ENGLISH SOCCER

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 June 1937, Page 2

ENGLISH SOCCER

F.A. BANS TOUR. fi LONDON, May 2. The Football Association yesterday made the following announcement: “In view of the numerous reports of misconduct by players of the Wolverhampton Wanderers Club during the past two seasons, the F. A. Council, meeting in London to-day, decided that the application of the club for permission to play matches on the Continent during the coming close season be not granted.” This drastic and unprecedented action will cause, tremendous surprise in football circles.

Yesterday the Wolverhampton players addressed a letter of protest to Ihe Association on this point. A prominent football official pointed out that the Football League at its meeting yesterday had given permission for the tour. Arrangements were being made for a 12-day tour of Central Europe, beginning next Saturday. Matches were to have been played at Budapest, Bucharest, Belgrade and Antwerp. WOLVES’ PLAYERS PROTEST. Unknown to officials of the club, meriibers of the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ first eleven have seiit a. letter of protest to the Football Association regarding the warning sent to the club. The letter reads as follows: —

We, th’e members of Wolverhampton Wanderers First Division team, are at the least, amazed at your action in sending a recent lettei- of caution to our manager, Major F. C. Buckley. By the tone of your letter it seems apparent to us that you, as a body, are under the impression that Major Buckley condones and encourages questionable tactics on the part of our players on the football field. Whether you consider that our team does employ- these tactics or not, and evidently it is the former, we should like to state that, far from advocating the rough play we are accused of, Major Buckley is constantly reminding us of the importance of playing good, clean and honest, football, and we as a. team consider you have been most unjust in administering this caution to our manager.

We realise your determination to stamp out rough play in football, but, while considering this fact, we feel we cannot allow this very unfair censure to pass by without some form of protest.

In conclusion, may we say that this communication has been inspired by the members of the team and not by any suggestion by any officials of the club, who are totally unaware of its existence.

The letter was signed by Stan Cull is (captain). H. Thompson, AV. ’Morris, G. Ashall, T. Smalley. J. Taylor, J. Gardiner, J. E. Maguire, B. A. Scott. B. Jones, T. Galley. •PLAYERS’ LIBEL ACTION. LONDON. May 1. Settlement was announced before Mr. Justice Branson, in the King’s Bench Division yesterday, of a libel action brought, by Alex James and Wilfred Copping, the Arsenal footballers. against Grimsby News Co. Ltd., proprietors of the “Grimsby News.” Mr. N. L. Macaskie. K.C.. stated that the two players complained of an article by “Onlooker," which appeared in the newspaper. He read an extract from the article, which said: —■

"It is strange how star players are injured when opposing the Arsenal . . . . I cannot help but reflect on the exhibition Copping and Alex James gave in that direction when appearing against the Town (Grimsby Town) in the semi-final at Huddersfield last season.

"Il may have been a coincidence on that occasion, but Bestall was kicked off his feet twice in the first few minutes of that game, first by Copping and then by James, and one has no hesitation in saying that it appears the foul attack on Bestall was carried out according to plan, with the idea of putting the Town's key-man off his game.” Mr. Macaskie said that a term of settlement was that the defendants expressed their unqualified regret and apology for the wrong which has been done to the two players. Mr. Gerald Gardiner, for the defendants, repeated the apology, and Mr Justice Branson approved the settlement. The record in the case was withdrawn on the agreed terms, which were not stated in court.