The Football Outlook.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 858, 21 April 1909, Page 2

The Football Outlook.

Taking a line from the meeting of the Manawatu Rugby Union last night, there should be a successful season for football in it* dietric^ th» Beason. Those who control the grounds in Palmeraton have met the Management Committee of tb» Union in a very commendable flrfri*, and have practi-

oally conceded everything asked for both on tho show ground and the sports ground, and consequently there are now five playing fields available. In addition to these, there are two grounds at Feilding, besides one at lluunythorpe and another at Linton — nine in all. The terms have been considerably lessened for the Palmerston show ground, and the Union should be £30 or £40 better off in that respect at the end of this eeason. In regard to the number of players, it is satisfactory to see a revival of the game at Bunnythdri>e, and, given encouragement by the Fixtures Committee, Milkopolis should be prominent this season. The defection of the Palmerston Club in the third-class competition is not encouraging, but perhaps the forming of the Technical School Club may have harJ something to do with that. The promise of two teams from the Pohangina Valley has not been fulfilled, although the Union was prepared to play- the great majority of the matches at Ashhurst; but probably the promise will be kept in the future. The great want seems to be in referees, and the excellent suggestion has been made that a branch of the Referees' Association should be formed at Feilding, working with the Palmertson Association as far as possible. If that can be managed*, it will considerably improve the conditions under which the game is played. Altogether the prospects are very rosy. There are nine teams entered for the cup competitions, most of the representative games set down for the season are home games, and there is a feeling abroad amongst footballers that there is going to be no nonsense in the management of football affairs, but that the good precedent set during the last few years will be earnestly carried out. It is very satisfactory to find that one of the most manly of our* outdoor games is likely to be taken up with renewed vigour, and that all the fuss and frotli about tlio introduction of the professional element is ending in nothing.