The Hastings Standard Published Daily TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1897. WHEN WHISTLE SOUNDS FOR ACTION.

Hastings Standard, Issue 313, 4 May 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1897. WHEN WHISTLE SOUNDS FOR ACTION.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Football, the seasonable game of football; has entered upon its own lease of popularity, and for some months to come the youths of New Zealand will be steeped in football lore, and after each battle the merits and faults of be discussed and discounted by players and " barrackers." Football is undoubtedly the national game of New Zealand, and it admirably suits the climate. It claims more adherents, more active players, more admirers, and more genuine enthusiasm than ever the charming game of cricket can hope for. The game of football is as much a battle ift its way as a sport, and for that very reason perhaps it commends itself to the New Zealand youth. A " rep " fifteen, be it on their own ground or on that of the foe, feel a responsibility, and deem it necessary to do their utmost For the cause of local honor bids them play with all their might. On the grounds of antiquity, football is eminently respectable. No one seems to know where it begun, but amongst other evidences of its venerable age is the fact that in at least one part of England the village-folk hold their rights by virtue of an annual custom of kicking a football over the boundary line of these privileges. The old English villager had many ways of deciding the superiority of himself or his village, but the chance of fighting the issue out over a game of football carried with it the alluring opportunity of too many possibilities not to make it a standing favorite for such purposes. There is no doubt, from the accounts which have come down to us, that the game as played in the dim past on English village greens was a rough and ready sport at its best, and something like a pitched battle, before

the invention of gunpowder, at its worst; and we cannot wonder if many people found it necessary to denounce the game as " nothing but beastlie furie and extreme violence whereof proceedeth hurte." The game has survived the attacks of moralists and preachers, and is by no means dimmed by the long record of cracked crowns and broken limbs. Its popularity is as strong as it was ages ago, and the reason for its enduring popularity can be readily understood. British taste has no appreciation for those gentle pastimes into which no accident or mishap can possibly find its way. Our people like the element of risk and the excitement of hard knocks. Where there is no danger they say there is no enjoyment, and half of the pleasure of a healthy out-door sport consists in the hard knocks given and received. But the football of to-day, though still a rough game compared with cricket and tennis, has lost its brutal character. Scientific training • and an intelligent adaptation of physiological principles and knowledge have to an extent done away with the old necessity for extra brutality in sport. In football brutality has been superceded by skill, and the game as at present followed is justly popular for the courage, readiness, and manly qualities it calls into play and cultivates. The noble game of football promises to enter upon a new lease of life in Hastings. The enthusiasm of the members of the new club may be taken as an earnest that our boys are determined that this season at any rate they will win The trophy of the football field. And they have a right to the belief that they will be victorious this year, for the stamina and material, the pluck and endurance which make for victory is theirs, and if rightly applied they must win. Of course before the Hastings footballers can hope to make a creditable appearance in the field they must go through a severe course of training. We need not enter upon the advantages of combination, discipline, and thorough training. Football " form !' is not to be acquired without some trouble and self sacrifice, but the enthusiastic footballer counts these as nothing. We can offer them no advice ; they know better than we do what is expected of them. We may, however, be permitted to say to them Never ti,y to win by foul-play, if you cannot win by fair ; But infuse the ancient chivalry into your bloodless fight, Put heart and soul into your game, and ' play-up ' with all your might. We fain would hope that Hastings footballers will not think it manly the moment they don their jerseys to pollute the atmosphere with foul language. It is quite true that cursing and swearing is not so pronounced a feature of football as it used to be, still it is bad enough and every endeavor should be made by footballers generally to suppress it. Although we express a hope in this direction, we are at the same time certain that our footballers will at all times acquit themselves with honor. We wish the Hastings footballers a brilliant season with plenty of victories, and trust that at the end of the season at the inevitable smoke-concert His Worship the Mayor may be able to toast them with Here's to the gallant Hastings lads, Worthy of all acclaim ! Victory in many a classic fight Recall their honored name. The trophy of the football field Now have they bravely won; And glory's page is shining yet With great deeds they have done.