ETON WALL GAME

Evening Star, Issue 21320, 26 January 1933, Page 2

ETON WALL GAME

■ — l — V. OPPIDANS Why the patron saint of Scotland should also be apparently the patron saint of tho wall game at Eton is a conundrum which nobody, even among the oldest Etonians I know, has been able to answer (writes G. Cornwalliswest in the London ‘ Daily Telegraph ’). y But the fact remains that, since tho early ’sixties, St. Andrew’s Day has witnessed tho now historic combat between Collegers and Oppidans at the wall. Anyone going from Slough to Eton after mid-day to-day will see, perched perilously on the wall on his left as he approaches the college, a long row of boys of all sizes and ages yelling “Collegers!” or “Oppidans!” according to their sympathies. There are many old wall game play'ers who, although they may .subsequently excel at other Tonus of football, still maintain that the wall game, even if dull to watch, is the most exciting to phm It is impossible to summarise the rules. The bully which is formed against the wall is similar to the Rugby scrum, but, once the ball is out of the bully, kicking alone is permissible. Space is definitely limited, the ground being only 120yds long and 18ft wide. The object of each side is to get the ball down tho line and as near good or bad calz as possible. The scoring is by shies, and as tho goals consist, one of, a door and tho other of part of an elm tree, it is hardly surprising that only two goals have been scored in the history of tho game. From time immemorial small hoys played football in the passages of their houses until sent flying to their rooms by some irate Upper who was trying to work. This form of amusement was on the wane when I was at Eton, and is, I imagine, entirely suppressed by now, hut it is possibly the origin of the wall game. On his arrival at Eton a small “Tug,” as ho is dubbed by his less intelligent Oppidan contemporaries, is taught the science of the game. Consequently, although there are only seventy collegers—or, to give them their correct designation, King’s Scholars —they arc able to produce a formidable team to play against that drawn from tho rest of the school. Ttio first occasion on which, as a Lower boy, I was a spectator at the wall, on St. Andrew’s Day was the last time when old Rowell, the “ Johcy ” of his day,’ attended. Tn his brown velveteen coat and tall bat, bis figure was _ well known to thousands of Etonians. As honorary keeper of the ground, lie was permitted to stand in the holy of holies, the space between the actual game and tho onlookers, where only the provost, head master, and one or two distinguished visitors are allowed.

On that clay I remember seeing aiming the players tine present Bishop of St. Albans, known to bis friends

as Alike .I'urso, and Philip Chctwodo, now Commander-in-Chief in India. Other distinguished wall game players in their day were the present provost, Dr ]\l. 11. James, Lord Willingdon, and the present Lord Kosoberry. There was a time when feeling between Collegers and Oppidans was acute, and the match was, to say the least of it, rough. All this is changed, and, for the last generation, the match has been remarkable for the good humour shown on both sides.