minute of the Council, and said he believed the majority of the ' clubs considered that the Council had made' a genuine error and had unduly, punished themselves. Begarding the clubs and players who had been suspended, that was sub judice, but ho was given to understand the F.A. were reconsidering the matter, and he had great hopes of a satisfactory result. They at that meeting should not do anything that would prejudice the case of the players. A resolution embodying the chairman's suggestion was carried by a3 to 1 majority, and the Council of the Durham Association are thereby restored to office. The secretary of the Durham Association, referring to a vote of thanks, complimented the' meeting on a decision in the right direction. ' Transfer News. The more I follow transfer news and swopping, tho more convinced am I that to-day the great football transfers are simply the great divide (states an English paper). The real: need at tho moment is tho appearance of a nian who can spot youngsters whoso value will grow into thousands of pounds; A football agent should be able to foresee the future regarding a player, j In this connection I do. not claim any" special second sight, but it is significant that I have ovorlasting calls from clubs to speak about this or that player, or watch this or that player. Perhaps it comes of having prospectod the best centre-forward the game has known. Most clubs admit to me that they livo up to evory word I said about him, but they feared tho price of £3000. How absurd that is has been proved by the fact that to-day he is the,-highest drawing card in ajl footbai), Better to take a £3000 youngster and bank on his natural strength and resource than take on an old 'uh just getting to tho clovor stage. There has been more monoy spent foolishly on fancy names than ever you will learn from bal-ance-sheets. But so far as Third Division clubs aro concerned, each takes what the other leaves off! The Third Division clubs wore pretty well, skinned last season financially, and this coming season is likely to be their rebound. But I do wish tho Third Division sides would not follow like sheep in this matter of "cutting up the team." The eleven they sign in 1928 aro discharged at the end of the .season and go to other Third Division sides; so the mixing of the football pudding goes on year after year. How much better if they signed their own seeking—their own finding! • In short, show enterprise, show depth of care and thought. I am not boasting when I say that I rammed two centres of- fame down the throats of people until they tired of me quoting their names. Surely what I have done some Third Division side could have done? Ay, and Second and. First Division sides, too. Brentford have a great chance in tho South to rise to heights that have up to now escaped tbem.: Thero are. now works being erected in the town that should provide the nucleus of another "army" of spectators, and I am trusting that the way the club has been served faithfully by the loyal partisan will lead them to higher points of play and bring them ' Into the senior zone. If I asked the busy B's supporters what the chief need of the club is at'the moment, I think they'would all with one voice say. centre half-back. I have in my mind's eye an order from the club to find a ready-made, young, athletic sound pivot. Pivots are supposed to be ten a penny. I hope they will not prove expensive to me in my search, for I should like to do Brentford a good turn. Future of Football. I asked a prominent legislator for an idea of the future of football. He replied: "The season on us now is going to be even greater than last season. If there had not been sixteen successive wet Saturdays, the game would have shown its great claim on tho public. As it was, things were put back till' this season, aud you will see the gates this season that "never before helped the clubs—always imagining that the really gross weather has gone. And mark yOu," he added, "this will be the cleanest season we have known, for players have at long last got sense; they would not be such fools as to kick over the traces in view of tho stern, sentences handed out in tho last throe years." Take it from me, the average footballer nowadays has no thought of foul play; he may hasten a trip in the pain of an. accidental kick, but the real dirty player has gone out of the game, nnd that is due in part to the way referees have been backed up. There was a time when they'feared that sending off- a player would mean tho end of their service as ah official. To-day they know the powers that be will prevent any such idea being brought.'to fruition. And there was a time when directors and secretaries used to "mouth it" a bit to a referee who had not pleased them. To-day tho refereo isn't afraid to put tli em in their proper place and order them out of his sanctum. Talking of referees, we shall miss A. Ward from tho field owing to his promotion on the rails. Mr. Ward seemed to saunter through football struggles, but he know his business, and he was not the type that is scurried -by clamorous appeals. Ho mado up his mind

and stuck to it, with the result that he was universally liked —even in Scotland where he had some ticklish international times.. I always like to judge an official by the facts, names, and figures he can produce. And certainly Frank Richards, now of Bournemouth, showed some sound returns and quick profits when he was "gaffer" at Brum. He it was who held the reins while the St. Andrew's Club made a profit —for a change. Ho it was who took down the names of men such as Joe Bradford from Peggs Green, Cringan from a small Scottish "water," Elkes, Harvoy, J. 1 Jones, Liddell, Deacon, Whitehouse, and \ Thompson. These men were unknowns who be- ' camo "known," and evidence such as 1 I have given will certainly please the 1 Bournemouth people, for the prospect of "something similar" down there is 1 yery appetising. ! Game Not Better. I think the ty<>c of men who play • football has improved somewhat of late i years, but I do not think tho quality of football has altered for the better. The men who were not so well educated wore better players than the moderns, they had football minds. If their brains were in their feet, as the saying goes, they know-how to use them; they thought 'about nothing- else but the game. ' - Everton did very well in the Ciip-tie.i for a !bn-> time, and thus we -.got .acclimatised to big matches.. Co'iiFequenrlj we were nevei nervous. At any rate, 1 . never saw any signs of nervousness, so I cannot tell any stories of players be- ' ing unable to lace their boots through excitement! •In my last match, in which Barnsley . beat us 3-0 at Old Trafford in the . semi-final of the Cup in 1910 after a [ goalless draw at Leeds, two penalty ' kicks were awarded and wasted before anything was scored. \ The first was awarded to Barnsley, J and Tom Boyle took it and missed. , Then we were awarded one, and I was deputed to take it. I fared no better than Boyle, but if I had scored I think \we would have won. The side that gets the first goal is tho one that you ' may expoet to win any big Cup-tie. 1 In the old days we never got the per- \ sonal barracking players seem to get nowadays. Yet I do not think spec--1 tators are nearly so enthusiastic about ' football generally as they used to be. I In tho old Crystal Palace day's crowds were full of enthusiasm, and the same ' remark applied to crowds at local ' "Derbies." They used to work themselves up I into a state of feverish anticipation two or three weeks ahead of the match,' ' and derived great enjoyment from this : intimate interest in the teams and the ' fixtures; now it seems altogether ! different, although the crowds are ; bigger. ■ Ideal "Final" Ground. In the last year or two the game has. • improved a lot compared with what it I was for a year or two before that, i Then it was very poor stuff through • players playing too fast without the ball control. The present Everton team • plays more like the old one than any , it has had in the meantime. Cup finals ought to be much more attractive from a football standpoint than they were at the Crystal Palace, where, nine times out of ten, the , ground was like cast-iron. It is impossible to play good football on that ' kind of pitch, but at Wembley, the Final is played on absolutely perfect ; turf. ' That is a tremendous advantage to ! the players, and that is why we Batv a better final this year. Players cannot be oxpected to finesse in a cup final when the ball won.'t come down to their feet. It is a curious coincidence that the first match I ever saw in which firstclass teams figured was between Astou \ Villa and Everton. That was in the ! cup final in the year before I joined ' the Villa. These were the clubs be- , tween which I was destined to spend the whole of my career in first-class 1 football. ; I played cricket with Lancashire continuously from 1899 to 1925, and was ' captain in my last three years, and for r the last few years I have been a director of Everton.