ENGLISH SOCCER TEAM

Evening Star, Issue 22571, 12 February 1937, Page 4

ENGLISH SOCCER TEAM

FORMIDABLE SIDE FDR N.Z. NOTES ON THE PLAYERS “ It is one of the strongest amateur teams to leave England," says Mr S. Grant, president of the New South Wales Soccer Association, concerning the English amateur Soccer team which will tour Australia and New Zealand this season, and which will play a test in Dunedin, “ and this is saying a great deal when one bears in mind than for over 20 years teams have been visiting the Continent and countries where the standard of play is very high. The side consist's of 18 players, two managers, and a trainer. Of the players, 12 are amateur internationals, and three others are aspirants for “caps” before the team leaves London on Friday. April 16. . Tne English F.A. made a definite promise to New Zealand when negotiations were first opened that the selected team would be representative of amateur talent, and six months have been spent in getting the side together. LEADING LEGISLATOR. To prove that the combination is a powerful one, Mr Grant added that of the 10 Englishmen who went to the Olympiad in Berlin, seven of them will be seen in action in Sydney. The three absentees are Lester Finch, who could not obtain leave, Maurice Edelson, and H. A. Hill, the ex-Bir-mingham University goalkeeper, who recently turned professional for the Bournemouth third division club. The rest of the British Olympic team consisted of two Irishmen and five Scots, who, of course, could not be considered for an English team. A most interesting feature is that Mr Wreford Brown would be senior manager of the team. One of the leading football legislators in the world, Mr Wreford-Brown from time to time had had extended to him by European nations invitations to visit their countries, and his advice had been a power in placing the game on a solid foundation. Mr Wroford-Brown has had an illuminating career , both as a player an.d organiser, and officials here regard his visit as a good omen for the inviting to England of an Australian team in the near future. For many years he had, been a member of the English F.A., besides being a member of the international selection committee. He represented Oxford University on the Football Council. In 1934 and 1935 he managed English professional representative teams which toured Germany, Holland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Italy. In 1928 he managed the English team which toured South Africa under the captaincy of' Jimmy Seed, present manager of Charlton Athletic, Mr Wreford-Brown was educated at Oriel, Chatherhouse College, and Oxford. He gained his varsity Blue in 1888-89, skippering the team against Cambridge University ,in 1889. After leaving the varsity he joined the famous Corinthian Club, and also made frequent appearances with the Old Carthusians. In 1895 he secured his international cap against Wales, in 1898 against Scotland, and in 1898 against Ireland. His co-manager on this tour will be Mr T. Thorpe, a varsity Blue from Cambridge—secured in 1922, and also one of the outstanding legislators of the younger generation. THE PLAYERS. GOALKEEPERS. T. Huddle (Casuals) gained Interna- | tional cap with the 1936 Olympic team; secured amateur cup medal with Casuals last season. A spectacular ’keeper and a, product of public school football, A. C. Woolcock (Cambridge University), educated at Brighton and Hove Grammar School, and St. Catherine’s College. Gained varsity Blue in 193536; a very solid type or ’keeper, particularly brilliant in the air. BACKS. 6. 6. Holmes (Ilford), right back of powerful build; played excellently in last season’s Amateur Cup final against Casuals at West Ham Stadium. Secured international caps 1934 v. Ireland, Scotland, Wales; 1936 v. Ireland and Wales j also played in the last Olympic team m Berlin. • 6. A. Strasser (Corinthians), left back, a product of Shewsbury School, Pembroke College, Cambridge; secured his' Varsity Blue in 1925 and 1936. Very powerful kick and speedy in recovery. W. Pickering, a 16-year old player recently gained from local, football by Sheffield Wednesday’s manager, Mr Billy Walker, ex-Aston Villa, and English .inside forward. Walker declares Pickering to be one of his best “ finds ” to date. • Probably Pickering will enter the professional ranks at the conclusion of the tour. The release of this youthful star speaks volumes for the generosity of the Sheffield Club. Australian readers must not confuse this lad with international inside right, R. Pickering, of the Sheffield United Club. HALF-BACKS. J. W. Lewis (Walthamstowe Avenue), one of the most powerful amateur clubs playing in the Athenian League. He joined Queen’s Park Rangers’ Club as an amateur two years ago, and decided to remain an amateur. Has gained international caps, 1932 v. Wales and Ireland; 1934 v. Scotland, Ireland and Wales;, and a right half with great powers of construction. Bernard Joy (Arsenal, Casuals, and Corinthians), is the most colourful player in the party. Gained his “ full ” international rap against Belgium last May, and has been styled “ the King of present-day amateurs.” Went as skipper of the British team to the Berlin Olympia. He also travelled extensively in Europe as a member of the Middlesex Wanderers—a club which undertakes missionary work for Soccer abroad. Other amateurs caps include; 1934, Ireland, Scotland, Wales: 1935, Ireland, Scotland, Wales; 1936, Ireland, Scotland, Wales. Played with Arsenal against Sheffield Wednesday in the F. A. Charity Shield final in 1935. la a centre-half. T. H. Leek (Moor Green): Leek was discovered with Moor Green, which club played in the Birmingham Mid-week League. Is an ex-student of Birming-

ham University. Played in 1986 against Wales and Scotland and is a left-half. J. Sutcliffe (Corinthians), a centre half who played at the Berlin Olympia. Is a product of the Public School and Varsity ranks. Played- for Hyde and St. John’s Colleges and gained Varsity Blue with Cambridge in 1934. E. Cunningham (Lloyd’s Banks), came to the fore as a versatile halfback in the London amateur ranks last season. Gained representative honours with the Southern Amateur League. Is the second player from the Lloyd s Bank Club to receive amateur cap. The other was A. Tunnington. FORWARDS. L. C. Thornton, centre-forward of Derbyshire Amateurs. Played formerly with Kingstonians, a strong London club, in the Isthmian League. Thornton gained international caps against Scotland and Wales in 1936. Had the honour of scoring three goals against Wales at Portmodac last February. Can also play inside right or left. Lance-corporal Eastham (The Army), although selected as a forward, is also a reliable right half. Early this season Eastham refused several offers to turn professional. Is a product of Lancashire School football and the outstanding player in the Services (Army, Navy, and Air). Played against Wales, Scotland, and Ireland in 1936. E. C. Collins (Walth amsto w e Avenue), formerly with Leyton. Gained amateur caps against Scotland and Ireland in 1934. Is a great snap shot and a powerful finisher. Also plays midweek games with Islington Corinthians. R. J. Matthews (Waltbamstowe Avenue), a new star, regarded as one of the fastest of the combination. F. A. Davis (Walthamstowe Avenue), an inside-forward whose sparkling play in last year’s cup ties brought him under notice of the selectors. . , ~ J. Gillespie (Harwich),. gamed his amateur cap by selection m this team. Made a name in public school football. J. Sowerby (Ipswich Town), a new man to representative football. His club is a powerful one, playing in the Southern League, and consists of professionals as well as amateurs. Sowerby has had the expert coaching of McLuckie, the Scottish international, who joined the club from Aston Villa. He cost Villa £6,000 in 1935. F. Riley (Casuals), fastest left-winger in the amateur spnere, and a star in Berlin with the Olympic team. Played in last year’s Amateur Cup final against Ilford, and scored the goal which gave Casuals the cup.